Thorncombe Beacon

Also known as:
Symomdsbury 1,2,3,4
Nearest town:
Bridport (3km ENE)
OS reference:
SY4360491613
OS sheet:
193
Latitude:
50° 43' 14.86 N
Longitude:
2° 47' 56.42 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Thorncombe Beacon (Round Barrow(s)) by formicaant

The second biggest of the barrows, this between the largest and smallest.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 17/09/09
formicaant
formicaant Sep 17, 2009
Image of Thorncombe Beacon (Round Barrow(s)) by formicaant

The smaller barrow looking south, the summit of the big one can just be seen.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 17/09/09
formicaant
formicaant Sep 17, 2009
Image of Thorncombe Beacon (Round Barrow(s)) by formicaant

The smaller barrow, from the top of the biggest looking north.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 17/09/09
formicaant
formicaant Sep 17, 2009
Image of Thorncombe Beacon (Round Barrow(s)) by formicaant

The biggest barrow from the top of the beacon, also in line is the smallest, Eype down barrow and Colmer’s Hill.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 17/09/09
formicaant
formicaant Sep 17, 2009
Image of Thorncombe Beacon (Round Barrow(s)) by formicaant

The largest of the barrows, set back from the edge of the cliff, Thorncombe Beacon itself is on the cliff edge.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 17/09/09
formicaant
formicaant Sep 17, 2009

Articles

Thorncombe Beacon

formicaant
formicaant Sep 18, 2009

Four barrows on a hilltop on the west Dorset coast. They are in a row from north to south and appear to point towards Colmer’s hill. A fifth barrow is also in line with them on Eype Down about half a mile to the north.
The first of the barrows is the mound on which the beacon itself sits. The second is the largest at about 12 feet in height and 30 odd yards in diameter. The next two are less distinct, possibly plough damage has lowered the height and they are now less easy to see as barrows.
This is a very prominent point on the coast from which you can see a long stretch of the Dorset and Devon coasts. It also has the advantage of far views inland. Very close by are other ancient sites such as Golden Cap, Colmer’s Hill and the recently excavated Doghouse Hill – probably the oldest site of human habitation in Dorset.

Folklore

Thorncombe Beacon
Round Barrow(s)
formicaant
formicaant Jan 16, 2010

“Some mounds on the Thorncombe Beacon and Langdon Hill are called the Devil’s Jumps”. It is said that the mounds were made where the devil bounced when the abbott of Forde Abbey kicked him out to sea.

Sites within 20km of Thorncombe Beacon

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