History of Copt Hill in Houghton-le-Spring

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History of the Friends of Copt Hill

Dandelions at the Copt Hill The Friends of Copt Hill exist to preserve the monument for the wider community; to ensure that everyone has access to it and its environment; to investigate any history; to conserve artefacts and to improve the site for the enjoyment of all.

In 1999 Sunderland City Council was approached by the Great North Forest to form a partnership to purchase the land at Copt Hill from a private landowner. The aim was to improve the site's nature conservation, geological and archaeological landscape, to develop public access and to improve the site's potential as an educational resource.

The Friends of Copt Hill (FoCH) group was formed in April 2001 in order to raise awareness of and to protect a scheduled prehistoric burial mound, known locally as "The Seven Sisters", at Copt Hill, Houghton-le-Spring. (The "Seven Sisters" are the beech trees planted on top of the barrow around the turn of the last century.) The project is significant because it is enthusiastically supported and carried out by local residents with the additional support of community groups and professional advice.

In 2001 a geophysical survey by Geoquest Associates, for the Council, provided some startling results as it suggested that the barrow was surrounded by a complex of previously unknown features, of possible archaeological origin.

Image of Canon Greenwell September 2002 marked the 125th anniversary of the first known excavation of the Copt Hill barrow by Canon Greenwell, of Durham Cathedral, and Captain Thomas Robinson, the son of a Houghton brewer. The FoCH organised "Unveiling Seven Sisters", an open day held at the site using some of the money they had been granted by the Local Heritage Initiative and Nationwide Building Society Community Award. It was a most successful day; the weather could not be bettered and local people, and those from further afield, filled the site for a wonderful day of activities and history.

In 2002 the FoCH asked textile and visual artists, creative writers and a storyteller to visit the young people of Gillas Lane Primary School. The children drew, wrote stories and poems and designed artwork, including screen printing, cloth collage and 3D sculpture, using natural materials from the site. The results of their artwork can be seen all around the site as the designs were used to decorate the backs of the 7 benches that are sited to take in the best views of the site and the surrounding countryside. Children were also involved that year, with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, to help plant a new hedge around the perimeter of the site to create a wildlife corridor and to attract a wider variety of flora and fauna.

In 2003 and 2004, the FoCH held 2 archaeological digs. More information about these can be found in the Archaeological section.

FoCH have always been active - picnic tables and waste bins have been added to the site; there is now a path running from the Seaham Road entrance gate to provide access for the disabled; an information board and way markers; the 7th tree has been replaced; in October 2010, volunteers from Sunderland Springboard joined us to begin the mammoth task of removing some of the saplings that are threatening to overwhelm the site and have since returned in 2011 to do more.

The FoCH are hoping to get another grant later in 2011 to further enhance the site. If successful, it will be announced in the News section of this website.

Our grateful thanks go to all the volunteers and voluntary organisaitions that have helped us over the years, who are too numerous to mention.