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BURGH WALLS CAMP

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Earthwork remains of an Iron Age multivallate promontory fort or hillfort.

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[Name ST 5624 7299] BURGH WALLS CAMP [O.E.] (1)

Bower Walls Camp (with the alternative names of Burwalls, Burgh
Walls or Bowre Walls) is a possible, if somewhat doubtful,
example of a camp with a calcined rampart. It occupies the
point above the River Avon where it is now crossed by the
Clifton Suspension Bridge; on the north and east the precipice
served as a natural defence. On the remaining three sides a
somewhat triangular area of some seven acres was defended by
three curved ramparts [See plans: AO:61:230:8 & 231:1.] These
were destroyed in 1868 when villas were built. Morgan (a) found
traces of these ramparts on the precipitous slopes on the
Nightingale Valley side opposite Northside House, and at the
South-east in Mr. George Wills' garden. Earlier authorities
differed on the position and number of entrances and by 1904
the camp was too destroyed for this point to be checked. (2)

Shown on O.S. 2" Drawing. (3)

The only remains of Burgh Walls Camp are at the two positions
mentioned by Morgan.

At ST 5609 7303 two banks, each with an outer, or western
ditch, are traceable for 5.0m, between the modern road and an
almost vertical drop into Nightingale Valley. At ST 5625 7282
in an ornamental garden are two mutilated banks with a strong
stone content, separated by a berm and ditch. No evidence of
calcination was seen. Detail to be supplied by Field Surveyor. (4)

The remains of the rampart in the garden at ST 5626172819 and
the northern tip of the ramparts above Nightingale Valley at ST
56107304 (See AO/65/44/2, illustrated by Grimm (a)) have been
surveyed at 1:1250 and 1:2500 respectively. (5)

ST 563 730. Borough Walls (Burgh Walls, Burwalls, Bower Walls). Listed in gazetteer as a multivallate hillfort covering 3.4ha. (6)

Additional reference [not consulted]. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1930 - 38

( 2a) General reference

P. Som. AS. xlvii (1902), 217-29

( 2b) General reference

Barrett. The Hist. & Ants. of Bristol, 1789, 17 Sketch plan on Pl. II

( 2c) General reference

Manby: Fugitive Sketches..of Clifton ... (1802) 9 and 12-3, Plan [See AO: 61:231:1.]

( 2d) General reference

Seyer: Memoirs ... of Bristol ... 1 (1821) 62-4. Plan opp. p. 60 [See AO:61:230:8.]

( 2e) General reference

Phelps. The Hist. & Ants. of Somer. 1 (1836), 96 Plan (prob. based on Seyer) pl. III

( 2f) General reference

Atkinson & Scarth P. Som. A.S. xv (1868-9) 27-31

( 2g) General reference

Scarth: Arch. xliv (1873) 428-34. Plan at Pl. xvll

( 2h) General reference

Christison E.F.S. (1898), 190

( 2) General reference

Arch. J. 111, 1954, pp 85-6 (M.A. Cotton)

( 3) General reference

OS 2" Drawing No. 170, 1816

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 NVQ 16-MAR-62

( 5a) General reference

Water colour, 1789, (S.H. Grimm). In Somer. Arch.Soc. Library

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F2 GHP 05-MAR-65

(6) General reference

BAR 62 British Hill-Forts: An Index 1979 202 (AHA Hogg)

(7) Proceedings of the Clifton Antiquarian Club

Vol 5 1904 Page(s)8-24

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