Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Caesars Camp
Hob Uid: 247736
Location : Bracknell Forest Crowthorne
Grid Ref : SU8636065700
Summary : Caesar's Camp is a large Iron Age hillfort with defensive banks and ditches closely following the contours of the hill. The site's name is an antiquarian name applied to the earthworks in the mistaken belief that it was a Roman camp left by Julius Caesar after his campaign of 55-54 BC. The main circuit consists of a single massive rampart bank enclosing over 10 hectares. It stands up to four metres high in places and measures up to 15 metres wide. There is a further bank and ditch along the eastern side of the monument as well as in several others at different points around the perimeter. The defences at the southern end have been altered by modernearth levelling. The entrances to the hillfort would have been located at the southern and northern ends of the hillfort. The southern entrance is believed to survive as a buried feature, and although the northern entrance survives, it is thought that this is likely to be a later in date. Roman and Romano-British coins have been found within the hillfort including a sliver coin of Cunobelin.The remains of a sub-square redoubt have also been found within the hillfort. This is about 40m across and probably forms part of the defence line created for military exercises in 1792.
More information : [SU 8636 6570] Caesar's Camp [G.T.]. (1) Caesar's Camp, Easthampstead is a hill fort with single bank and ditch on the NW. Elsewhere there is an additional outer bank and to the south a second ditch and third bank. Original entrances are at the N. & S. and a small mound stands just within the N. entrance (2) There was a well inside the camp and Roman and British coins have been found there including one of Cunobelin in silver (3). Neolithic hammer stone found in the camp (Reading Mus Acc No. 28.36). (4) Plan (5) [AO 62/80/3]. (2-5) The artificial defences, rigidly following the contours of the hill, consist of inner rampart, ditch and outer bank. Along part of the west side is an inner quarry ditch. To the south where the approaches are near level there is an additional outer bank and ditch which, judging by its relationship with the main work, was probably a secondary feature. Only two of the six gaps in the defences can be definitely identified as original entrances (see 25" survey. The 'mound' mentioned by authority '2' inside the north entrance, is apparently a reference to a severely mutilated stretch of the fort's defences. The interior of the fort is nearly all under thick afforestation. There is no trace of a well visible; a building with well nearby shown on O.S. 25" 1911 have been completely destroyed. Resurveyed at 1/2500. (6) Survey of 23.11.62 checked and correct. (7) Caesar's Camp, Easthampstead, is an Iron Age hill-fort of c.20 acres, the defences consisting of a high inner bank and ditch, with a marked counterscarp bank in places. There are possible entrances on the north and south, the latter side having a supplementary defence; breaks in the east rampart are probably not original. The Devil's Highway passes half a mile to the south of the camp and a branch road from it, postulated as Roman, leads towards the southern entrance. Piggott found a sherd of haematite ware, indicative of Wessex Second 'A' influence, Gough records a silver coin of Cunobelinus which may be from the hill-fort, while Stukeley referred to British and Roman coins being connected with the site. (8) SU 865655. The laying of a water main gave some opportunity for observing the stratification of this unexcavated Iron Age Fort. From several months observation a complete section through the south ditch was made. The only datable find in the ditch was a large piece of Roman tile. (9) Additional bibliograpy. (10) SU 864657. Caesar's Camp. Scheduled no 32. (11) SU 863 657. Caesar's Camp, Easthampstead. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 7.8ha. (12) A report is currently being prepared by RCHME field staff, consult NMRC for details (13). Scheduled. An online version of the designated record can be accessed on the National Heritage List for England. (14-15)

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Source details : OS 6" 1921
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Source details : RCHME NAR Recording 20-APR-1995 SP Loaring
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Source Number : 14
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Source details : 24/10/1997
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Source Number : 15
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Source details : English Heritage. 2011. The National Heritage List for England, [Accessed 25-JUL-2011]
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Source details : Stuckeley W. 1724. Itenerarium Curiosum, 169
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Source details : F1 EG 23-NOV-62
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Source details : F2 EG 04-APR-63
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Neolithic
Display Date : Neolithic
Monument End Date : -2200
Monument Start Date : -4000
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Find

Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -800
Monument Type : Univallate Hillfort
Evidence : Earthwork, Find

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Findspot, Fort
Evidence : Find, Conjectural Evidence

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : 1792
Monument End Date : 1792
Monument Start Date : 1792
Monument Type : Bastion Outwork
Evidence : Earthwork

Components and Objects:

Period : Neolithic
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : HAMMERSTONE
Object Material :

Period : Iron Age
Component Monument Type : Univallate Hillfort
Object Type : COIN
Object Material :

Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Findspot, Fort
Object Type : COIN
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : BK 32
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 28182
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1016334
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SU 86 NE 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1962-11-23
End Date : 1962-11-23

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1963-04-04
End Date : 1963-04-04

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1969-01-01
End Date : 1969-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1971-01-01
End Date : 1971-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1972-01-01
End Date : 1972-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Caesars Camp