Michelle Bullivant
  • Home
    • About
    • Historical & Archaeological Services
    • News & Updates
    • Reviews
  • Cambridgeshire History
  • Cherry Hinton History
  • UK History
  • Shop
  • Contact

Cherry Hinton & Local Area Archaeology &
​Local History

The War Ditches, Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits, Cambridge

19/2/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits (East Pit) November 2020
I thought I'd give you a little information about the War Ditches, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, as I am publishing my book on the site soon and so little is publicly known about the history of the site. 
Picture
Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits (East Pit) November 2020
Back in 2008 I was out for a walk with my sister and my daughter, we were climbing around in the local chalk pits, which were, back then, a bit wild and not really managed. Us locals would go there to walk, play and explore the massive open chalk pits, which made you feel like you were in some jurassic time slip. Many people in the area today still do not know of this amazing site and if they stumble across it they are amazed it is there.
Picture
Cherry Hinton Chalks Pits (East Pit) November 2020
Picture
Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits (East Pit) November 2020
Anyway, back in 2008 on our walk at the chalk pits, we were up on the cliff side (you can't go up on the cliffs anymore!), we were sitting in a small dip and as I poked about in the mud, hand fulls of amazing ancient pottery sherds started to come out. I was Parish Archaeological Warden at the time and knew the history of the area well. We were sitting on the edge of the cliff where chalk quarrying had made a massive deep area and cut away all that had been there previously (see pictures).
PictureMy sister sitting in the small dip, on top of the cliff, in Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits 2008 - filled with ancient pottery - part of the War Ditches rediscovered that afternoon.
In the late 1800's there had been reports of all kinds of things being discovered on the site and over the years various excavations had taken place alongside the ever encroaching quarrying - all manner of amazing well known antiquarians had been to and worked at the site over the years. The main discovery was that of the 'War Ditches' - a roughly circular ring ditch which was described as being an Iron Age Hill Fort, that had once dominated the top of Lime Kiln Hill - something like that of its neighbour of Wandlebury which is still preserved today, a couple of miles to the south west.

There had been various reports written about the site and the excavations that took place over the years and when the quarrying at the site had finished in the 1970's, the War Ditches was thought to have been finally and fully destroyed by the quarrying, it was written up in books and histories stating that fact.


However, I was now armed with a bag full of beautiful pottery sherds dating from the late Iron Age, Romano-British and Roman periods. I knew the position of where the War Ditches had been and I also knew that where we had been sitting, in that small dip on the cliff side could only be one thing - an unknown remaining part of the War Ditches.....

Picture
Me sitting at the small dip, on top of the cliff, in Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits 2008 - filled with ancient pottery - part of the War Ditches rediscovered that afternoon.
I quickly phoned my two friends and colleagues Mark Hinman & Richard Mortimer, both of who take an interest in the archaeology of this area, and told them what I had discovered and then drove the bag of pottery over to them for them to have a look. A lot of things happened fairly fast after that. Firstly, we found that the site was in the process of being acquired by Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust from one of the Cambridge Colleges. Then it turned out that the chap involved with the Wildlife Trust and the acquisition of the site, lived close by. So Mark and I had an emergency meeting with him, at the top of Lime Kiln Hill where we explained what had been discovered. Mark moved quickly, explaining that a full and official archaeological excavation would be needed. Terms were negotiated between The Wildlife Trust, English Heritage and others and the business of the full archaeological excavation was taken on by Oxford Archaeology East (based in Bar Hill Cambridge, this company used to be Cambridgeshire County Council Archaeological Unit).  Mark and I also approached Cambridge Antiquarian Society (of which we were both council members of at the time) to tell them of the discovery. Many of the past excavations at the site had been published by the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, since the 19th Century.
Picture
Archaeological Excavation at the War Ditches 2010. I am wearing the yellow viz vest and Richard Mortimer is standing behind me. The hole that I discovered was now opened up into what was a massive, ancient, ring ditch.
While negotiations and preparations for the archaeological excavation were taking place, I then had a phone call from the Cambridge Archaeology Office to tell me that two young boys who had been playing up at the chalk pits had found some human leg bones which had fallen out of the cliff, it wasn't clear which part of the chalk pits these bones were found - it could have been anywhere along the entire cliff. I was asked to pop down to the archaeology lab in Downing Street, Cambridge and collect the bones. A odd experience, which involved me collecting a pair of leg bones in a wooden box, which I then strapped into the front passenger seat of my car. I decided that the best thing was, that as Oxford Archaeology would be carrying out the main excavation on site, that I would deliver the legs to them to be processed by their finds department - even though they may not have fallen out of the actual War Ditches ring ditch itself, they still came from the same area.
Picture
An excavated section of the War Ditches - the bright natural chalk to the left and the ancient ditch fill behind the archaeologist. Cliff face to the right of the picture. 2010
In 2010, the full excavation began in the chalk pits - this was something new for everyone, not least because Cambridgeshire is not known for its high hills or mountains but this excavation was on top of a cliff, so the archaeologists had to be trained in cliff side excavation and safety. A large scale scaffolding unit had to be erected next to the cliff to allow us to access the site safely and training in harness wearing was required for some.
Picture
Archaeological excavation at the War Ditches 2010, Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits
Obviously there is so much I want to write about what was found and the whole history the site but for now, I just wanted you to know what had taken place at the chalk pits because so many people have no idea that this site is there or anything about what happened. I will publish the book later this year and you'll be able to find out all the details of what was found both during this excavation and in the past at the site.
At the end of the excavation in 2010, an open day was held in the chalk pits. The Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust now owned the site and had called this large chalk pit 'East Pit'. The mayor, press and public were invited to come and see the site and find out what had been taking place. Here are some more pictures from that day and the excavations 2010.
Picture
Archaeological excavation of the War Ditches, East Pit. 2010
Picture
Archaeological excavation at the War Ditches, East Pit 2010
Picture
Open Day at East Pit, Cherry Hinton chalk pits 2010
Picture
Open Day at East Pit, Cherry Hinton chalk pits 2010
Picture
Open Day at East Pit, Cherry Hinton chalk pits 2010
Since the Wildlife Trust has taken over the site it has become a nature reserve and it is open to the public. There are also some display boards at the site for you to read.
​
As part of the excavation I was commissioned by English Heritage to write a report on the background and history of the site as part of the research into the site and subsequent write up of this new excavation. I took the opportunity to have a picture taken, to use for the cover of my report, with Mark and Richard, that mirrored a photograph of three of the antiquarians from the past, that had had a similar picture taken, it was a proud moment to be following in their footsteps.
Picture
If you'd like to support the work that I do, why not buy me a coffee, I'd be really grateful and it will help keep me going :)
2 Comments
Iain Crawford
27/2/2021 11:31:45 pm

Thanks - that's really interesting.
That must have given you a real buzz when you discovered that remaining part of the War Ditches.

Reply
Michelle Bullivant
1/3/2021 01:25:35 pm

Hi Iain, thanks, yes it was great - I love all the small events and things that happen in life which then turn into grand adventures or discoveries :)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    This is the blog page for my   articles, memories and archives relating to the archaeology and local history of Cherry Hinton, a village to the south east of Cambridge UK. The area covered is the old Parish of Cherry Hinton which today includes the Ward of Queen Edith's. Please feel free to browse, you can submit comments or get in touch using the 'Contact Me' button on the main menu above. These are my own thoughts and theories which are always a work in progress as research never ends, it's a place to put my working notes. If you would like to use or reference any of my work, please do get in touch and be sure to reference writing or pictures in the correct way, thanks in advance :) As this section gets more populated with posts, you will be able to use the search bar above or the A-Z menu below to search any items of interest.

    If you would like to add your memories or comments to any of these posts, just like on the post in question and click on the add comment button - the comment will be sent to me for approval and then I can go ahead and add it to the individual post (or you can use the 'contact me' form in the menu at the top of the website bar)  - hope that helps :)

    If you like what I do, you could buy me a virtual coffee! It will help support the voluntary community work that I do, creating cool and interesting history and archaeology blogs, and to carry out original research, which is all posted here on my website under the history tabs above, for you to explore and enjoy. All of my history blogs are created for free community use.
    It's basically like a virtual tip jar.
    Just click the Buy Me A Coffee button below :)

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    May 2020

    Categories

    All
    1887
    1956
    1960
    1978
    1979
    1980
    1981
    1982
    1983
    1984
    2010
    Addenbrookes Hospital
    Albion Brewery
    Antiquarians
    Applewood Close
    Applewood Cottage
    Apthorpe Brewery
    Archaeological Excavations
    ARM
    Army/TA Centre
    Balls Family
    Baptist Chapel
    Barrance Family
    Barron Family
    Barrow Burials
    Barry Fuller
    Barton Mills
    Barton's Farm
    Bass Family
    Beaumont Road Cambridge
    Beech Woods
    Bird Sanctuary
    Birthdays
    Blackman Flack
    Bosworth Road
    BP Garage
    Bridewell Road
    Bridge Field
    Brington Cottage
    Broom Family
    Brown Family
    Bullen Close
    Bullivant Family
    Burch Family
    Burwell Rock
    Cambridge Antiquarian Society
    Cambridge Archaeology Field Group
    Cambridge City Boundary
    Cambridge City Council
    Cambridge Colleges
    Cambridge Folk Festival
    Cambridge International School
    Cambridge Past
    Cambridge Road
    Cambridgeshire Archives
    Cambridgeshire Association For Local History
    Cambridgeshire Collection
    Cambridgeshire Community Archives Network (CCAN)
    Cambridgeshire Dykes
    Cambridgeshire HER
    Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust
    Cambridgeshire Young Persons History Award (CYPHA)
    Cambridge University & Town Water Works Company
    Capp Family
    Cellars
    Chapel Lane
    Cherry Hinton Archaeology
    Cherry Hinton Brass Band
    Cherry Hinton CCAN
    Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits / Quarry
    Cherry Hinton Community Archives
    Cherry Hinton Community Groups Fair
    Cherry Hinton Cottage Garden Society
    Cherry Hinton Events
    Cherry Hinton Farms
    Cherry Hinton Hall
    Cherry Hinton Hall Lodge
    Cherry Hinton High Street
    Cherry Hinton Local History Society
    Cherry Hinton Moor
    Cherry Hinton Road
    Cherry Hinton Village Centre
    Cherry Trees
    Childhood Scrapbook
    Chivers
    Church End
    Clark Family
    Clements Family
    Cliff
    Clinics
    Clunch / Chalk
    Coe Family
    Coe's Court
    Conservative Club
    Council Propagation Centre
    Covenants
    Cruden Family
    Dairy Farm
    David Taylor
    Day Family
    Demolition
    Derwent Close
    Drayton Common
    Dr Nicholls
    Dutta Family
    Eastern Arts
    East Pit
    Elizabeth Toller
    Ely Cathedral
    Emson Family
    Enclosure/Inclosure
    Enclosure Map
    English Heritage
    Evacuees WWII
    Fendon Field
    Fire
    Fire Depot WWII
    Fishers Lane
    Friends Of Cherry Hinton Hall
    Friends Of The Roman Road And Fleam Dyke
    Fulbourn Road
    Fuller Family
    Giants Grave
    Giants Of Cherry Hinton
    Glenmere Close
    God's House
    Gog Magog Golf Club
    Gog Magog Hills
    Gonville & Caius College
    Google Street View
    Granger Family
    Green Family
    Green Flag
    Greystoke Road
    Grove Cottage
    Hart Family
    Headly Family
    Heathlands House Care Home
    Hinton Brook
    Hinton Cottage
    History Pin
    Howe Family
    Hugh Newman
    Industrial Cherry Hinton
    Iron Age
    Iron Age Hill Fort
    John Okes
    Johnson Family
    John Tracey Survey
    Lacon Brewery
    Lane Family
    Laundry Lane
    Laundry Workers
    Liberal Club
    Lime Burning
    Lime Kiln Hill
    Lime Tree Farm
    Long Drove
    Lord Mayor Of London
    Lyon's Family
    Lyons Family
    Mallets Manor
    Malting Family
    Market Gardening
    Mark Hinman
    Mayor
    Medieval Open Fields
    Merry Family
    Michelle Bullivant
    Middleton Family
    Mike Petty
    Mill End
    Miss Johnson
    Miss Limbert
    Moffatt Family
    Mortgage
    Nature Reserve
    Neal Family
    Netherhall Cambridge
    Netherhall Fields
    Netherhall Manor
    Netherhall School
    Netherhall Way Cambridge
    Netherhall Youth Club
    Nightingale Family
    Nurseries
    Oaks International School
    Okes Hall
    Old Routeways In Cherry Hinton
    Orchard House
    Orchards
    Orphanage
    Oxford Archaeology East
    Pamplin Family
    Parish Boundaries
    Park Gate House
    Peck Family
    Pecks Homestead
    Peterhouse College
    Peterhouse Technology Park
    Phillip Saunders
    Phillips Family
    Playgroups
    Play Parks Of Cherry Hinton
    Pre-Enclosure Map
    Prehistoric Cherry Hinton
    Present And Future
    Prince Charles
    Princess Diana
    Provident Cottage
    Public Houses / Pubs Of Cherry Hinton
    Quarry
    Quarry Field
    Queen Edith's School
    Queen Edith's Way
    Queen Emma School
    Rectory Manor
    Red Lion
    Reynolds Family
    Richard Mortimer
    Rickard Family
    Ridgeon Family
    River Cam
    Robin Hood
    Roman Cherry Hinton
    Romano-British
    Roman Road
    Sarah Watts
    Saxon Cherry Hinton
    Saxton Survey
    Schools In Cherry Hinton Area
    Seddon Family
    Shelford Gap
    Shepherd
    Shire Hall
    Shops
    Skeletons
    Sport's Day
    Spring Head
    St Andrew's Church
    Surgeon
    Tabour Family
    Tagg Family
    Tea Room
    The Back Field
    The Russian Arms
    The Spinney
    The War Ditches
    Three Hills Way
    Thurfield Heath Royston
    Tim Malim
    Toft
    Toller Family
    Tony Kirby
    Tottenhoe/Tutton Way
    Training Centre WWII
    Transport Depo
    Truslove Family
    Two Penny Loaves
    Unicorn Pub
    Uphall Manor
    Vancouver
    Veil Family
    Ventress Farm
    Ventress Farm Court
    Ventris Family
    Victoria Brewery
    Victorian Cherry Hinton
    Village Green
    Village Pond
    Walking Guides
    Walpole Road
    Wandlebury
    Watermills
    Weirs
    Wildlife Trust
    William Wallis
    Willows Family
    Wise Family
    Witt Family
    Wortley Family
    Wort's Causeway
    Wulfstan Way
    WWII
    Yarrow Road
    Youth Hostel

  • Home
    • About
    • Historical & Archaeological Services
    • News & Updates
    • Reviews
  • Cambridgeshire History
  • Cherry Hinton History
  • UK History
  • Shop
  • Contact