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Summary

Trinity Beacon. Built or rebuilt in 1678, consisting of a beacon and a beacon house.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1017950: Trinity Beacon

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY39NW/1
• Old SAM County Ref: 402
• Old SAM Ref: 29644

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BEACON (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

Unknown, MIGRATED RECORD - MONUMENT PROTECTION PROGRAMME DATA (Migrated Record). SDV331.

Beacon house was perhaps not dissimilar to the surviving example at culmstock. The beacon itself considered by russell to be pre-elizabethan (mpp).

Pulman, G. P. R., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV103269.

Vis=estimated -/-/1870 (pulman) the beacon of musbury castle. Parish books of axminster contain entry:of the erection of the beacon under warrants of local magistrates in 1679. Remains are still to be seen of stone and shaped like a beehive. In the walls there are slits which command views. Also the remains of a fireplace. The beacon house is now surrounded by firs and the beacon ivy covered.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV1142.

Vis=14/1/1983 (robinson) 8m outside the sw corner is a short section of bank, about 0.3m high, 3m wide, of chert construction with no ditch visible (worksheet).

AM7, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV124422.

Trinity beacon.198m above sea level. Built or rebuilt in 1678, consisting of a beacon and a beacon house, cost shared by the parishes of axminster, thorncombe, musbury, and uplyme.22.86m by 21.95m. Small square earthwork, enclosed by a bank. No entrance. Situated on west slope of trinity hill. Interior levels. No signs of bonfire mounds (am7).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV124430.

Russell, p. /tda/87(1955)291/fire beacons in devon, appendix a.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV124431.

Pulman, g. P. /the book of the axe/(1875)643,771.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV124432.

Osa=sy39nw1.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV124433.

Wilkin, w. H. /dcnq/(1936-1937)260/trintiy beacon near axminster.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV124434.

Des=worksheet + sketch (14/1/1983)/in parish file.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV124435.

Des=mpp/144399.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV124436.

Des=devon county council/fire beacons:warning signals across the countryside/(2000)/copy in smr.

Salvatore, J. P., Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV23685.

Vis=-/-/1997 (salvatore) survives as a low earthwork. Beacon house no longer visible above ground. Beacon site identified as a low, near rectangular and flat topped earth bank, c.3m wide, 0.3m high, fronted on all sides by a ditch 2m wide, 0.6m deep. Internal dimensions are 24.5m e-w by 21.4m.

Wilkin, W. H., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV31915.

Vis=16/11/1953 (os) remains consist of a small rectangular enclosure slightly raised in the interior within which a building formerly stood. A transcription of a financial account of the building of the beacon and beacon house in 1678 is given (wilkin).

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, 17, Part 1; 13, Part 1; 120, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 438 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

Possible barrow circa 70 metres north of Trinity Beacon with further mound to north possibly representing spoil. Site lies to south of survey area.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 438 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 438 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site Nos. 2907 and 3012 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Trinity Beacon. Low earthwork survives. Scheduled Monument.

Trinity Beacon (SMR No. 22) is just visible as a low mound on aerial photograph, surrounded by a previously unrecorded (?ditched) boundary (see Site No. 2907).

English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West, 94 (Report - non-specific). SDV355280.

Generally satisfactory but with significant localised problems. Declining. Principal vulnerability plant growth.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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