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TRENDLE RING

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DESCRIPTION

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Possible Iron Age enclosure situated on a steep west facing slope of Bicknoller Hill. It is defined by a bank which encloses a sub-circular area measuring 97m by 87m. The enclosure is morphologically similar to the so called "hill-slope" enclosures common on Exmoor. The function of the enclosure is unclear as the steepness of the slope suggests it would be impractical as a settlement or even as a stock enclosure. Although it has a substantial rampart it is not in a particularly defendable topographical situation but it is highly visible and impressive when viewed from the valley below. A possible cross-ridge a dyke situated to the north east of the enclosure may be an associated feature although there is no actual evidence for this.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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[ST 1181 3935] Trendle Ring CAMP [G.T.] (1)

Trendle Ring, Bicknoller, is a simple enclosed camp, an
irregular quadrulatural with rounded corners enclosed by a bank
of stones with external ditch. On the N.W. the bank has been
demolished and the ditch partly filled up. (2). Univallate
hillfort (under 3 acres). (2,3)

This is a well preserved earthwork situated on a southern
facing slope. It consists of a bank and ditch on the north
which develops into a scarp and berm on the lower, southern,
side.

Its situation is not defensive and its construction is only of
moderate strength. It is probably Iron Age but it is not a true
hillfort and it is very similar to the hill-slope enclosure ST
13 NE 17.

See G.P's AO/65/120/B-B.

Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)

Grinsell thinks that a linear work (ST 13 NW 29) is an outwork
associated with Trendle Ring. (5)

Additional Bibliography (6-8)

The feature described above is a possible Iron Age enclosure situated on a steep west and south west facing slope of Bicknoller Hill. It is is recorded on and has been mapped from aerial photographs.

It is defined by a bank which encloses a sub-circular area measuring 97m by 87m. An outer ditch is visible around most of its circuit. A bank which approaches the enclosure from the south east is almost certainly a Post Medieval field boundary

The enclosure is morphologically similar to the so called "hill-slope" enclosures common on Exmoor. The function of the enclosure is unclear as the steepness of the slope suggests it would be impractical as a settlement or even as a stock enclosure but this does not rule out either of these activities at the site. Although it has a substantial rampart it is not in a particularly defendable topographical situation but it is highly visible and impressive when viewed from the valley below.
(9-10)

The enclosure has been surveyed on the ground and details of the earthworks and a discussion of the function and archaeological context of the site can be found in the survey report.
(11)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1962

( 2) The Victoria history of the counties of England

V.C.H. Somerset. 2. 1911. 506. plan. (C.H. Bothamley)

( 3) General reference

Southern Britain in the Iron Age. 1962. 47

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 GHP 03-MAY-65

( 5) General reference

Prehistoric Sites in the Quantock Country. 1976 18. L V Grinsell

( 6) General reference

The Arch of Somer, The County Arch Series 1931 204-5 254 (D P Dobson)

( 7) General reference

Hist & Antiqs. Somer 1 1836 115 (W Phelps)

( 8) Council for British Archaeology : Group 12 (Wessex) & Group 13 (South West) : Archaeological review

CBA Gp 12-13 A Review 2 1967 12

(9) Vertical aerial photograph reference number

RAF CPE/UK/1944 2126-7 23-JAN-1947

(10) Vertical aerial photograph reference number

NMR OS/71169 0089-91 04-MAY-1971

(11) General reference

Newman, P., 2002 The 'Trendle' Hillslope Enclosure and the Bicknoller Cross-Ridge Dyke, Bicknoller, Somerset. EH Archaeological Investigation Survey Report

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