Copyright: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

MYD4437



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Penhill Beacon


Description:  Penhill Beacon applies to a green mound supposed to have been erected in the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603). (1) This feature stands about 3ft high, consisting of a pile of stones overgrown with moss and earth with a log in the centre, upon which it is believed fires were once lit. (2) "Leland wrote of 'the ruine of a castlet or pill in the toppe' (of Penhill) was surmounted by the beacon fired at the coming of the Armada". (3-5) Penhill Beacon, situated on the edge of Penhill Crags is a turf-covered flat topped mound, about 10m in diameter and 1m high. In the centre of the mound are traces of stone block walling approximately 5m square, which may have been the stone base for a beacon. The mound is covered in burnt debris from the 1977 Jubilee bonfire which supports the beacon tradition. (6) MORPH reference. (7) Possibly a Bronze Age barrow site (cf Beamsley Beacon). (8)

Country:  England

County:  North Yorkshire

District:  Richmondshire

Parish:  West Witton

Grid Reference:   SE054867

Map Reference:  [EPSG:27700] 405464, 486737

Period:  -2350 - -701, 1500 - 2000, BRONZE AGE, MEDIEVAL, C20

Subject:  BARROW (POSSIBLE), BEACON

Intervention Type:  FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)

Identifiers: 
[ADS] Depositor Id: MYD4437
[ADS] Associated Id: National Monuments Record SE 08 NE 1
[ADS] Associated Id: Monarch UID 48644
[ADS] Import RCN: YDNPA13-MYD4437

People Involved: 
[Publisher] Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Bibliographic References: 

  • Toulmin-Smith, L. (editor) (1964) The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543, Vol.5, pg.134
  • William Page (editor) (1914) The Victoria History of the County of Yorkshire, North Riding: Volume One, Pg.287
  • Toulmin-Smith, L. (editor) (1964) The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543, Vol.4, pgs.25-26
  • RCHME (1989-92) Yorkshire Dales Project
  • Ordnance Survey (nd) Small Scale Map Revisers Comment, 20/10/1950
  • Ordnance Survey (nd) OS Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comment, A.G. Markendale, 17/08/1977
  • Ordnance Survey (nd) Object Name Book Reference, 1910, pg.55
  • YDNPA (nd) Information Obtained From External Communications, Blaise Vyner, 05/12/2009