| Summary : The earthwork remains of an Iron Age bivallate hillfort covering an area of approximately 16 hectares. On the north, east, and south sides the defences consist of a double rampart with central ditch, there being no trace of an outer ditch which almost certainly existed. A low-lying road skirting the southern boundary is probably built on the ditch line. On the east side natural steep scarps, form the defence, and a terraceway along the scarp is probably the remains of an original ditch, the spoil being used to heighten and bank the scarp. Apart from the several mutilation gaps in the ramparts, mostly formed by track cuttings, there is one recognisable original entrance, this being on the east side. As there were marshlands to the north and south and steep natural scarps on the west, it is possible that this was the only entrance. The ramparts are still thickly planted, and the central area is occupied by private dwellings and pastured farmland. No internal earthworks or indication of settlement was found. |
More information : (TL 4925 1778) Wallbury Camp (OE) (1)
Prehistoric Camp: 'Wallbury': Cliff Camp, known as Wallbury
Camp, occupies the end of a spur on the 200ft contour-
line, overlooking the valley of the Stort on the W and
formerly flanked by marshlands on the N and S.
The work consists of a roughly pear-shaped area of c 31
acres surrounded by a double rampart, the outer member
of which is intermittent on the W slope and may never
have been strongly marked on that side. The inner rampart now
reaches a height of 7ft above the interior surface, and from
12 ft to 20ft above the bottom of the ditch, which is from 50ft
to 70ft wide. At the NE and SE bends are traces of a second
shallow ditch beyond the outer rampart. There are now five gaps
in the defences but the two original entrances appear to have
been on the E and W sides. The work has not been properly
excavated, but urns of the late Celtic cordoned type have been
found in the vicinity. Condition - fairly good, the banks and
ditches are thickly planted. (2)
Excavations started in 1959 across the bivallate defences
revealed constructional periods of Early Iron Age A and B. Iron
Age C pottery was found and the ditch silting between the
ramparts revealed the greater part of the two RB pots and the
base of a RB glass bowl. Survey has established the whereabouts of
several pits. (3-5)
Wallbury Camp: The earthwork is situated on the western end of a
spur overlooking the valley of the River Stort.
The work consists of a well-defined double rampart and ditches
on all sides except the west where, in places, the scarping is
practically indistinguishable from the natural slope.
The long slopes shown on the NW and SW corners of the camp are
natural, although they are shown on the plan in RCHM Vol II, p.
95.
Of the existing gaps in the defences it is difficult to
determine, with certainty, which were the original entrances.
The earthwork has not been excavated but is characteristic of
late Iron Age construction. An IA 'C' urnfield was discovered
in 1876 in a gravel pit three quarters of a mile S of Wallbury
Camp (TL 41 NE 16)
The remains of the defences are correct as delineated on the
Field Sheet for cross section see 1/1. (6)
Wallbury Camp: name verified. An IA bivallate fort covering an
area of approx 16 hectares and situated as described by F1.
On the N, E, and S sides the defences consist of a double
rampart with central ditch, there being no trace of an outer
ditch which almost certainly existed. A low-lying road skirting
the southern boundary is probably built on the ditch line. On
the E side natural steep scarps, form the defence, and a
terraceway along the scarp is probably the remains of an
original ditch, the spoil being used to heighten and bank the
scarp. Apart from the several mutilation gaps in the ramparts,
mostly formed by track cuttings, there is one recognisable
original entrance, this being on the E side. As there were
marshlands to the N and S (Auth 2) and steep natural scarps on
the W, it is possible that this was the only entrance.
The ramparts are still thickly planted, and the central area is
occupied by private dwellings and pastured farmland. No
internal earthworks or indication of settlement was found.
An old excavation trench, presumably part of the 1959 trials,
was found at TL 49231770.
Published survey (25") revised. (7)
No change. (8)
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