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Walk, cycle and ride on our suggested routes around the Hills.

Click here to see all routes.

Planning a visit or looking for something to do this weekend? Check the Diary of Events here

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Heritage

The remarkable historical and archaeological value of the Blackdown Hills is one of the reasons the area is protected. The landscape has been shaped by man, from early hunters to modern farmers.

For a summary of the history of the Blackdown Hills, see section 2 of the Management Plan

The AONB supports the Blackdown Archives group, which is gathering and making available a wealth of local material.
Blackdown Archives website

We organise an active heritage group and there are many other local groups with an interest in history, heritage and archaeology. For details of these groups, or for further historical enquiries, please contact us.

Parish Chests

This was a heritage project carried out by local people in 1998. They gathered historical material about six parishes: Otterford, Clayhidon, Churchstanton, Yarcombe, Blackborough and Luppitt. This information was put online and can be seen on the Parish Chests website.

Useful links:

Pastscape - National Monuments Record entries for the Blackdown Hills, including Row Barrow, Brown Down Woods, Robin Hood Butts, Broad Down and Dunkeswell Airfield.

English Heritage Viewfinder, Luppitt collection of photographs

English Heritage Viewfinder, Combe Raleigh collection of photographs

Devon Archaeology

Somerset Archaeology and Natural History

Devon County Council's historic environment pages

Somerset County Council's historic environment pages

Devon museums service

Somerset museums service
 
Devon Record Office

Somersert Historic Environment Record

Archaeology Data Service - Search under 'Blackdown Hills'  to show records of excavations in the area

Wellington Oral History Group - The Workers Tale, CD recordings of people who worked in the main industries in Wellington, and includes some who lived in the Blackdown AONB. These are located in Wellington Museum, where there is a CD player. Tel. No. for opening times - 01823-666702

Wellington Museum - has documents, photographs and artefacts of Welington town, including villages around and in the Northern part of Blackdown AONB. Tel. No. for openinmg times - 01823-666702

 

 

Heritage location map

To show further detail of each place, click on the marker.

multiple map pins
Multiple Places
Click to zoom
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