Reasons for Designation
The area of the Quantock Hills, although small in extent, is one of the few
remaining expanses of open moorland in southern Britain. Its archaeological
importance lies in the existence of a landscape displaying examples of
monuments tracing the exploitation of the hills from the Bronze Age onwards.
Well-preserved monuments from the Bronze Age and Iron Age, including round
barrows, cairns, settlements, hillforts and a trackway, as well as later
industrial remains, give insights into changes in the pattern of land use on
the hills through time. These earthworks are one of the key components of the
Quantocks' broader landscape character.
Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrow, are funerary monuments
dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most
examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC. They were constructed as
earthen or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple
burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as cemeteries and often
acted as a focus for burials in later periods. Often superficially similar,
although differing widely in size, they exhibit regional variations in form
and a diversity of burial practices. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl
barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring
across most of lowland Britain. In excess of 30 bowl barrows can be found on
the Quantock Hills. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major
historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable variation in
form and longevity as a monument type provide important information on the
diversity of beliefs and social organisations among early prehistoric
communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a
substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.
Cothelstone Hill lies at the south end of the sandstone ridge of the
Quantocks, has high visitor rates and exhibits a range of monuments in a
comparatively small area.
The bowl barrow will contain archaeological and environmental evidence
relating to its structure, function and period of construction. The post-
medieval folly, constructed on the barrow, gives the barrow an unusual
dimension and obvious historic interest.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow surmounted by foundations of a ruined
post-medieval folly. It is located on the highest point of Cothelstone Hill,
at the south west end of the sandstone ridge of the Quantock Hills.
The barrow mound is 1.5m high, and 12m in diameter. A spread of stone rubble
and earth covers an area to the north and west of the mound. A break of slope
on the western slope indicates the junction of the barrow and folly. The
folly is represented by a level platform on top of the mound in which stone
foundations are apparent. The circular tower was destroyed in 1910, having
been built for Lady Hillsborough, the estate owner, between 1768 and 1780 for
the purpose of viewing the surrounding country.
The monument was noted by L V Grinsell as Cothelstone Beacon in 1961.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
