Ivinghoe Beacon

History

The hill is an ancient signal point, which was used in times of crisis to send messages across long distances. It is also the site of an early Iron Age hillfort protected as a scheduled monument.

Archaeological evidence has revealed human activity dating back to the Bronze Age, and the area contains many other scheduled Monuments, including a number of Bronze Age burial mounds and the faint remains of an Iron Age hillfort at the top of the hill. There also exists evidence of ancient farming as the Beacon is also crossed by deep channels which are thought to be cattle drovers' paths and cross-ridge dykes. The prehistoric earthwork, Grim's Ditch passes to the south of the Beacon at Incombe Hole.

Nature

Ivinghoe Beacon is part of the Ivinghoe Hills Site of Special Scientific Interest and this area forms part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The chalk grassland supports a range of wildlife. A number of wild flower species grow on the Beacon such as rare types of wild orchid and pasque-flower, and these support endangered butterfly species such as the Duke of Burgundy.

Filming location

Ivinghoe Beacon's appearance of remoteness, yet relative proximity to the film studios at Pinewood Studios, Elstree and Leavesden, has made it a popular choice as a filming location. It has been used as a location for many dramas, especially those produced by ITC in the 1960s.

The Beacon has been used as a filming location in four Harry Potter films – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2. The Beacon also appeared BBC dramas Killing Eve and The Detectorists whilst also in the 2012 BBC adaptation of Richard II. In 2018 film crews shot scenes on Ivinghoe Beacon for the Star Wars movie The Rise of Skywalker.

References

References

1. "OS-Net | Ordnance Survey".
2. "Ivinghoe Beacon at Ashridge Estate".
3. "Map categories: Ivinghoe Beacon". The Chilterns AONB.
4. Those wishing to participate in model flying at the Beacon should review and comply with the agreement between the National Trust and the [http://www.ivinghoe.org.uk/ Ivinghoe Soaring Association].
5. "A slight univallate hillfort and bowl barrow on Ivinghoe Beacon Hill, Ivinghoe - 1009544 {{!}} Historic England".
6. "Ivinghoe Hills citation". Natural England.
7. "Map of Ivinghoe Hills". Natural England.
8. (2012). "Harry Potter Places: Snitch-Seeking in Southern England and Wales". First Edition Design Pub..
9. "Harry Potter returns to... the Leighton area". www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk.
10. (24 August 2018). "Ivinghoe Beacon part of the Star Wars universe?". UKRD.