More information : [ST 568456] King's Castle [T.I.]
CAMP [G.T.] (1)
A small stonework in King's Castle Wood occupies the summit of
a limestone ridge. It may tentatively be considered as an Iron
Age defensive work.
At 'A' and 'B' are apparent hut circles, which seem to be
contemporary with the rest of the stonework. At 'C' is a
rectangular stone lined pit 7ft x 5ft - apparently modern. From
'E' to 'F' are faint traces of a ditch inside the rampart,
which is well marked (8ft. deep) from 'F' to 'C'. A mound from
'G' to 'H' with small ditches on either side could be taken for
the boundary of a 'Celtic field'. (2)
The V.C.H. however says that the banks shown on the O.S. 25"
south of King's Castle Wood are natural. (3)
The earthworks forming King's Castle Camp appear to be an
extension of the field system to the east rather than a purely
defensive complex. Only the most westerly enclosure is fairly
well defined and this may have been an occupation area, though
the hut circles mentioned appear to be modern stone pits.
Surveyed at 1/2500. (4)
Additional reference. (5)
ST 569456: King's Castle, an unusual site consisting of a line of at
least 3 conjoined stone-walled enclosures along a ridge. Interior
overgrown, wooden, and quarried. W enclosure defined by stone bank
without a ditch and c.1m high in the N and W. On the S the bank
continues E to form the S side of middle and E enclosures, but a
decrease in scale and slight change in direction suggests that these
enclosures are secondary. This bank returns N and W towards the NE
side of the W enclosure leaving a gap c.3m wide up to which a terraced way runs from the W. Defences on E side of middle enclosure consist of double banks and ditches. E enclosure is similar.The whole complex is regarded by the OS as part of a field system, but the scale of the enclosing features and their disposition suggest a settlement site. (6)
Scheduled. (7)
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