Reasons for Designation
Large univallate hillforts are defined as fortified enclosures of varying
shape, ranging in size between 1ha and 10ha, located on hilltops and
surrounded by a single boundary comprising earthworks of massive proportions.
They date to the Iron Age period, most having been constructed and used
between the fourth century BC and the first century AD, although evidence for
earlier use is present at most sites. The size of the earthworks reflects the
ability of certain social groups to mobilise the labour necessary for works on
such a monumental scale, and their function may have had as much to do with
display as defence. Large univallate hillforts are also seen as centres of
redistribution, both for subsistence products and items produced by craftsmen.
The ramparts are of massive proportions except in locations where steepness of
slope precludes easy access. They can vary between 6m and 20m wide and may
survive to a height of 6m. The ditches can measure between 6m and 13m wide and
between 3m and 5m deep. Access to the interior is generally provided by one or
two entrances which often take the form of long passages formed by inturned
ramparts and originally closed by a gate located towards the inner end of the
passageway. The entrance may be flanked by guardrooms and/or accompanied by
outworks. Internal features included timber or stone round houses; large
storage pits and hearths; scattered postholes, stakeholes and gullies; and
square or rectangular buildings supported by four to six posts, often
represented by postholes, and interpreted as raised granaries. Large
univallate hillforts are rare with between 50 and 100 examples recorded
nationally. Most are located within southern England where they occur on the
chalklands of Wessex, Sussex and Kent. The western edge of the distribution is
marked by scattered examples in north Somerset and east Devon, while further
examples occur in central and western England and outliers further north.
Within this distribution considerable regional variation is apparent, both in
their size, rampart structure and the presence or absence of individual
components. In view of the rarity of large univallate hillforts and their
importance in understanding the organisation and regional structure of Iron
Age society, all examples with surviving archaeological remains are believed
to be of national importance.
The large univallate hillfort known as Castle Ring, 600m south east of
Meadowtown Farm, is a good example of this class of monument. In common with
other broadly contemporary settlements in this area, it is considered to
contain significant buried deposits, structural features, artefactual and
organic remains, all of which have the potential to illustrate many aspects
of life during the Iron Age. The defences will retain evidence about the
nature of their construction and modification. In addition, organic remains
surviving in the buried ground surfaces beneath the ramparts and the internal
bank, and within the ditch, will provide important information about the
local environment and the use of the surrounding land before the hillfort was
built and during its occupation.
Details
The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a large univallate
hillfort known as Castle Ring. It is situated on the summit of a hill at the
southern side of the Rea Brook valley. From this commanding position there
are extensive views in every direction.
The hillfort is roughly oval in plan. Its overall dimensions are approximately
115m north west-south east by 185m south west-north east, and the defensive
circuit defines an area of about 1ha. The earthwork defences of the hillfort
originally consisted of a single rampart, constructed of earth and stone,
bounded by an external ditch. The outer face of this rampart survives as a
steep scarp, mostly between 4m and 6m high, which for much of its length
closely follows the contours of the hill. The top of the rampart is now mostly
level with the interior, but in places stands up to 0.4m high. The ditch,
which has been largely infilled, is discernible as a terrace between 3m and 8m
wide. It survives well as a buried feature. The entrance into the hillfort is
at the north eastern end where the defences face level and gently undulating
ground.
At a later date the defences close to the hillfort entrance were modified in
order to make this part of the circuit more elaborate and imposing. This
involved the construction of a new length of rampart and an adjacent bank
within the interior of the fort, both of which partially overlie the existing
rampart. The ends of the new rampart and the bank turn inwards to define an
entrance corridor about 4m wide. The rampart has steep faces internally and
externally and stands to height of 2.2m, while the adjacent bank reaches a
maximum height of 0.7m.
Slight undulations within the interior of the hillfort are considered to mark
the positions of building platforms on which houses and ancillary structures
were built.
A sheep cote and all fence posts are excluded from the scheduling, although
the ground beneath all these features is included.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
