Hob Hurst's House is a Bronze Age barrowonBeeley Moor near BakewellinDerbyshire. It is unique in that instead of the normal round shape, Hob Hurst's barrow is rectangular. Originally made with 13 stones, only five remain today.
The barrow is in the guardianship of English Heritage and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[1]
It is situated on Harland Edge above Chatsworth House, near the highest part of Beeley Moor. [2] [a]
The Peak District Boundary Walk runs alongside Gibbet Moor, past Hob Hurst's House and onto Beeley village.[3]
The curious name Hob Hurst's House may be derived from folklore, and in particular folklore that relates to a certain Hob-trush Hob who, according to the folklore of that region, lived in a cave in Mulgrave woods near Whitby.[b] The name Hob-trush may be derived from "Hob o' t' hyrst" ( " Hob of the hurst " ).[c][d] It is possible that the folklore was introduced into the local area by migrant workers from North Yorkshire.
The name should not be confused with "Hob's House Cave", Monsal Dale.[e]
The barrow is 11 yards (10 m) in diameter and 4 feet (1.2 m) high, with a ditch and an external bank of 22 yards (20 m) diameter.[4]
There are numerous prehistoric mounds on these moors, many marking late Neolithic and early Bronze Age burial sites. Built by local families in their fields and open pastures to contain the bones of 'ancestors', the mounds were visible symbols of community sense of place. However Hob Hurst's House is unique with its square central mound, ditch and outer bank. Hob Hurst's House was one of the first monuments in Britain to be taken into state care, through the Ancient Monuments Protection Act of 1882. The stone bollards inscribed VR that surround the site were erected at that time. [5]
The barrow was excavated in 1853 by Thomas Bateman, the "Barrow Knight". The dig found a stone-lined grave containing some scorched human bones plus some lead ore.
53°13′12″N 1°34′12″W / 53.219887°N 1.570131°W / 53.219887; -1.570131
