In 1831, he [Samuel Mitchell] was spoken of by the late Rev' Joseph Hunter in his History of the Deanery of Doncaster as 'a young and zealous antiquary,' a tribute to which he, was justly entitled, for he had then discovered an important fact in connection with the history of Sheffield which had entirely escaped Mr. Hunter's notice when preparing his History of Hallamshire. Mr. Mitchell, in turning over the records in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, found in the 40th vol. of Dodsworth's collection evidence of the fact that Sheffield had been destroyed by fire during the civil wars in the reign of Henry III. So extensive was the destruction that Thomas de Furnival, then Lord of the Manor, claimed £3,000 as damages for burning his house and taking away his goods, and for years afterwards the inhabitants of the town were in the habit of dating events by the year of the great burning. About this period, Mr. Mitchell was actively engaged with his friend, the late Thomas Bateman, Esq. of Lomberdale Honse, Youlgreave, in exploring the barrows of North Derbyshire. The result of their joint labours was published by Mr. Bateman, in a very readable volume, and the well-known Museum of Lomberdale was greatly enriched by the trophies of their skill and perseverance. The friendship then formed between these two men of kindred tastes continued intimate and unbroken until Mr. Bateman's death a few years ago. Mr. Mitchell contributed various valuable articles to antiquarian publications, and formed a large and important collection of original documents and other things relating to family and local history in this neighbourhood. It was his intention, an intention unfortunately never fulfilled, to publish a history and topography of the, Hundreds of High Peak and Scarsdale in the county of Derby. The collections he made for this purpose form no inconsiderable portion of his literary remains, and if they fall into the right hands may still be made available for those who are glad to know something of the past history of places among which their present lot is cast.

These barrow investigations are, with one exception, described on pages 30-34 of Vestiges of tlte Antiquities of Derbyshire, written by Thomas Bateman, and published in 1848. A comparison of these descriptions with those of the manuscript volume we are considering, is tolerably conclusive that the former were compiled from the latter, the chief alterations being in the terminology of the "finds," which the advance of archmological knowledge had rendered desirable. In Vestiges, however, these investigations are attributed to William Bateman, Mitchell's name not being mentioned. It is true that in the preface the author expresses his obligations "to Samuel Mitchell, Esq., of Sheffield, for the account of his barrow digging-excursions in the North of Derbyshire"; but this obviously refers to some diggings made by the latter in the neighbourhood of Hathersage a few years subsequent to 1824, wlrich are given on page 27. The exception referred to above was the opening of a small barrow at One Ash, which was more successfully excavated by Thomas Bateman in 1844, and in the account of this on page 54, mention is made of Mr. Mitchell's earlier examination. It is difficult to understand why Mr. Mitchell should have been ignored, as his memoranda clearly prove his own presence, and inferentially, in one case at least, Mr. William Bateman's absence, this being the excavation of a large barrow at Haddon Fields, which was jointly made by himself and Dr. Ewer Colie. The frequent use of the pronoun "we" in the memoranda may be reasonably taken to indicate the presence of his host. For some reason or other, Mr. Mitchell's memoranda, so far as the barrows in the Youlgreave district are concerned, cease with 1825. In Vestiges, two subsequent barrow-openings are attributed to Mr. William Bateman, the one on the Garratt Piece in 1826, and ther other at Cross Flatts in 1827. Whether Mr. Mitchell was associated with these operations is uncertain. Mr. Bateman died in 1835, and nothing further is attributed to him in this respect. In the Dictionary of National Biography he is said to have "followed in the footsteps of Pegge and Major Rooke," and to have "made excavations into several of the barrows of the Peak District, and communicated some of the resuits to Archaeologia." No such communications, however, appeared in that publication, nor, so far as I am aware, anywhere else. However much he may have been interested in these researches, we know him rather as a collector of the dilettante order; whereas everything goes to show that Mr. Mitchell was an archaeologist in the full and true sense of the word.

[Fol.4r.] "Memorandum. Opening of Haddon barrow [Map], June 1^st 1824¹.

"With the permission and kind assistance of Dr. Ewer Colie Esq^r, I opened the barrow situate on the hill above the Eastern bank of the river Lathkill in Haddon pasture, in the County of Derby which, having been disturbed some years before with the view of procuring stone to build the adjoining fences, had been found to contain human bones, &c. The men who were employed on that occasion, broke into a vault or coffin walled round with loose stone, containing two human bodies, together with a rude urn of unbaked clay, and about 30 Roman coins (one Gallienus) now deposited in Haddon Hall, on finding which they were ordered to desist from their search.

"On the 2nd attempt to open it, I ordered a trench to be cut from the N.W. boundary to the centre, as well as an excavation to be made in the place where the vault was originally broken into. We discovered the vault marked out by stones rudely piled together on each side, and at the ends, which pointed about S.W. and N.E., the head of the skeleton² lying at the N.E. end of it. Among the rubbish we discovered many human bones, fragments of bones, some pieces of calcined bones, with several Roman coins. The teeth of a dog, and a number of heads and bones of rats and other small animals were discovered here and in other parts of the mound. In the section from N.W. the mound was found full of stones, which seemed to extend through the whole barrow. Among these stones, which were intermixed with earth, we discovered, about 3 yds. from the centre of the tumulus, a quantity of scattered Roman coins, to the number of 70³, with some pieces of lead ore, and a portion of glass, which seemed to have formed part of an urn of the same material. The decayed remains of an oaken board⁴, of about ¾in. thick, were found near the centre of the mount. We couid not discover any other vault than the one described, in the whole tumulus. From the fragrnents found in this excdvation, as well as the former, there must have been at least 4 earthen urns deposited in the barrow⁵. The coins found were Urbs Roma, one; Constantius, 9; Constantinus, 9; Constantinopolis, 2; Constans, 17; Valentinianus, 5; Valens, 12; Gratianus, 3; and the remainder iliegible. The mound was about 6o ft. in diameter and elevated 4 feet from the level of the ground. I have no doubt of its being constructed in the reign of the emperor Gratian, who was assassinated in the year 383⁶."

Note 1. Vestiges, p. 30, but the date given as May 31st, 1824, and without any mention of Mr. Mitchell or Dr. Colie.

Note 2. Vestiges, "the bodies were laid with their heads towards the north-east."

Note 3. Ibid. "eighty-two (quere 71)."

Note 4. Ibid. "traces of decayed wood" in the vault.

Note 5. These are said to have been in the vault, Vestiges.

Note 6. The mound, of course, was much more ancient, and the coins part of a hoard hidden in it at the time of Gratian or later. Derbyshire has supplied many instances of Neolithic and Bronze age barrows, which received at later periods deposits, sepulchral or otherwise.

[Fol. 43.] June 1^st and 2^nd 1824¹.

The large barrow [Gib Hill Barrow [Map]] situate 4 or 500 yds. from Arborlow, in a field called Gib hill [Map], belonging to M^r. Thos. Bateman of Middleton by Youlgreave, was opened by M^r W. Bateman (age 37), and myself, by driving a level through the S.E. side to the centre. The first covering which was about 2 yard in depth consisted of loose stones and earth, (but not so stoney as the Arborlow) under which a thin layer of tuft stone. Beneath this was a stratum similar to the first of about 1½ yards in thickness with a second thin bed of tuft stone. To this succeeded a stiff reddish brown clay, completely saturated with what we supposed to be animal matter, and having evident marks of fire. This clay was laid on the natural soil, about 1½ yds. in thickness, and 3 or 4 yards in diameter, and was throughout its whole circumference full of burnt bones and charcoal, disposed apparently in layers. A stratum of tuft stone which we supposed had been changed into a yellow ochry substance by the action of the fire, was placed under this; beneath which we penetrated to the solid rock 5 or 6 yds. in perpendicular height from the summit of the mount. We carefully examined the clayey stratum but could find no traces of an urn having ever been deposited; we found in the clay a small arrow head of flint, and a stone of somewhat peculiar shape, much broken, which might have been made use of as a hatchet², some pieces of burnt bones (whether human or not cannot be ascertained) and a (very) few bones of rats were found³.

The mount has, no doubt, been raised over the funeral pile of some family, in which the bodies were entirely consumed, perhaps before the introduction of urn burial. The tumulus has evidently been connected with the adjoining temple by a small rampire of earth which runs Southward from the vallum of the Arborlow, round this barrow to the Westward; but may not be coeval with the original foundation of the temple. The remains found are in the possession of Mr. W. Bateman of Middleton.

One of the men employed in this excavation stated positively that he and a John Broomhead, had, under the direction of Mr. B. Thornhill, of Stanton, dug down into the centre of this barrow many years before, when they found the bones of a human hand, and several Coins, some of which were silver, and that on their arrival at some large stones, they desisted. The coins were taken away by Mr. Thornhill. The stones appear to have been considerably above the stratum of burnt bones, &c. mentioned. On Mr. Bateman's application to Mr. Thornhill on the subject, he denied having any recollection of opening the barrow at all.

Samuel Mitchell (age 21) Junior.

Note 1. Vestiges, pp. 31-2, and briefly in Ten Years' Diggings, pp. 17-20, in both of which the above exploration is attributed to Mr. W. Bateman only. These pages in Ten Years' Diggings record the opening of this great-barrow by Mr T. Bateman, January 10th-17th, 1848, when a huge cist containing burnt human bones and a vase were found near the summit.

Note 2. "A battered celt of basaltic stone"- Ten Years' Diggings, p. 20. In addition to the "finds" enumerated above, a small iron fibula was found in the upper part of the mound.

Note 3. Mr. Mitchell's account of the opening of this barrow is valuable, as his description of the construction is more detailed antl explicit than that of Vestiges, p. 31. The exploration of 1848 proved that the upper portion of the mound had been raised over four small ones of clay, placed square-wise. The present writer has recently suggested that these may simply represent the mode of constructing a square mound like that near the south-west side of the great circle at Dove Holes [Map], and that the upper material of stones and earth represents a subsequent enlarging of the barrow when the cist was introduced (Reliquary, 1908). Derbyshire has supplied other examples of barrows which have been raised or otherwise enlarged upon the occasion of later burials.

Account of the opening of some sepulchral tumuli in the neighbourhood of Arbow-low Co. Derby - read before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Sheffield, June 3rd 1825¹.

May 18th 1825. On opening a tumulus on the hill called Kenslow², we met with a few remnants of the skull and other bones of a human skeleton deposited in a cist cut out of the solid rock, accompanied by a spear-head of Iron, and another small instrument of iron whose use we could not ascertain. The metal of which these were composed, was very much corroded. In the socket of the spear head the remains of wood were still visible; from the oxidation of the iron, it had become petrified, and as hard as the metal itself.

On the same ridge³ of hill, and not far distant, a very fine barrow was opened in 1825, an account of which I havealready presented to the Society in my essay on Arborlow.

A second barrow opened on this same day and situate close to the Roman Road which crosses this part of the country from Buxton to Little Chester, presented nothing on being opened but a mass of burnt bones, ashes, and charcoal, without either urn or interments of any description⁴.

Note 1. The portion of the paper "On Druidism", p. 157, relating to Derbyshire.

Note 2. Vestiges, p. 33

Note 3. lbid., p. 28.

Note 4. lbid., p. 33. Subsequently re-excavated by Mr. T. Bateman, 1844.

May 20th, 1825. With somewhat better success we opened a tumulus not far from the village of Middleton, and on the low ground near the river Bradford¹. The country people knew it by the name of Larks low [Map]. About the centre of the mount we discovered a cist formed of large stones set edgeways at the sides and ends with similar ones serving for a cover. It contained the decayed fragments of a human skeleton. On the Eastem side of the barrow, after removing a flat stone we discovered an earihern lamp² (Fig. 1 in annexed plate) which I should consider Roman, and which was placed on the top of a large urn full of burnt bones and ashes. The urn being composed of clay, which had only been baked in the sun, fell into small pieces on the slightest touch, so that no part of it could be preserved. Fig. 3 presents the manner in which it was ornamented by zig-zag scratches, and from a segment of the circle measured on the spot it appears to have been 7 inches diameter on the rim and 4¼ inches diameter at bottom. Its general shape seemed to be like Fig. 4.³ - The lamp which had been well baked, and is in great preservation was 3¾ inches diameter and 2 inches high. Fragments of human bones, along with the teeth and bones of horses and other animals (among which the water rat was, as usual, conspicuous,) were scattered throughout the mount.

A copper pin, Fig 2.⁴. rather more than 2 inches in length, which had previously served as a fastening for the dress, was also found.

These barrows are situate in this manor of Middleton by Youlgreave, belonging to Thomas Bateman Esquire⁵, and were opened under the superintendence of Mr W Bateman and myself. - l am decidedly of opinion that they are all Roman or Romanized British⁶.

Note 1. lbid., p. 33.

Note 2. A so-called "Incense cup."

Note 3. This is hardly likely to be a correct restoration of the cinerary urn.

Note 4. Not copper, but bronze, Evidently an awl, not a pin.

Note 5. Father of William Bateman.

Note 6. This, of course, is a wrong surmise. They are all of the Bronze Age.

May 19th 1825. We opened a barrow composed principally of stone situated on the top of Cronkstone Hill¹. It is on a farm belonging to the Duke of Devonshire, called Cronkstone Grange, in the Parish of Hartington, and is about three miles N.W. of Arborlow, which can be distinctly seen from it. We have discovered the remains of a human skeleton, deposited in a cist, formed of Stones, widely piled together, and about 4 feet in length. The body could not, of course, have been laid straight, but was doubled up with the knees towards the chin and breast, and reclined on the right side. This mode of interment is not very unusual in the Derbyshire barrows, and is supposed to be of the most remote antiquity. Under the head of the skeleton was placed the part of the horn of what I imagine to be the red-deer, and apparently must have been of large dimentions. It measures 9¼ inches round the base or root.

I have before noticed in my essay on Arbor-low that it was not uncommon to bury the horns of Deer with human bodies in these sepulchral tumuli. There was the usual accompaniment of rats' bones in this barrow, which I conceive, from analogous examples, should be referred to a very early date among the ancient Britons.

The top of Cronkston hill², which is of great elevation is surrounded by a vallum and rampart of earth and stones, of no great height, ranging about 100 yards on every side of the barrow, and apparently intended solely to enclose and protect it. On the East side of the Hill is an amphitheatre, which has been formed by the excavation of the earth from the sides of the hill in a semi-elliptic form. There is a low bench of turf running quite round the amphitheatre, which has clearly been used as a seat for the principal spectators. It is about 15 or 16 yards across, and to the eastward, which is the side open, a space of the same width, and perhaps 100 yds. in length has been carefully levelled, and may perhaps have served as a cursus. This place is very similar to the semi-circular cove of earth mentioned by Stukeley, in his 2nd Itinerary as existing at Staden Low, near Buxton, and which he, with great probability, imagined to have been used for shows. Whether these remains at Cronkstone have served as a place of common amusement for the inhabitants of this district, or have been used for games instituted in memory of, and to the honour of the warrior or hunter buried in this barrow, whose remains we have deterred, must, of course, be quite conjectural."

Samuel Mitchell Junior (age 22).

Note 1. Vestiges, p. 125.

10 Jun 1761[Fol. 45.]

Copied from MS of John Mander, of Bakewell.

Arbourlows [Map] viewed by Mr Pegge and myself, 10 June 1761.

There are 2 in the enclosed commons adjoining One Ash ground, the great one is environed (a) by a great circular rampire, whose height sloping is about 7 yards, the foss four yards (b) over, the area (c) flat of 50 yards diameter; round which are 32 very large limestone slabs formerly erect, now flat. This Mr Pegge called a British temple. It has two entrances, one to the East, another to the West¹. From that to the East runs a smail rampire, winding south westwardly to the 2nd low (D) at the distance of about 4 or 500 yards². On the NE³ side of the temple near the last entrance upon the rampire stands a large low, or mount of earth supposed a great barrow and is properly the low.

The low D⁴ is about 18 feet diameter at top, with a large hollow in the middle of its area summitt after the form of a bason, on the S side is a small faint rampire⁵ of earth with several breaks in it running across the field (at the distance of about 70 feet from the low) from the wall on the W, and across under the wall on wall to the E. N.B., On the W side of the western wall we could find no traces of this rampire, nor any place where it turned. This rampire crossing the Eastern wall as was said before passes quite to the foot of the great rampire of the temple."

Note 1. Mr Manders evidently had the compass bearings on the plan referred to in this MS., wrong. The entrances of the circle are nearly due north and south, and the tumulus is on the south-east.

Note 2. Gib Hill [Map], but its actual distance from the circle is about 300 yds. It is constantly stated by the older writers that this tumulus was connected with the circle by a "rampire." This, however, upon leaving the latter, does not point to Gib Hill [Map], but has a southerly course for about 200 yards, after which it curves to the west, but with a bearing considerably south of the latter, and is then lost. The recent excavations proved that it consists of a small bank and ditch.

Note 3. This tumulus is on the sonth-east.

Note 4. Gib Hill [Map],

Note 5. From personal observations, this is very doubtful (J.W.).