Plan submitted for modern burial mound in Wiltshire

The monument is planned for land near Cannings Cross Farm near Devizes

A planning application has been submitted to the local authority in Wiltshire to build a modern burial mound.

Developer Tim Daw wants to construct a new "long barrow" mound near All Cannings to give people another place to leave cremated remains.

The ancient tradition of burying the remains of the dead within earth mounds dates to the early Neolithic period.

Mr Daw said his plan is for "a modern interpretation" of a long barrow.

Wiltshire is home to a number of long barrows, including one at West Kennett a few miles from where Mr Daw is planning his monument on land near Cannings Cross Farm.

Mr Daw said the boat-shaped structure will be made partly from sarsen stone, and will span "about the length of three buses".

The interior will be made up of seven chambers within which box-shaped niches will be formed on up to four shelves.

Winter solstice

Each niche will be separated from the next and sealed with a lockable door.

Depending on the size of the vessel containing the cremated remains, each niche will provide storage for between six and eight containers for a family group.

Mr Daw said the monument will also be built to align directly with the sunrise of the winter solstice.

He said: "The sun rise will come up through the hills and shine right down through the length of the long barrow to the end of the passage way."

Wiltshire Council is expected to decide on the planning application in mid-October.