'Significant damage' to protected historical site near Crowcombe
It is believed to have happened last week
There has been 'significant damage' made to a protected historical site near Crowcombe.
It is believed to have happened last week.
The damage to the cairn on Fire Beacon comes after it was also vandalised two years ago.
In a statement online (Wednesday 16 September 2026) Quantock Hills National Landscape said:
"We are aware of some significant damage to a protected historical site near Crowcombe that occurred last week, and again over the weekend.
"Information and evidence has been sent to Historic England.
"The pre-historic landscape is a key feature of the Quantock Hills with over 50 Scheduled Monuments and damage to a Scheduled Monument is a criminal offence.
"At these sites it is illegal to move rocks, stones or soil, to dig into or to cause any damage. It is also illegal to use metal detectors."
Iain Porter, Manager of the Quantock Hills National Landscape Team said:
“It is upsetting to see the level of damage caused to this Scheduled Monument. These sites (there are over fifty Scheduled Monuments on the Quantock Hills), form a vast network allowing us to understand the ceremonial importance of the hills from the Neolithic, through the Bronze-Age and into the Iron Age.
"We are working with the landowner and partners from Historic England and the South West Heritage Trust to assess the damage and to repair the site.”
Below is an image from before the damage.
A spokesperson from Historic England has said:
“It’s sad that there has been another instance of damage to the cairn on Fire Beacon. It was only recently repaired after being vandalised two years ago.
"Round cairns, like the cairn at Fire Beacon, are burial mounds which are up to 4,000 years old. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major visual element in the modern landscape which may include single or multiple burials.
"There are several cairns recorded on the Quantock Hills, although the original figure is likely to have been higher. Those that remain are protected as scheduled monuments which means it is a criminal offence to damage, dig or metal detect on them. Scheduled monuments are protected because they are the best examples of their kind and have the potential to tell us about the past, people, landscape, and climate.
"We ask that the public remain vigilant and report any further vandalism to Historic England and the Quantock Hills National Landscape team”.