More information : [SU 5110 7226] Grimsbury Castle [T.I.] Hill fort [G.T.] (1)
An Iron Age hill fort with a well preserved double bank and
ditch following the contour of the hill.
There are two entrances, one to the north east, with and
additional bank to the north west of the approach road, and
another to the west. An extra ditch some [100] yards away
protects the west side.
J.B.A.A (4) refers to six or seven mounds, twenty feet long by
twelve feet wide, inside the earthwork. They were excavated
circa 1860 and nothing found. [These mounds are not mentioned
in (2) and (3)].
A section of the defences was excavated by P.Wood in 1958,
nothing of importance being found. further work may be
undertaken. [Plan AO:62:292:3] (5). (2-5)
Further excavations in 1960 were confined to the inner, north,
side of the western entrance. This simple entrance, possibly
reinforced by a timber palisade, shows evidence of two periods
of construction, being subsequently strengthened by a flint
wall. Pottery found was second 1A 'A' and Southern Second 'B'
[Full report to be published in Trans. Newbury F.C.]. (6)
Re-surveyed at 1:2500.
The outwork to the west of the hill appears to be of two
periods of construction, the northern, and apparently earlier,
part was possibly a stock enclosure, but the southern section
is of defensive character.
The mounds mentioned by Authy.4 are pillow mounds. (7)
Additional reference. (8)
SU 513723, SU 510723, SU 509720. Grimsbury Castle. Scheduled. (9)
SU 511 723. Grimsbury. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 3.3ha. (10)
Grimsbury Castle. Account of sectioning of rampart by P Wood. This is specified as having taken place in 1957 [see authy. 5]. The fort itself is described as a univallate structure. (11)
The Iron Age fort, described by the previous authorities, is visible as earthworks, through trees, on aerial photographs. (12) |