Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Cadbury Castle
Hob Uid: 36328
Location : Devon Mid Devon Cadbury
Grid Ref : SS9132005250
Summary : The earthwork remains of a slight univallate hillfort with additional later ramparts dating to the Iron Age. Excavations uncovered a Roman ritual shaft dated to the 3rd century AD, possibly indicating a shrine. A late 3rd century coin hoard was also found. Some of the pottery recovered from the shaft may have come from a Bronze Age round barrow which had been used to fill the shaft. The camp was occupied by Fairfax in 1645 and a 17th century sword was recovered.
More information : [SS 91330526] Cadbury Castle [T.I.] Hill Fort [L.B.] (1) Cadbury Castle is an oval-shaped Iron Age (?Promontory) Fort, 640 x 470ft. The defences comprise an outer rampart with escarpment and an inner scarp and counterscarp to the W. S. & E. Entrances are in the N.E. and S.E. A shaft 58ft. deep was excavated by G. Fursdon and the finds included many pottery fragments, some coarse cinerary urn sherds, part of an iron weapon, bronze pins and rings (one possibly 2nd. C.), bronze armillae with gold ornament, charred human bones and a 17th. C. sword. Tucker (a) suggests that some of the pottery may have come from a tumulus close by which had been used to fill up the shaft. A hoard of nine Antoniniani of Victorinus and Tetricus Senior (A.D. 265-272) was found nearby in the hedge of an ancient road leading to the Camp. The Castle was occupied by Fairfax in 1645. (2-4) This is a hill-top enclosure of two constructional phases. The small internal bank with an entrance on the E. encloses about two acres and is typical of other earthworks in the locality. The enclosure appears to have been enlarged and fortified by the addition of a strong rampart and ditch, with a counterscarp bank on all but the N. side where the existing bank was utilised and strengthened. There is no longer any trace of the depression containing the shaft. Published survey (1/2,500) revised. (5) Finds in the well were recovered from between 20 and 25 below the modern surface, and so had been deposited when the shaft was partly filled. They were mostly personal ornaments, and, though not closely dateable, indicate the 3rd cent. as the most likely date for the deposit. (6) Native cult-centre: shaft containing personal things customary as votive offerings at shrines. (7) (SS 91330526) Cadbury Castle (NAT) Fort (NR) (8) SS 913 052. Cadbury Castle. Listed in gazetteer as a multivallate hillfort covering 1.6ha. (9) SS 9134 0525. Scheduling revised. Details as above. The site was probably used during the Saxon and medieval period as a moot or open-air court, responsible for the administration and organisation of the countryside. (10)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
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Source details : 6" 1962
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Source Number : 2
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Page(s) : 581-2
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : EH Scheduling revised 09-MAR-2001
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : (L.A.D. Montague)
Page(s) : 144
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Vol(s) : 1, 1929-32

Source Number : 4
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Source details : (A.L. Fox)
Page(s) : 446
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Vol(s) : 46(2), 1881

Source Number : 4a
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Source details : (C. Tucker)
Page(s) : 193-8
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Vol(s) : 5

Source Number : 5
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Source details : F1 JP 05-AUG-67
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : (A. Fox)
Page(s) : 107
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Vol(s) : 84, 1952

Source Number : 7
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Page(s) : 182
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : 1:10,000 1972
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Source Number : 9
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Source details :
Page(s) : 196
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Vol(s) : 62

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Bronze Age
Display Date : Bronze Age
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Round Barrow
Evidence : Conjectural Evidence

Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Multivallate Hillfort, Univallate Hillfort
Evidence : Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : C3
Monument End Date : 299
Monument Start Date : 200
Monument Type : Ritual Shaft, Shrine
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Conjectural Evidence

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : 265-299 AD
Monument End Date : 299
Monument Start Date : 265
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Find

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Saxon and medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 450
Monument Type : Moot
Evidence : Conjectural Evidence

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : C17
Monument End Date : 1699
Monument Start Date : 1600
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Find

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Occupied by Fairfax in 1645
Monument End Date : 1645
Monument Start Date : 1645
Monument Type : Military Camp
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:

Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : COIN HOARD
Object Material :

Period : Post Medieval
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : SWORD
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Devonshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 9
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 34254
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SS 90 NW 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1848-01-01
End Date : 1848-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1967-08-05
End Date : 1967-08-05

Historic England Research Records

Cadbury Castle