Scheduled Monument: Three round barrows on Withycombe Common, 360m north of Fire Tower (1021119)

Details The monument, which lies in three separate areas of protection, includes three round barrows of prehistoric date located on Withycombe Common on the summit of Black Hill. The barrows form a linear group of three which are aligned from north to south along the spine of the hill. The southernmost barrow is formed by an irregular circular mound with a height of 2.2m and a diameter of between 25.8m and 29.3m. It is surrounded by a narrow berm with an external ditch from which material was quarried during the mound's construction, and it has an overall diameter of 31.6m. It is surmounted by an Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar. The central barrow of the three, located 145m to the north of the former, has a flat-topped mound, 0.4m in height and 11.7m in diameter. The mound has been disturbed in the past; the south east side has been removed and stone has been dug from its centre and placed on its top. The northernmost barrow is located a further 130m to the north and is formed by a flat-topped earth and stone mound, 11.6m in diameter and 0.5m high. A modern stone-heap, about 2m in diameter and 0.75m high lies at the centre of the mound. Both the central and northernmost barrow mounds, in keeping with the southenmost barrow and with other barrows in the region, are surrounded by quarry ditches. Although these are no longer visible at ground level they will survive as buried features up to 2m wide. Selected Sources Book Reference - Title: National Monument Record - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 93 NE 4 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 - Page References: 42 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Withcombe 2 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 - Page References: 42 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Withycombe 1 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 - Page References: 42 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Withycombe 3