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WHITESTAUNTON CAMP

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The earthwork remains of an Iron Age univallate hillfort measuring 324m by 148m. It comprises a single bank with a ditch on the north east side. It has suffered from cattle erosion on the southern entrance. The western rampart has been planted with conifers. Scheduled.

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[ST 2650 0900] Camp [O.E.] (1)

Whitestaunton Camp comprises a single bank, with a ditch on the
NE side. On the west the hillside has simply been scarped. The
entrance is on the E. side towards the N. end. In places the
bank is as much as 12' above the ditch. (2-4)

Whitestaunton Camp is on a hill adjoining Horsepool Copse and
about 600 yards east of the Yarty. It has a well-defined outwork
at the southern extremity containing the main original entrance.
The present entrance on the east side is considered by H. St.
G. Gray to be modern. (5)

Whitestaunton is a univallate I.A. B Hill Fort with a single
original funnel-shaped entrance on the south (the entrance on
the east is almost certainly a recent field entry). It is
strongly defended by steep natural slopes (artificially scarped)
and boggy ground on the west and by a strong rampart and ditch
on the north and east. Closely overlooked by higher ground on
the east its siting is defensively poor but possibly the
concealment so afforded outweighed other defensive
considerations.
In plan the field to the north suggests an annexe. This
possibility was closely examined, but there is no suggestion of
I.A. work in its boudary bank, which is of the wide vertical-
sided type normal in the locality.

Surveyed at 1/2500. (6)

No change;published 1:2500 survey correct. (7)

The neck of the entrance is now used as silage clamp but apart
from this superficial damage the hillfort is as described. (8)

Either the fort or the adjacent hamlet of Howley (the report
is ambiguous) is called 'Harbury' locally and 'Hawberry' on
the Tithe Map. In either case the second element of the name
probably relates to the fort. (9)

Whitestaunton Camp is generally as described and surveyed by
Auth. (6). Some breaking down of the rampart by cattle has
occurred and the south entrance, until recently blocked by
flint rubble is being opened by the continuing removal of this
rubble. Also, the ditch of the southernmost bank is being
infilled. The western rampart could not be closely examined as it
has been planted with young conifer.

Survey revised at 1:2500. (10)

ST 265 090. Horse Pool. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 2.0ha. (11)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1906

( 2) edited by William Page 1911 The Victoria history Somerset, volume two

The Victoria history of the counties of England 2, 1911 Page(s)503

( 3) General reference

Somerset (County Arch) 206 (D.P. Dobson)

( 4) by Edward J Burrow 1924 Ancient earthworks and camps of Somerset

Plan

( 5) Devonshire Association reports and transactions

62, 1930 Page(s)353

( 6) Field Investigators Comments

F1 NVQ 15-AUG-60

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F2 GHP 23-SEP-65

( 8) Field Investigators Comments

F3 MJF 27-AUG-75

( 9) Somerset archaeology and natural history : the proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society

122, 1978 Page(s)123

(10) Field Investigators Comments

F4 NJA 23-JUN-82

(11) by A H A Hogg 1979 British hillforts : an index

BAR British series1 (1974) - 62 Page(s)199

(12) Scheduled Monument Notification

16-APR-1999

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MONUMENT NO. 190116
WHITESTAUNTON

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Iron Age or Romano British slag from iron working has been found in the area partly within the area of Whitestaunton Camp (ST 20 NE 2). The scheduling...

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