| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 Benty Grange Farm | |
  Location within Derbyshire | |
| Location | Derbyshire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°10′30″N1°46′48″W / 53.17500°N 1.78000°W /53.17500; -1.78000 |
| Area | 21.1 ha (0.21 km2; 0.081 sq mi) |
| Notification | 19 June 2012 |
| Natural England website | |
Benty Grange is aSite of Special Scientific Interest in the parish ofMonyash inDerbyshire, England. 21.1 ha (52 acres) in size and with at least four grass species and ten other plant species, it is considered of national importance as one of the largest areas of unimproved species-rich neutral lowland grassland in thePeak District National Park.[1] The area was confirmed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest on 8 March 2013, following notification of the designation on 19 June 2012.
Benty Grange is also the site of a largeAnglo-Saxonbarrow which on 23 October 1970 was listed as ascheduled monument. It was excavated on 3 May 1848 by the English antiquarianThomas Bateman, who discovered a richly furnished burial which included theboar crestedBenty Grange helmet, and fragments of theBenty Grange hanging bowl. The list entry for the barrow notes that other than this excavation, it is "undisturbed and retains significant archaeological remains."[2]
Benty Grange is a 21.1 ha (52 acres) area of grassland in Monyash parish in Derbyshire, England. It covers eight plots of land tended by two owners, David Woolley and Mark Allen, and partially surrounds the Benty Grange farmhouse.[3][4] Grasses in the area includeCynosurus cristatus,Anthoxanthum odoratum,Agrostis capillaris, andFestuca rubra; some other plants areCentaurea nigra,Ranunculus acris,Ranunculus bulbosus,Plantago lanceolata,Trifolium pratense,Leucanthemum vulgare,Lotus corniculatus,Hypochaeris radicata,Rumex acetosa, andConopodium majus.[1]
Notification of the designation as aSite of Special Scientific Interest was made on 19 June 2012.[1][3][5] It was confirmed on 8 March 2013,[3] over the objections of Woolley and five other parties in his support.[6]
Benty Grange also contains an Anglo-Saxonbarrow which was designated ascheduled monument on 23 October 1970.[2] The barrow has three elements: a central mound approximately .6 m (2 ft) high and 15 m (49 ft) in diameter, a surrounding fosse about .3 m (1 ft) deep and 1 m (3.3 ft) wide, and penannular outer banks around .2 m (0.66 ft) high and 3 m (10 ft) wide.[2] Taken together, the entire barrow is approximately 23 by 22 m (75 by 72 ft).[2] It was excavated on 3 May 1848 by English antiquarianThomas Bateman,[7] who discovered theBenty Grange helmet and theBenty Grange hanging bowl among the remains of a richly furnished burial.[8]Historic England notes in the list entry for the barrow, however, that other for than Bateman's excavation the barrow is "undisturbed and retains significant archaeological remains", and that further investigation would return new information.[2]
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