# Blow's Down

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blow's_Down
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blow's_Down.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blow's_Down
> Source revision: 1281276150
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Part of the Chiltern Hills, Bedfordshire

Blow's Down Site of Special Scientific Interest Northwest-facing view from the viewpoint at Blow's Downs SSSI. Location of Blow's Down. Location Bedfordshire Grid reference TL033214 Interest Biological Area 33.1 hectares Notification 1989 Location map Magic Map

**Blow's Down** (or Blow's Downs) is a 33.1-hectare (82-acre) biological [Site of Special Scientific Interest](/source/Site_of_Special_Scientific_Interest) in [Dunstable](/source/Dunstable) in [Bedfordshire](/source/Bedfordshire). It was notified in 1989 under Section 28 of the [Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981](/source/Wildlife_and_Countryside_Act_1981), and the local planning authority is [Central Bedfordshire Council](/source/Central_Bedfordshire_Council).[1][2] The site forms around half of the 62.3-hectare (154-acre) Blow's Downs nature reserve, which is managed by the [Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire](/source/Wildlife_Trust_for_Bedfordshire%2C_Cambridgeshire_and_Northamptonshire).[3] It has a maximum elevation of 212 m.[4]

The site has varied habitats with a large area of unimproved grassland, a scarce survival of this important habitat. Cattle help to maintain the pasture. Features include a disused quarry and medieval cultivation terraces. A rare plant, [Bunium bulbocastanum](/source/Bunium_bulbocastanum), and beetle *Odontaeus armiger*[1] can be found at the site.

Dunstable is built around Blow's Down, from the south around clockwise to the east. The [A5](/source/A5_road_(Great_Britain)) road follows a valley between the Blow's Down and the neighbouring [Dunstable Downs](/source/Dunstable_Downs), which together make up part of the [Chiltern Hills](/source/Chiltern_Hills) range.

There is access from Jeans Way in the north, from Jardine Way and Half Moon Lane in the west, and from Skimpot Road in the east.[2]

Northwest-facing view of Dunstable from the viewpoint of Blow's Downs at sunset (August 2016).

## History

A sketch of the sites of the remains of Neolithic huts found on Blow's Down, from Worthington G. Smith's *Man, the Primeval Savage.*

### Neolothic era

Blow's Down has a lengthy history, with evidence of human habitation dating back around 4000 years.[5] The archeologist [Worthington G. Smith](/source/Worthington_George_Smith) identified several remains of [Neolithic](/source/Neolithic) huts, finding among other things a horse's bone and, in 1888, part of a human skeleton.[6]

### Medieval period

Following the establishment of the town of Dunstable by [Henry I](/source/Henry_I_of_England), the land would likely have been rented by the king, with the slopes of the downs being mainly used for grazing as they were too steep to plough.[5] There is however, some evidence of crops being grown, namely the existence of [strip lynchets](/source/Lynchet), quite visible in the area now known as Cottage Bottom fields. Blow's Down was one of relatively few places in England permitted to hold [tournaments](/source/Tournament_(medieval)) during times of calm, with a tournament being held in 1214.[7] The fields at the foot of Blow's Down would likely have made ideal locations for such mock battles of the time.

Thomas Jefferys' 1765 map of Bedfordshire, showing Dunstable as "Dunstaple" and the area now known as Blow's Down as "Souches Downs"

At the top of the downs lies [Zouche's farm](/source/Zouches_Farm_transmitting_station), which is likely to have been the site of Zouche's manor, an important estate of the family of the name la Zouche of Harringworth, who leased the land in the mid 14th century. For a while, among other names, Blow's down was eponymously referred to as Zouche's (or Souches) Downs, as seen in [Jefferys'](/source/Thomas_Jefferys) 1765 map of Bedfordshire.

### 1800s and onwards

Throughout the 1800s and later, the Downs underwent several changes from human activity. The parliamentary [enclosures](/source/Enclosure) of the early 1800s would likely have drastically changed the appearance of Blow's Downs, due to hedges planted to separate fields. Around this time is when the Downs became known by the name they are known today, probably named after tenant farmers at Zouche's farm with the surname "Blow".[8][5]

In the early 20th century, commercial [chalk extraction](/source/Chalk_mining) brought further, large changes to Blow's Downs. There is evidence of a limeworks on the Downs by 1901.[5][9] The [Luton-Dunstable rail link](/source/Hertford%2C_Luton_and_Dunstable_Railway), which opened in 1858, provided transportation of lime away from Blow's Down. The British Portland Cement Manufacturing Company acquired the lease to the site, and were still running the works during the 1920s. Production ceased some time before the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II), with the chalk pit being used by the [Home Guard](/source/Home_Guard_(United_Kingdom)) as a training area.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-citation_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-citation_1-1) ["Blow's Down citation"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000359/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1005495.pdf) (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from [the original](http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1005495.pdf) (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-map_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-map_2-1) ["Map of Blow's Down"](http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271005495%27). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 24 August 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WT_3-0)** ["Blow's Downs"](http://www.wildlifebcn.org/reserves/blows-downs). Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 24 August 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Ltd, Copyright The mountain Guide-A.-Connect. ["Blow's Down | England"](https://www.themountainguide.co.uk/england/blow-s-down.htm). *UK mountain Guide*. Retrieved 3 August 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_5-3) Turner, David (February 2015). ["Blow's Downs"](https://dunstablehistory.co.uk/Newsletters/Newsletter43.pdf) (PDF). *Dunstable District Local History History Newsletter No. 43*. pp. 320–321.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Smith, Worthington George (1894). [*Man, The Primeval Savage*](https://books.google.com/books?id=fGMFAAAAMAAJ). pp. 323–325.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Osborne, Mike (2021). *Defending Bedfordshire*. Fonthill Media.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Turner, David (2016). ["Blow's Downs Update"](http://dunstablehistory.co.uk/Newsletters/Newsletter45.pdf) (PDF). *Dunstable & District Local History Society Newsletter No. 46*. p. 335.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Bedfordshire Sheet XXXII.NE"](https://maps.nls.uk/view/101568620). *National Library of Scotland*. Retrieved 4 August 2023.

v t e Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Bedfordshire Biological Barton Hills Blow's Down Cooper's Hill Deacon Hill Dropshort Marsh Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs Fancott Woods and Meadows Felmersham Gravel Pits Flitwick Moor Galley and Warden Hills Hanger Wood Houghton Regis Marl Lakes Kings and Bakers Woods and Heaths Kings Wood and Glebe Meadows, Houghton Conquest Knocking Hoe Marston Thrift Maulden Church Meadow Maulden Heath Maulden Wood and Pennyfather's Hill Nares Gladley Marsh Odell Great Wood Potton Wood Pulloxhill Marsh Sandy Warren Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills Southill Lake and Woods Stevington Marsh Sundon Chalk Quarry Swineshead Wood Tebworth Marsh Tilwick Meadow Totternhoe Chalk Quarry Totternhoe Knolls Wavendon Heath Ponds Yelden Meadows Geological Biddenham Pit Double Arches Pit Kensworth Chalk Pit Nine Acres Pit Totternhoe Stone Pit

v t e Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Bedfordshire Bedford Begwary Brook Cople Pits Felmersham Gravel Pits Pavenham Osier Beds Sewell Cutting Sharnbrook Summit Wymington Meadow Central Bedfordshire Arlesey Old Moat and Glebe Meadows Barton Gravel Pit Blow's Downs Cooper's Hill Cut-throat Meadow Dropshort Marsh Fancott Woods and Meadows Flitwick Moor King's Wood and Rammamere Heath Lancot Meadow Landpark Wood Old Warden Tunnel Pegsdon Hills and Hoo Bit The Riddy Sallowsprings Totternhoe Cambridgeshire Cambridge Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits Skaters' Meadow East Cambridgeshire Chettisham Meadow Doghouse Grove Fordham Woods Ouse Washes Soham Meadow Fenland Lattersey Norwood Road Huntingdonshire Arthur's Meadow Brampton Wood Gamsey Wood Godmanchester Grafham Water Great Fen Houghton Meadows Lady's Wood Pingle Cutting Raveley Wood Shepherd's Close Upwood Meadows Waresley and Gransden Woods Wistow Wood Woodwalton Marsh Peterborough Dogsthorpe Star Pit Southorpe Meadow Southorpe Paddock Stanground Newt Ponds Stanground Wash Thorpe Wood Wansford Pasture & Standen's Pasture Woodston Ponds South Cambridgeshire Beechwoods Buff Wood Cambourne Fulbourn Fen Gamlingay Cinques Gamlingay Wood Hardwick Wood Hayley Wood Lower Wood Overhall Grove Shepreth L Moor Trumpington Meadows Northamptonshire North Northamptonshire Barford Wood and Meadows Collyweston Quarries Ditchford Lakes and Meadows Finedon Cally Banks Glapthorn Cow Pastures Great Oakley Meadow Higham Ferrers Pits Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows King's Wood Old Sulehay The Plens Rothwell Gullet Short Wood and Southwick Wood Southfield Farm Marsh Stoke Wood End Quarter Summer Leys Tailby Meadow Titchmarsh Wicksteed Park Wilson's Pits West Northamptonshire Abington Meadows Barnes Meadow Boddington Meadow Bradlaugh Fields Bugbrooke Meadow Duston Mill Meadow Farthinghoe Grafton Regis Meadow Harlestone Heath High Wood and Meadow Kingsthorpe Meadow Lings Mill Crook Pitsford Water Nature Reserve Ramsden Corner Stoke Bruerne Brick Pits Storton's Pits Woodford Halse

[51°52′59″N 0°30′07″W / 51.883°N 0.502°W / 51.883; -0.502](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Blow%27s_Down&params=51.883_N_0.502_W_type:landmark_region:GB-BNE)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Blow's Down](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blow's_Down) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blow's_Down?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.