THERE has been much speculation recently about the location of Civil War burial pits on or near Powick Hams.

Bob Jenkins, of the Battle of Worcester Society, told me during last month's expedition to the Hams, that three skeletons had been found in the vicinity of his house not long after he'd moved to the village.

He thinks these were the bodies of men killed during the first skirmish of the war in 1642. So although we are talking about a different action in this case, the presence of the bones certainly provides tantalising clues to whatever mysteries the fields conceal.

As far as the 1651 battle is concerned, the indelicately named Stinkhole is a definite contender for burial pit status. I wonder - could the stink' refer to the smell of decomposing bodies, a memory that has lodged in folk consciousness?

Or perhaps the word is actually sink' a reference to the large depression in the ground? It seems to me that, as the corpses settled in the earth, the soil would have slowly subsided, thus creating a dip. In this particular case, this spot is always the last section of the Teme hams to dry out after flooding. The land has never been used for any purpose other than grazing - nothing has ever been extracted, so this therefore reduces the number of possible options.

The trees and undergrowth also hint at the Stinkhole being the most likely contender, for if this land has not been used for agricultural purposes, foliage would have quickly taken over the site.

The floor of this copse is mainly nettles and other nitrogen-loving plants, sure signs of human activity.

I am convinced that these water meadows will eventually reveal their secrets - and then those who gave their lives for King or Parliament will perhaps be allowed to rest in peace.