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From and Article on the Archaeology of Burpham 1922 One of a group of four flat bowl barrows was destroyed in the spring of 1893 in digging the square dew-pond"21 on Perry Hill, a mile east of Burpham.22 21 The small square "dew-ponds" found in the Arundel
neighbourhood were made, so we are told, some 35 years ago, by men brought from
Wiltshire for the purpose. These men were very secretive about the details of
their method of work, and kept their secrets to themselves. They prepared the
hole dug in the ground with great care, and were very particular that all the
materials used were clean and in the best possible condition. The hole dug was
first lined with clay; on this were laid bundles of straw across one another,
each bundle being prepared as if for thatching; these were covered with another
layer of clay, and then followed a coating of line, on which two inches of very
finely prepared chalk were spread. The ponds thus constructed remained in good
condition for about 30 years, and required but little looking after; they were
intended for sheep only, and to this end were surrounded by a one-rail wooden
fence to keep out the heavier footed animals. They are thus essentially
different from the larger round ponds, termed "puddle-ponds" in this
district, but "dew" or "mist-ponds" elsewhere, which are
lined by a thick layer of puddled clay, or by an equally thick layer of puddled
chalk mixed with flint, and which are best kept in good condition by the
trampling of cattle and horses. 22 6" O.S., L., S.E., 2.7" - 5.1". From Sussex
Archaeological Collections LXIII
,MCMXXII Page 15 |
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