Between Pirton and Pegsdon are the Knocking Knoll and Tingley Plantation Round Barrows, there is evidence that the Knocking Knoll maybe a long barrow, but over time has been shortened due to farming, human remains were found in the barrow during excavation.  There is some mythology attached to the barrow. That there is a king or warrior buried in the barrow that knocks on a chest of buried treasure when the living approach.  

The Barrow is best viewed from the nearby nature reserve Knocking Hoe, (This reserve is well worth a visit not only for the wild flowers and wild life but also for the views across Bedfordshire and along the Chiltern edge, as Knocking Knoll is another ancient monument on private land.

Knocking Hoe is also the site of well-preserved Strip Lynchets, there are varied dates ascribed to these features are some consider them medieval, there is little doubt that they were farmed during the middle ages, but many consider them a lot older perhaps Neolithic, Iron Age or Roman. Standing on the top of Knocking Hoe hill and looking north into the plain behind the nearby farm north of Pegsdon common if you are at the right time of the year you many notice crop mark associated with the iron age or roman occupation, there has been coins and other archaeological evidence found in this area north of Knocking Hoe.

Crop Marks north of Knocking Hoe

Lynchets are evidence of farming on the sloped of hills, but some think that they could be associated with nearby barrows and Neolithic iron age settlements, with perhaps a ceremonial or religious, as well as farming purpose. The Barrows on the chalk ridges are though not to have been grass covered mounds but like the Westbury white horse on the Salisbury plain in they were white from the exposed chalk.  I like to think of the lynchets in this area to have a ceremonial purpose and at one time they were white scars along the sides of the hills, connecting the barrows and other sites along the hills. They would have been a real feature along the hill side and seen for miles across the Bedfordshire plain, if they were white stating we are here to anyone coming from the north.  Lynchets.

Tingley Barrow:

Tingley Round Barrow English Hertitage

Nearby Knocking Knoll, just outside the entrance to Knocking Hoe Nature Reserve is the Tingley Plantation Round Barrow, this barrow is more accessible, but still on private land, it is clearly visible on the path, without trespassing. This barrow is not a large as the Knocking Knoll, but still a significant feature over 20 meters in diameter and 3 meters high.

Tingley Round Barrow Heritage Gateway

Mythology Knocking Knoll Modern Antiquarian