Burrow Mump
Burrow Mump is a hill and historic site at ST356303, overlooking Southlake Moor in the village of Burrowbridge in Somerset.
The remains oif St Michael's Church stand atop the mump and are 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.
Geology and early use
The Mump appears to be a mainly natural hill 79 feet high, but shaped by the hand of man. Geologically it is of Triassic sandstone capped by Keuper marl. It stands at a strategic point where the River Tone and the old course of the River Cary join the River Parrett.[3]
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.[4] It probably served as a natural outwork to the defended royal island of Athelney at the end of the 9th century.
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,[5] dates from at least the mid 15th century. This formed a sanctuary for royalist troops in 1642 and 1645 during the Civil War, and a detachment of the King's army occupied it in 1685 during the course of the Monmouth Rebellion.[6]
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,[4] and a church for the community was built instead at the foot of the hill (Burrowbridge) in 1838.[1]
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[7] Somerset men who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.[8] The ruin was classified as a Grade II listed building in 1963.[1]
Pictures
Views from the summit
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Ruins of St Michael's Church
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The ruins of St Michael's Church from the south -
The ruins of St Michael's Church from the west -
View of the ruins of St Michael's Church from the north-north-east.
Outside links
- "Burrow Mump" - a 360° panoramic view from the top of Burrow Mump
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Images of England — details from listed building database (271178) Remains of church on Burrow Mump
- ↑ "Burrow Mump". The Gatehouse. http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/English%20sites/3244.html. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ↑ Hawkins, Desmond (1982). Avalon and Sedgemoor. Tabb House. pp. 16. ISBN 0-86299-016-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=44199. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ↑ Hawkins, Desmond (1982). Avalon and Sedgemoor. pp. 121–122. ISBN 0-86299-016-5.
- ↑ Adkins, Lesley and Roy (1992). A field Guide to Somerset Archeology. Stanbridge: Dovecote press. ISBN 0-946159-94-7.
- ↑ Dunning, Robert (1983). A history of Somerset. pp. 101. ISBN 0-85033-461-6.
- ↑ Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985). Curiosities of Somerset. Bodmin: Bossiney Books. pp. 82. ISBN 0-906456-98-3.