Black Coppice Chambered Cairn

A supposed chambered cairn of ‘unusual construction’ above the quarry on Stronstrey Bank.

It’s an intriguing structure but there are several similar nearby that are probably slightly-altered natural formations. Nearby is stoneworking contemporary with the late 19th Century quarry, including partially completed millstones, one of which is arranged on uprights to aid stoneworking.

Mesolithic scatter and implements have been found nearby and the confirmed Chambered Long Cairn of Pikestones is not distant. The mesolithic was around 8 to 10 thousand years ago while cairns like Bryn Celli Ddu date to around 5000 years ago as does the Pikestones. So there is evidence of occupation in the location.

The structure at Black Coppice has been said to resemble Pikestones, but Pikestones was covered by a large mound until a controversial excavation years ago. Yet there is no mound at Black Coppice.

The site is not altogether convincing and if the ‘cairn’ is perhistoric, then there are several others nearby, all open and none seemingly intact with the earth mounds normally seen.

“A chambered round cairn on Stronstrey Bank was identified in 1983-5 by the Cumbria and Lancashire Archaeological Unit during a survey of Anglezarke and Rivington Moors.

The monument is of unusual form. It comprises a large, slightly pear-shaped, cairn incorporating a chamber formed from a large unworked slab (capstone) which slopes down to the ground at the back but is supported at the front by an upright portal on one side and the body of the cairn on the other. The cairn lies close to post-medieval quernstone workings, but is quite distinct, both in form and its deliberate construction, from the later activity.

Although the chamber is incorporated within a cairn and not free-standing, there are similarities with some of the megalithic tombs of north Wales.

The monument was briefly visited during a rapid perambulation of Anglezarke Moor to inspect damage following the moorland fire of early May 2011. It is largely as described by authority 1, but seems better categorised as a large cist rather than chambered cairn. It lies close to post-medieval quarrying which includes evidence of millstone, not quern, working.”

Howard-Davis, C 1996

Created: 27  April  2022  Edited: 29  November  2023