Landscape

Discovering Black Down - caves of Burrington Ham

Discover how over thousands of years streams flowing over the impermeable sandstone rocks of Black Down onto the permeable limestone rocks of Burrington Combe have worn away cracks in the rocks to produce a series of sink holes known as swallets as well as creating caves. Many of these caves were homes to nomadic humans as well as animals over 10,000 years ago. Caves that are sited on the Ham include Foxes Hole, Lionel’s Hole, Milliar’s Cave, and Plumley’s Hole.

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Discovering Black Down - Burrington Ham Walk

A walk exploring Burrington Ham, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which features specialised limestone grassland and wild flowers, together with dramatic rocky outcrops, the impressive earthworks of Burrington Camp, and evidence of lead and calamine (zinc) extraction.

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Discovering Black Down - Tumps and the Heinkel He 111

Discover how by the summer of 1940 due to the fear of invasion by the German Luftwaffe tumps were built on Black Down to prevent aircraft landing and taking off again.

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Discovering Black Down - Starfish and World War II

Discover how In World War II (1939-45), Black Down became a key site in the defence of Bristol.
The decoy town at Black Down was one of the first, may have been the largest, of a network of sites across the country designed to divert bombing away from major cities.

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Discovering Black Down - Starfish Stories

During the research into the history of Starfish on Black Down several people shared stories of how they were part of the secret wartime history of the site. Here you will find their recollections of what life was like and how they were involved with the secret world of Starfish.

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