Brent Knoll

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Map sources for Brent Knoll at grid reference ST341510
Map sources for Brent Knoll at grid reference ST341510
The view towards Brent Knoll from Glastonbury Tor.
The view towards Brent Knoll from Glastonbury Tor.
Earthworks at Brent Knoll
Earthworks at Brent Knoll

Brent Knoll is a both a village in Somerset, England, at the foot of a hill (correctly referred to as the Knoll at Brent) with a height of 137 metres (450 ft), dominating the low surrounding landscape of the Somerset Levels. The name means Beacon Hill in Old English.

Brent Knoll has seen human settlement since at least the Bronze Age. It is the site of a Iron Age hill fort, with multiple ramparts (multivallate) following the contours of the hill, broken only by the main entrance on the eastern side. [1] Before the Somerset Levels were drained, Brent Knoll was an island, known as the Isle (or Mount) of Frogs, that provided a safe haven from the water and marshes. [2] According to legend, Ider son of Nuth, who was one of King Arthur's knights, came to the Mount of Frogs on a quest to slay three giants who lived there. [3] [4] [5]

The village of Brent Knoll lies at the south west base of the hill. Between 1875 and 1883 the village name was changed from South Brent to Brent Knoll to avoid rail passenger confusion with the village of South Brent in Devon.

Brent Knoll railway station on the Bristol and Exeter Railway operated from 1875 until 4 January 1971.

The Church of St Michael dates back to the 11th century but has undergone several renovations since the. The tower contains a bell dating from 1777 and made by William Bilbie of the Bilbie family.[6] It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Adkins, Lesley and Roy (1992). A field Guide to Somerset Archeology. Stanbridge: Dovecote press. ISBN 0946159947. 
  2. ^ Brent Knoll (Sacred sites around Glastonbury). Isle of Avalon. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
  3. ^ Brent Knoll (Hillfort). The Modern Antiquarian. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
  4. ^ A guide to Somerset's mysterious sites. Mysterious Britain Gazetteer. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
  5. ^ A gazetteer of Arthurian sites. Southern Methdodist University. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
  6. ^ Moore, James; Roy Rice & Ernest Hucker (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers. The authors. ISBN 0952670208. 
  7. ^ Church of St Michael. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 51.25434° N 2.94569° W