MSO7653 - Selworthy Beacon (Monument)

Summary

A Bronze Age burial cairn and possible post-medieval beacon site on Selworthy Beacon. The cairn is visible as a rough circular platform measuring 10.4 metres by 11.5 metres and 1.1 metres high.

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Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

Barrow 20 paces in diameter and 3 feet high. Visited by Grinell 11 September 1959. [1] Marked "Selworthy Beacon" on Ordnance Survey Archaeological Division 6 inch map. [2] Modern cairn stands on what may be the remains of a truncated cairn though it may only be a beacon platform. [3] In good condition. [4] The cairn on Selworthy Beacon is part of a group of cairns which lie on the ridge to the east of the Beacon, close to Hill Road. The cairn was surveyed using differential GPS as part of the RCHME East Exmoor project, and lies at SS 91873 47986. The cairn is defined by a roughly circular stony platform, 10.4 metres north to south, 11.5 metres east to west and 1.1 metres high. A modern stone cairn lies in the centre of this platform, and the OS triangulation pillar lies on its eastern edge. [5] The association with a post medieval beacon site comes from the 1st edition OS map for the area, which does not mark the cairn but calls the area "Selworthy Beacon". [6] Monument scheduled on 3 September 2002. [8] The Bronze Age burial cairn is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs. [9-11] The Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment of 2009 gave the site a survival score of 8. [12] The site was surveyed in October 2015 as part of the 2015 Exmoor Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment. It was given a survival score of 7. [13] The site is recorded on 2018 MasterMap data and labelled Selworthy Beacon. [14]

Sources/Archives (14)

  • <1> Article in serial: Grinsell, L.V.. 1969. Somerset Barrows. Part I: West and South. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. 113. P. 36.
  • <2> Map: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1962. 6" SS94NW.
  • <3> Unpublished document: PALMER, JP. Field Investigators Comments. Ordnance Survey visit, 22 July 1965.
  • <4> Unassigned: July 1976. NT Ancient Monuments Record.
  • <5> Unpublished document: Riley, H.. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 1998.
  • <6> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500. 1889, Somerset 34(3).
  • <7> Article in serial: Osborn, B.. 1983. Parish surveys in Somerset five: Minehead Without. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. 5. P. 20.
  • <8> Unpublished document: English Heritage. 16/9/2002. English Heritage to Somerset County Council.
  • <9> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/106G/UK/1655 3015-3016 (11 July 1946).
  • <10> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR SS 9248/9 (15449/21) (15 May 1996).
  • <11> Archive: Severn Estuary Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment: SS 94 NW. MD000133.
  • <12> Report: Bray, L.S.. 2010. Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment 2009, Exmoor National Park.
  • <13> Report: Gent, T. and Manning, P.. 2015. Exmoor National Park Scheduled Monument Condition Survey 2015.
  • <14>XY Map: Ordnance Survey. 2018. MasterMap. [Mapped feature: #45063 ]

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO767
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11427
  • Local List Status (No)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 NW102
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • Pastscape HOBID (was Monarch UID): 1121904
  • Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 33801

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 91879 47988 (13m by 11m)
Map sheet SS94NW
Civil Parish MINEHEAD WITHOUT, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (10)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Nov 17 2020 1:36PM

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