The Ancient Site of Brent Knoll, Somerset

Brent Knoll

Brent Knoll (Source:  Megalithic.co.uk)

Brent Knoll is a large hill or mound just south of Weston-super-Mare. It is flat topped (although this is possibly due to man made works) and rises some 450 feet (150 meters) above sea level.

There are various accounts as to how it came into existence, but the most popular, if slightly inaccurate, is the whilst Satan created the gorge at Cheddar, he threw a handful of rock out towards the sea and it landed on the Somerset Levels and became Brent Knoll. Remember that in Saxon times, the Knoll would have been surrounded by water in the winter as the spur of land at nearby Uphill was a port trading across Europe.

Scientists studying the geology of the Knoll show that it is made up (as most of the hills of the Mendips are) from limestone, and this particular outcrop dates from the Jurassic Period, some 300 million years ago

During its time under man's influence, the Knoll has been carved and remodelled many many times. There is archaeological evidence of Hill Forts dating from the Bronze and Iron Ages, which fit in well with the area as there is evidence of other such hillforts at Worlebury, Banwell, Uphill and the like. As it rises out of a seemingly flat area, it has also become a point of religious note. This would make sense as the translation of the ancient word "Brent" means "burned" and "knoll" means "hill", meaning thta the hill has a history of burning, and the burning on this religious site would have been offerings to the Pagan Gods.

During the Roman Occupation of Somerset, the Romans built a temple and a fort on the Mount of the Knoll, thus continuing its military and religious use. Coinage dating from circa 100AD and around 150-200AD have been found on excavations on the knoll, showing at least 100 years f occupation by the Romans.

As with what appears to be any large mound in Somerset, it has historic links with the legend of King Arthur, but this is just a legend. If we were to believe every story of King Arthur having a fort, castle, church or great hall on each of the hills and mounds in Somerset, the poor guy wouldnt have had much time to do any of the deeds he is alleged to have performed as he would have been too busy travelling from one to another of these sites.

Defensive Wall
(Source: Wikipedia)

The Saxons made a great military use of the Knoll during 875AD during a battle against some Viking Marauders that had landed at a nearby cove. The battle here was such a resounding success in favour of the Vikings that the area soon gained the name Battleborough, hence if you look locally you have Battleborough Lane and Battleborough Grange Hotel.

During 1939 and 1945, the Knoll saw action as a look out post for the Home guard, some remains of gun placements can still be seen up there, and it was no doubt used as a point of reference for the nearly qualified pilots training at nearby RAF Weston-super-Mare, which used to stand on the site now occupied by a housing estate in Weston called Oldmixon.

Ramparts and Defenses
(Source: Ancient Monuments.co.uk)

These days the Knoll is still used for celebrations, both Queen Victoria's Silver and Diamond Jubilee's were marked by the lighting of beacons on the Knoll, as was a beacon lit for our current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The local parish Church erect three crucifixes each Easter at the summit and these can be seen as far away as the M5 motorway running south to Exeter and Taunton. 

Crucifixes at Easter
(Source: megalithic.co.uk)

If you stand on the summit of Brent Knoll, it affords you a full 360 degree view of the area, on a clear day you can see most of Weston-super-Mare, Glastonbury Tor in the distance, Bridgwater Bay, Crooks Peak on the Mendips, down to Brean Down and on a really clear day you can see the Quantocks.

Although the remains of the hillforts from Saxon times are long gone as they would have been timber, some remains of more substantial stone walls exist. They aren't particularly high, but from the outside face, coming up from the slopes they still would have been formidable to try and climb over, especially when trying to do so under a hail of arrows, spears and men thrashing at you with swords.

There are all sorts of lumps and bumps on the top of the hill, indicating various buildings or burials being constructed over the ages. Access into the hill fort is the same as it has always been, via the North East side is is well worth a visit, just to take in the view if nothing else.