More information : (ST 47806708). Tap's Combe Camp. A small promontory fortress enclosing about 2 acres with a single bank to the west, a scarp, ditch and slight outer bank on the north and a stronger bank and ditch on the east. The south side has a steep natural slope pitted with numerous small quarries. The entrance, in the NW corner, has a covered approach protected by two parallel banks. (1-2) Surveyed at 1:2500. (3) ST 47806708. A probable IA/RB defended settlement (striking similar to Cleeve Toot enclosure ST 46 NE 1) occupying the NW end of a wooded spur at 250ft OD with the very steep side of Tap's Combe forming a natural defence on the SW side; gentle hill slopes occur on the NW and NE Side. The semi-circular enclosure, internally 140.0m NW/SE by 80.0m NE/SW, is formed by a now tree covered, though generally well preserved, bank of stony construction varying from W to E respectively between 3.0m and 2.2m high externally and 0.6m to 1.5m internally, with an outer silted ditch 0.2m deep on the W and 1.0m deep on the E side. A 0.5m deep sunken approach way to the NW entrance is now very mutilated; another, possibly original, gap occurs in a corresponding position on the E side. No hut sites are visible within the grass and part coppice covered interior which now almost entirely forms a private garden. AM survey 1:2500 revised and transferred to PFD. (4) The enclosure interior is now used as a garden and the embanked hollow-way approach from the NW blocked and mutilated. There are traces of stone wall in places along the bank, but the whole site is subject to piece-meal damage from gardening and domestic activities. (5)
|