If this walking challenge has taught me anything, it’s that there is so much history around us – if only we’d look! I’ve lived in a little town in Somerset for almost 20 years and (I’m ashamed to say) never really paid it much attention. I was just so focused on work, trying to run a business and bringing up my family that aside from a visit to the local museum on a rainy day and a few local walks – much of the local history had just washed over me.

While trying not to loose my mind walking 1000 miles during lockdown, I’ve been forced to look at local landmarks and history as inspiration for my walks. Over a few weekends it has unveiled some real historic local gems… and I’m pleased to say that my discovery has shone a spotlight on them for others too via Instagram and it’s been nice to see other people in the area have since visited them too! It’s like an historic ‘pay it forward’.

This last weekend while searching for Trig points I noticed something on the map, so I jumped onto Google maps for a closer look and sure enough there was a memorial that I wasn’t aware of. It was quite out of the way – but the reason for that would soon become clear.

The memorial was the Double Hills Arnhem Memorial

The Double Hills Arnhem Memorial

The memorial is located in the countryside between Midsomer Norton, Paulton and Farrington Gurney.

Erected in 1979, it commemorates the 23 lives lost when a glider crashed at Double Hills, Paulton in 1944. Located in the countryside at the site of the crash, the memorial is home to an annual service every September 1st – attended by veterans, local service personal and on occasion some high level dignitaries. Local papers report that 2020 was the last large scale service, as veteran numbers dwindle. Funds will be diverted to the upkeep of the memorial.

The British casualties who died in the incident were enroute to Field Marshall Montgomery’s Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem on Sunday, 17th September 1944. The story of this battle is portrayed in the movie “A bridge too far”

Visiting the memorial

Finding the memorial is really quite easy.
If you fancy a walk there is a footpath route which starts just opposite the local Tesco Supermarket and heads off immediately across the fields. The walk is notable as you circle around another local landmark – ‘the Volcano’, more correctly called Paulton Batch which ominously overlooks the town of Midsomer Norton. After a mile and a half of farmland (mostly grazing) you’ll find yourself in a field with a Trig point and adjacent is the memorial.

If you don’t want to walk – it is possible to drive and park in a nearby residential road – you will still have to walk across the field – to get to the memorial though so be parapred.