Wimble Toot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wimble Toot |
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| Babcary, Somerset | |
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 Wimble Toot
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| Coordinates | 51°02′59″N 2°37′45″W / 51.0497°N 2.6291°W |
| Type | tumulus or motte |
Wimble Toot is an ancient mound located near the village of Babcary in Somerset, England. It could be a burial mound from a very long time ago, or it might be a motte, which is a type of mound used for a castle. Today, Wimble Toot is a protected historical site called a scheduled ancient monument. This means it's really important and kept safe for future generations to learn from.
What Does 'Toot' Mean?
The word Toot comes from an old English word, tōt. This word means a "lookout point." So, Wimble Toot might have been a place where people stood to watch over the area.
Ancient History of Wimble Toot
Many experts believe Wimble Toot is a type of bowl barrow. A bowl barrow is a round burial mound built during the Bronze Age. This period was between 2600 and 700 BC. Imagine people living thousands of years ago, burying their dead in these special mounds!
Today, Wimble Toot looks like a circular earthwork. It is about 27 meters (90 feet) across and 2.7 meters (9 feet) high. It also has a ditch on two sides. The mound sits on top of a ridge, looking down at a small stream. This stream flows into the River Cary. It is also close to an old Roman road called the Fosse Way. During Roman times, Wimble Toot was located at a place where important roads met.
Was Wimble Toot a Castle Mound?
There's another idea about what Wimble Toot might be. Some historians think it could be a "motte." A motte is a large earth mound that was part of an early castle. These castles were often built by the Normans after they conquered England.
If it was a motte, it was probably built between 1067 and 1069. It might have been built by a powerful Norman lord named Robert of Mortain. He might have built it to protect the River Cary and the nearby town of Ilchester. This would have been an important spot for controlling the area.
No matter if it was a burial mound or a castle motte, Wimble Toot is a very interesting part of England's history. It helps us understand how people lived and built things long ago.
