Combe Gibbet
| Combe Gibbet and Long Barrow | |
|---|---|
 The 1992 replica gibbet, seen in 2007 | |
| Type | GibbetandLong barrow |
| Location | Combe, Berkshire |
| Coordinates | 51°21′21″N1°29′04″W/ 51.35594°N 1.48439°W |
| OS grid reference | SU360620 |
| Built | 1676 |
| Rebuilt | 1992 |
| Official name | Long barrow at Combe Gibbet, Gallows Down. |
| Designated | 26 August 1924 |
| Reference no. | 1013198[1] |
  Location of Combe Gibbet and Long Barrow in Berkshire | |
Combe Gibbetis agibbetat the top ofGallows Down,near thevillageand just within thecivil parishofCombeinBerkshire(formerlyHampshire), England.
Location
[edit]The gibbet is located atgrid referenceSU360620,on theTest Wayclose to theBerkshire-Hampshireborder, it is named after the village of Combe, but it is also close toInkpen.The nearest sizeable town isNewburyinBerkshire.It is built on top of along barrowknown as theInkpen long barrow.The long barrow is 60 m long and 22 m wide, and is aScheduled Monument.[2][3][4][1]Walbury Hill(the highest point inSouth East England) is just a little further to the east.
History
[edit]It was erected in 1676 for the purpose of gibbeting the bodies of George Broomham and Dorothy Newman and has only ever been used for them. The gibbet was placed in such a prominent location as a warning, to deter others from committing crimes.[5]
Broomham and Newman were having an affair and were hanged for murdering Broomham's wife Martha, and their son Robert after they discovered them together on thedowns.Unfortunately for the lovers, the murder was witnessed by "Mad Thomas", who managed to convey what he had seen to the authorities. The pair were hanged in Winchester before being gibbeted at Combe.[5][6][7][8]
After the 1676 gibbet rotted, a total of 7 replica gibbets have stood in its place, the most recent having been erected in 1992.[5][9]
Tourism and leisure
[edit]Nowadays it is a popular local tourist attraction with good views of the surrounding area. It is also popular withhang glidersandparagliders.The hill is frequently used by the Thames Valley Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club.
The Combe Gibbet is also the start of a scenic 16-mile (26 km) off-road race toOvertonorganised by the Overton Harriers and Athletic Club. The race, which is typically in late March / early April of each year, is one of the few true off-road point to point running races in the UK, coaches taking competitors to the start.[10]
The "Combe Gibbet" Race takes in the highest hill in the South East of England,Walbury Hill;the highest in Hampshire,Pilot Hill;as well as Ladle Hill and the edge ofWatership Downbefore enteringOvertonthe source of theRiver Test.
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The Gibbet -
Looking up at Combe Gibbet from the East -
View from Combe Gibbet, looking north over theKennet Valley -
View from Combe Gibbet, looking east towardsWalbury Hill -
The Gibbet, seen at sunset
References
[edit]- ^abHistoric England."Long barrow at Combe Gibbet, Gallows Down. (1013198)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^"Combe Gibbet - MWB1574".Heritage Gateway.West Berkshire Council.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^L. V. Grinsell(1940)."An Analysis and List of Berkshire Barrows"(PDF).Berkshire Archaeological Journal(40).Berkshire Archaeological Society:55–56.doi:10.5284/1000017.Archived(PDF)from the original on 25 January 2018.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^F. M. Underhill (1946)."Notes on Recent Antiquarian Discoveries in Berkshire"(PDF).Berkshire Archaeological Journal(49).Berkshire Archaeological Society:51.doi:10.5284/1000017.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^abc"Combe Gibbet".Hungerford Virtual Museum.Archivedfrom the original on 7 February 2021.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^"Spirit of the South: The hilltop with more than a grisly tale to tell".itv.ITV.29 August 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 31 August 2019.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^"Combe Gibbet - MWB1576".Heritage Gateway.West Berkshire Council.Archivedfrom the original on 30 May 2021.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^"Berkshire Way - Hungerford to Combe Gibbet".bbc.co.uk.BBC.Archivedfrom the original on 1 June 2018.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^"Unveiling the new Combe gibbet"(PDF).Newbury Weekly News.1992.Archived(PDF)from the original on 6 February 2021.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^Steele, Jacqueline (27 June 2021)."Combe Gibbet: The wooden post in Berkshire with a grim history".getreading.co.uk.GetReading.Archivedfrom the original on 7 July 2021.Retrieved24 July2021.