Coombe Heath

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery
SY86168451

Also known as:

Coombe Beacon and Monument No. 455471

Nearest town:

Lulworth (5km SW)

OS reference:

SY86168451

OS sheet:

194

Latitude:

50° 39' 34.15 N

Longitude:

2° 11' 44.97 W

Added to TMA by

formicaant

Images (8)
Fieldnotes (2)
Miscellaneous (1)

Images

Image of Coombe Heath (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery) by formicaant

The southern barrow, at the highest point of the hill.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 15/01/2009.

formicaant Jan 15, 2009

The most northerly and largest of the hill barrows.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 15/01/2009.

formicaant Jan 15, 2009

The central barrow.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 15/01/2009.

formicaant Jan 15, 2009

The northern barrow from the heath below, looking east.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 15/01/2009.

formicaant Jan 15, 2009

A small bowl barrow, fenced off and covered in vegetation.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 16/06/08

formicaant Jun 17, 2008

Two bell barrows, with a small low bowl barrow attached to the berm of the southern bell barrow.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 16/06/08

formicaant Jun 17, 2008

The northern bell barrow.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 16/06/08

formicaant Jun 16, 2008

A pair of bell barrows on the heath, with the Purbeck hills in the background.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 16/06/08

formicaant Jun 16, 2008

Articles

Coombe Heath

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery

formicaant Jan 16, 2009

A return visit to this site, not so peaceful this time as the army were playing war very close by. This time I was able to get onto part of the hill where the barrows are. I could only get photos of the northern three, they appear to be in good condition although low and covered in bracken.
It’s an odd site this with, what appear to be two sets of barrows on different levels but well worth a visit for it’s oddness and peacefulness – just don’t go on a thursday!

Coombe Heath

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery

formicaant Jun 17, 2008

This is a surprising place of peace and quiet, slap in the middle of military firing ranges. It is a nature reserve and when I visited the only sound I could hear was birdsong.
It is a mixed barrow cemetery containing about ten barrows, two of which are bell types. Six bowl barrows are on a low hill called Coombe Beacon. The two bells are on the low part of the heath, both have a visible berm and the northern still has traces of a ditch and bank.
The southern barrow has a small, low bowl barrow attached to the northeast edge.
One very small barrow is now fenced off, presumably to protect it.

Coombe Heath

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery

Chance May 25, 2014

etails of barrows on Pastscape

Barrow group on Coombe Beacon, comprises four bowl barrows and two bell barrows.
(Centred SY 860844) Tumuli (NR) (six shown) (1) A group of heather-covered round barrows on Coombe Beacon:
‘A’ SY 86148450. Bell barrow, 22.0m. diameter and 2.0m. high with berm approx 2.0m. wide. The mound is flattened and mutilated by rabbits and there is a surrounding ditch 2.3m. wide and 0.4m. deep.
‘B’ SY 86158445. Bell barrow, 22.0m. diameter and 1.8m. high with a berm averaging 2.0m. wide. The surrounding ditch is 2.0m. wide and 0.3m. deep. The top of the mound has been mutilated by rabbits.
‘C’ SY 85998440. Bowl barrow, 26.0m. diameter and 1.7m. high on the south and 1.2m. high on the north. There is no evidence of a berm or ditch, and the mound is flat topped and spread.
‘D’ SY 86008435. Bowl barrow, 15.0m. diameter and 1.2m high with no trace of berm or ditch, slightly mutilated at the sides.
‘E’ SY 85968435. Bowl barrow, 15.0m. diameter and 1.1m high with no trace of berm or ditch mutilated by rabbits.
‘F’ SY 86068449. Bowl barrow, 18.0m. diameter and 0.25m high, much spread, but with no trace of berm or ditch. (2)