The village of Brent Knoll is just 30 minutes drive south of Bristol and if a brisk hike up a knoll followed by a hot Sunday roast sounds like your idea of fun, this is a great weekend outing. Brent Knoll is a 449ft hill on the Somerset Levels, which can be seen for miles around and has traces of human settlement going back to the Bronze Age.
Before the Levels were drained, Brent Knoll was an island, known as the Isle of Frogs and the Brent Hill Camp was an Iron Age hill fort. Be prepared for a steep climb and have your hiking boots on, but it's worth the effort with 360 degree views from the top.
Also at the top of the knoll is the Jubilee Monument, which records celebratory Jubilee dates as far back as 1887 up to Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee last year. It was one of the chosen locations to light a bonfire to mark the occasion.
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The village itself has a piece of royal history. A post box tucked away into the wall on the side of the Fox & Goose Hotel has the VR royal cipher, denoting that the post box was installed during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Adding to the history is the village school, Brent Knoll Church of England Primary opened its doors in 1861 and St Michael’s Church, with the oldest part dating back to Norman times in 1190. It has a blocked-up ‘Devil’s Door’ from the Middle Ages.
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The church’s 75ft tower was constructed between 1400-1450. A colourful memorial of John Somerset and his two wives can be seen inside the church. The graveyard is known for its war graves and is well worth a wander around.
With the anniversary of the Russian invasion into Ukraine yesterday, it’s interesting to note the ties between the village and Ukraine. The church has a stained-glass window depicting St Barbara who became a legendary martyr in the early church. St Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen and miners and relics of this saint are to be found in St Michael’s in Kyev in Ukraine. There is also a Church of St Barbara in Berdychiv in Ukraine on the site of a monastery.
The village hall contains a tapestry, which has recorded a social history of the village and reflects the active social buzz of residents. For a bite to eat and time to relax after the knoll hike, there is The Red Cow which serves some pub grub, as does the Fox & Goose which sources all its ingredients from local farmers and suppliers.
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