The village of Pirton nestles in the Hertfordshire countryside about 3 miles north west of Hitchin. The boundry with Bedfordshire meanders back and forth across the countryside imitating some demented river and like Studham, in Part 1 of this series, which ought to be in Hertfordshire, Pirton is in a loop that sensibly, should be Bedfordshire. Ho hum...
Several important prehistoric, Roman and Anglo-Saxon sites are known in Pirton, but it is for the medieval (AD1066-1500) monuments that the village is especially noted. The most famous is the Motte and Bailey castle, known as ‘Toot Hill’ (meaning “look out”). This comprises a large earth mound (the motte) with a water-filled ditch and two outer, defence areas (the baileys). The Grade 1 Listed parish church of St. Mary, which dates from the 11th century, also lies within one of the castle baileys.
To the south east of the castle and church is a large grassed area known as ‘The Bury’ which contains the earthwork remains of the now deserted part of the ancient village of Pirton. Long depressions are clearly visible which were once the streets of the old village and the areas of raised ground indicate the position of the houses. The site of the ancient village also extends to, and can be seen in, the field on the far side of Walnut Tree Road.
Both the Castle and the Bury are nationally important and are designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Pirton village also contains a scheduled medieval moated site at Rectory Farm and well-preserved remains of medieval “ridge and furrow” ploughing in several of the fields that surround the village.
There are numerous places where you can leave your car in this quiet village. Typically, I left mine outside the 'Motte and Bailey' pub which, incidentally, serves modestly priced pub grub and a fine pint of I.P.A.
As this cache is marginally more difficult than Part I, leave yourself the best part of an hour to take a leisurely stroll around the Hertfordshire countryside finding the numbers, finding the cache and finding your way back to the car.
Location 1 - N51° 58.276' W000° 19.919'
Here you will find an information board apparently errected in 1993. The artist M. James, however, didn't create it until ABCD, according to his signature.
If the historians are correct, this earthwork was constructed during the period that King Stephen and Queen Matilda were having a bit of a 'spat'. This dates it to between 11EF and 11GH. It seems that 'The Gentry' weren't best pleased about this little 'disagreement' and had built a whole heap of castles across the land without having the decency to apply for a 'Castle Building Licence' first. In fact, by the year 1J00 there were 300 of them.
A Short History Lesson.... feel free to skip this bit.
Matilda was born in 1102, daughter of King Henry I who was the son of, and successor to, William the Conqueror. Stephen was born in 1097, the son of Adela, William the Conqueror's daughter. This made Matilda and Stephen cousins. When Henry I died in 1135, Matilda, who had been living in Normandy with her husband, claimed the English throne by right of succession. Stephen was popular with the English nobility and understandably a bit miffed so he also laid claim to the throne. Civil war ensued when Matilda landed with her army. Stephen was captured in 1141 and Matilda went to London to be crowned Queen of England. This was very unpopular and she was forced to flee. The civil war continued until the Treaty of Winchester was signed. Stephen became King on condition that Matilda's son Henry succeeded him. He became King Henry II when Stephen, the last of the Norman Kings, died in 1154. The rest, as they say, is History.
Location 2 - N51° 58.EHA' W000° 19.(F-A)B(C-A)'
This structure commemorates an altogether different period but people were still killing each other. Joseph French died in the year 191K and Bert Wilson was killed in 191L. Now all you have to do is find the right footpath out of the village.
Location 3 - N51° 57.BJK' W000° 20.GLJ'
Here, if you search hard enough and high enough, you will find a small, black tube about 1" in diameter and 3.1/2" long. It contains the co-ordinates for the cache.
The cache is a small, black ammunition box. You will have to venture a short distance off the footpath to retrieve it but I've spoken with the landowner and he has no objections to you doing so providing you behave sensibly, and I'm sure you all will. Please DON'T trespass in the adjacent woodland which is private and used for rearing game birds. Shooting takes place there regularly during the shooting season (October to February). During the latter half of the year, the pasture may be home to some young cows. They will be friendly and inquisitive but not hostile (unless you talk loudly about Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes). If you have a dog with you, please make sure it's under your full control at all times.
One last thing.... The landowner is a member of a rifle shooting team and occasionally uses that field to practise and 'zero in' the scope on his rifles. They are VERY loud so you will hear him shooting from a long way off. He has a clear view of the approaches along the legitimate footpaths so rest assured, he won't shoot you !!!