We had a little adventurer this afternoon. Husband has a gig tomorrow afternoon with his ukulele group (the Weston Ukulele players, aka WUPS) and as it’s on the Somerset Levels, he decided to visit today to check out the parking situation. The venue is in Burrowbridge, a small village of quite important significance going back to very early times because of Burrow Mump which is in the village. Burrow means hill, and so does mump, so it’s doubly named! There has been a church on top of the hill for nearly a thousand years, but the ruins which are visible today are probably from the fifteenth century, of a church dedicated to St Michael. The hill is a natural mump,
Burrow Mump is a hill and historic site overlooking Southlake Moor in the village of Burrowbridge within the English county of Somerset. It is a scheduled monument, with a never completed church on top of the hill a Grade II listed building.The hill stands at a strategic location overlooking the point where the River Tone and the old course of the River Cary join the River Parrett. Although there is some evidence of Roman visitation, the first fortification of the site was the construction of a Norman motte. It has been called King Alfred’s Fort, however there is no proof of use by Alfred the Great. A medieval church was built on the hill in the 15th century.
Thank you Wikipedia.
We were on a mission to find the venue, and parking availability, so we didn’t have time (nor the footwear) to explore the mump, but we did pop into the local pub as it was lunchtime. Named King Alfred after the monarch who allegedly burnt the cakes not far from here, It is a local building of some importance and is listed on the National Heritage List for England. Its appearance dates from 1806 but it is older than that, It was recorded as the Bell in 1710 then it was called The Anchor, and later the King Alfred as it remains. We didn’t stay long but headed home, this time not through the levels, but on a straighter A-road which led to the motorway. Maybe we will return to the pub and maybe we will sample their interesting looking menu!
