Wayland's Smithy

We went to look at the Roses at Mottisfont, usually by now most are out but with the unusual weather everything is out of sync. It was still lovely wandering around. Only a flying visit as we had planned to meet Jane's sister (Kateann) and brother in law at the White Horse Hill near Uffington for a picnic and a walk along The Ridgeway National Path. Great to see them and be able to spend some time walking and talking in the sun, it was a little windy but we enjoyed the day.

This is Wayland's Smithy just off The Ridgeway, it is a Neolithic burial chamber. Somehow this ancient grave became associated with Wayland, the Saxon god of metalworking, from whom it takes its name.

In one part of the chamber the remains of 14 bodies were found, all badly damaged as if the roof had fallen in on them. No part of this structure now survives.

This section dates back to 3500BC when the mound was enlarged to the trapezoid shape using earth from two flanking ditches. A stone lined passage was built within this Southern face with two chambers forming a cruciform shape. When excavated the bones of 8 people were found, although the tomb had been robbed long before, probably during the Iron Age period.