Burrow Mump
Burrow Mump is a hill and historic site overlooking Southlake Moor in the village of Burrowbridge in Taunton Deane, Somerset, England. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[1] Burrow Mump is also known as St Michael's Borough or Tutteyate.[2] Both words Burrow and Mump mean hill.[3]
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[edit] Geology and early use
It is a natural 24 metres (79 ft) high[4] hill of Triassic sandstone capped by Keuper marl standing at a strategic point where the River Tone and the old course of the River Cary join the River Parrett.[5]
Archeological surveys have shown some Roman material and three medieval pits. It is likely that it was a Norman motte with a terraced track which spirals around the hill to reach it.[6] It probably served as a natural outwork to the defended royal island of Athelney at the end of the 9th century.[7]
Excavations have shown evidence of a 12th century masonry building on the top of the hill. The first recorded writing mentioning this site is from William Worcester in about 1480 when he referred to it as Myghell-borough. A medieval church dedicated to St Michael, belonging to the Athelney Abbey,[8] dates from at least the mid 15th century. This formed a sanctuary for royalist troops in in 1642 and 1645 during the English Civil War, and a detachment of the king's army occupied it in 1685 during the course of the Monmouth Rebellion.[9]
[edit] 18th century rebuilding
In 1793, the church was rebuilt with a west tower, 3-bay nave and south porch, in squared and coursed lias with red brick and Ham stone dressings. The attempt at total rebuilding ended in failure to collect enough money, despite donations from Pitt the Younger and Admiral Hood,[6] and a church for the community was built instead at the foot of the hill (Burrowbridge) in 1838.[1] The ruined church is one of the churches dedicated to St. Michael that falls on a ley line proposed by John Michell. Other connected St. Michaels on the ley line include churches built at Othery and Glastonbury Tor.[10]
[edit] Memorial
The hill and ruined roofless nave with the remains of the porch, some window openings without tracery were presented, in 1946, by Major Alexander Gould Barrett, to the National Trust and serve as a memorial to the 11,281[11] Somerset men who lost their lives during the first and second world wars.[12] The ruin was classified as a Grade II listed building in 1963.[1]
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View from the summit of Burrow Mump, northeast to the village of Othery and, in the distance, to Glastonbury Tor
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The confluence of the River Tone and River Parrett at Burrowbridge, as seen from the top of Burrow Mump.
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View from the summit of Burrow Mump across the winter-flooded Somerset levels toward Aller Hill and the village of Aller, Somerset.
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View from behind the Mump, along the Burrow drove track.
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View of the ruins of St Michael's Church from the south-south-east.
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View of the ruins of St Michael's Church from the west.
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View of the ruins of St Michael's Church from the north-north-east.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Remains of church on Burrow Mump". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=271178. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ "Burrow Mump". The Gatehouse. http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/English%20sites/3244.html. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ Philip Coppens. "Glastonbury: England’s oldest sacred landscape?". http://www.philipcoppens.com/glastonbury.html. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
- ^ "Burrow Mump". European Garden Heritage Network. http://www.imaginethegarden.co.uk/burrowmump. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ Hawkins, Desmond (1982). Avalon and Sedgemoor. Tabb House. pp. 16. ISBN 0862990165.
- ^ a b "Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=44199. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ National Trust, Levels and Moors Partnership. interpretive signs at the foot of Burrow Mump & brochure/map (Map).
- ^ Hawkins, Desmond (1982). Avalon and Sedgemoor. pp. 121–122. ISBN 0862990165.
- ^ Adkins, Lesley and Roy (1992). A field Guide to Somerset Archeology. Stanbridge: Dovecote press. ISBN 0946159947.
- ^ "The St. Michael's Ley, England". Ancient-Wisdom. http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/stmichael.htm#stmichaelsley. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ Dunning, Robert (1983). A history of Somerset. pp. 101. ISBN 0850334616.
- ^ Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985). Curiosities of Somerset. Bodmin: Bossiney Books. pp. 82. ISBN 0906456983.
[edit] External links
- "Burrow Mump" - a 360° panoramic view from the top of Burrow Mump
