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CANNINGTON PARK CAMP

ALTERNATIVE NAME:

BATTLE OF CYNUIT, GYNWIR CASTLE, CYNWIR CASTLE

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Earthwork remains of an Iron Age univallate hillfort; excavation uncovered evidence for a possible Roman reoccupation of the site; Neolithic/Bronze Age pottery has also been found on this site. It has also been suggested that this was the site of the Early Medieval battle of Cynuit, fought in 878 AD between Viking forces under Ubhe Ragnarson and the Anglo-Saxons under Ealdorman Odda, in which the Anglo-Saxons were victorious.

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(ST 247405) Cynwit Castle [NAT] Camp [NR] (1)

This fort, known locally as Cannington Park Camp, appears to have consisted originally of a stone wall above a scarp. A trench dug in 1913 at the SW corner located the robbed wall, and additional defenses may be represented by scarps below. The main entrance appears to be at the SE, where there is a third scarp at the foot of the hill. East of the entrance, bank and outer ditch are probably a later adaptation of the original scarp. Objects in Taunton Museum and at Bridgwater include worked flints, Iron Age pottery and a brooch, and late Roman pottery was found in a limited excavation, at ST 24744037, in 1963 by Rahtz, who postulates Roman re-occupation of the fort. (2)

The name "Gynwir or Cynwit Castle" cannot now be accepted, as it is based on false assumptions of early writers. Excavations by Whistler in 1905 yielded Iron Age B pottery and wheelturned pottery believed by Rahtz to be Roman and to indicate the Roman re-occupation of the fort. In 1913 C Bazell found Iron Age pottery and some of Neolithic, Beaker and Bronze Age. (3)

No change to previous survey. (4)

ST 247 405. Cynwit Castle. SAM No 26. (5)

A plan and illustration by Burrow are present, together with a short description. (6)

ST 247 405. Cannington Park (Cynwit Castle). Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 3.1ha. (7)

Description with plan. The account mentions that large numbers of human skeletons have been found here. (8)

Cross referencing with scheduling information pertaining to Castle Hill Settlement, Beaford, Torridge, Devon: It has also been suggested that Cannington Hill was the site of the Early Medieval battle of Cynuit of 878 AD between the Viking forces under Ubhe Ragnarson and the Anglo-Saxons under Ealdorman Odda, in which the Anglo-Saxons were victorious, Castle Hill is also a possible site of the battle. (9)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1961

( 2a) General reference

C Bazell Gurney St Cannington

( 2b) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

( 2) Field Investigators Comments

F1 GHP 05-NOV-64

( 3) General reference

Proc Som Archaeol Nat Hist Soc 113 1969 pp56-68 plans (P Rahtz)

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F2 JWS 30-JAN-75

( 5) General reference

DoE County of Somerset SAM listing 31-DEC-1987 p14

( 6) General reference

Ancient Earthworks & Camps of Somerset 1924 p52 (E J Burrow)

( 8) General reference

Victoria County History Somerset Vol 2 1911 pp474-5

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

BAR British series1 (1974) - 62 Page(s)200

(9) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

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Monument Name/No

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Description

CASTLE HILL SETTLEMENT
BEAFORD

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The Earthwork remains of an Iron Age hillfort or enclosed settlement, situated on the summit of a promontary around which the River Torridge flows. Th...

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