| Heath Wood barrow cemetery | |
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The south-east entrance to Heath Wood
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| Location: | Ingleby, Derbyshire |
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| Built: | 9th Century AD |
Heath Wood barrow cemetery is a Viking burial site near Ingleby, Derbyshire.
Heath Wood contains a series of 59 barrows and is a Viking burial site near Ingleby, Derbyshire. They are unusual because they are the only known Scandinavian cremation site in the British Isles.[1] It is believed to be a war cemetery of the Viking Great Army which arrived in England between 873-8 A.D. Early excavations by Thomas Bateman in May 1855 found that some of the mounds were empty cenotaph mounds where presumably the body was not available.[2]
An excavation in 2004 produced a number of finds which are available in Derby Museum. It is believed that these remains are from the same period as burials discovered in nearby Repton. However, the Repton burials are not cremations. This wood is currently leased by the Forestry Agency from the Church Commissioners and it is designated "Derbyshire 101" as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[1]
The path that goes through the wood links Foremarke Hall with Knowle Hill. These two properties, and this land, were owned by the Burdett family and the path was useful when the family moved to Knowle Hill whilst building work was in progress and they would still have needed to visit St Saviour's church which the family built in 1662. In the eighteenth century Heath Wood was actually a field and the growth of woodland has only happened since then. Without the woods being there then this burial place would have have had a fine view of the Trent valley. The path that goes through the woods neatly misses any on the ancient barrows and it is believed that no barrows were removed to ease its path.[1]
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