Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 246359
Hob Uid: 246359
Location : West Sussex Chichester Singleton
Grid Ref : SU8770011000
Summary : Site of beacon on St Roche's Hill, first mentioned in 1586, and apparently re-used intermittently into the early 19th century. RCHME survey of the Neolithic enclosure (SU 81 SE 52) and hillfort (SU 81 SE 21) in 1995 could not positively identify any earthworks which may be associated with the beacon, though it may have been associated with the chapel of St Roche (SU 81 SE 22) which occupied the highest point of the hill.
More information : SU 8770 1101 : Beacon [TI] (1) Beacon symbol shown. (2) Notes as a Beacon Hill in Medieval times. (Rook's Hill) and by Ogilby in 1731. (3) No field action - M /62/10. (4) No remains visible. (5) (SU 877 110) In May 1995, RCHME carried out an analytical earthwork survey of St Roche's Hill in the course of the investigation of the causewayed enclosure (SU 81 SE 52) as part of the project to record Industry in the Neolithic Period (6). No earthworks could positively be identified as associated with the beacon, though it seems likely that the chapel of St Roche (SU 81 SE 22), which can be identified, may have been involved, since this stood on the highest point of the hill. The first mention of a beacon on the hilltop dates to 1586 (6a); it was indicated on 17th century maps and was mentioned again in 1731 (3; 4) and in the Napoleonic period (6a). For further details, see RCHME Level 3 client report and plan at 1:1000 scale, held in archive. (6)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 1" 1813
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : Map of Sussex (1646) (Jansen)
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Source Number : 3
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Source details :
Page(s) : 148
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Vol(s) : 15, 1863

Source Number : 4
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Page(s) : 167
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Vol(s) : 19, 1867

Source Number : 5
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Source details : F1 PAS 24-SEP-70
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : RCHME: Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic Period: St Roche's Hill Survey
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Source Number : 6a
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Source details : Kitchen, F. The ghastly war-flame: fire beacons in Sussex until the mid 17th century.
Page(s) : 179-82
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Vol(s) : 124, 1986

Source Number : 7
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Source details : English Heritage Schedule Entry 27-APR-1998
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Last mentioned early 19th century
Monument End Date : 1833
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Beacon
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : First mentioned 1586
Monument End Date : 1586
Monument Start Date : 1586
Monument Type : Beacon
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 31201
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SU 81 SE 22
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Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1970-09-24
End Date : 1970-09-24

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-05-03
End Date : 1995-05-16

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 246359