More information : (Centred: SU 28909276) (6). Remains of an Iron Age
hill fort of about 12 acres on Furze Hill, in the parishes of
Little Coxwell and Fernham, consist of a bank encircling about
three quarters of the hill from W to NW, with definite
entrances at the S end and the NW corner. The site is
unexcavated and unplanned (1).
Lysons described it as `the remains of a camp, which appears to
have been of square form. Its double ditch is nearly entire on
the west side; few traces .... remains in other parts' (5).
Parts of two pots, one Iron Age, the other Roman (3rd or 4th
century) were found near the south end of the camp, where the
bank had slid down the slope. (2). (1-6)
`Lower Coxwell Camp', (the name being simply locative occupies
approximately 5.0m hectares of hill-top situation with steep
natural defence on the N and W but comparatively gentle slopes
on the S and E. It appears to have been sub-oval in plan
measuring internally 350m NW to SE and 150m NE to SW.
There is no evidence of the double ditch reported by Lysons
(5); the perimeter is univallate, though only along parts of
the N and W sides does it survive in anything like its original
form. Elsewhere the bank is virtually destroyed and is
represented by a vague rise in pasture.
The defences are best preserved on the NW where the bank is
12.0m wide overall, 1.5m high internally and 2.2m high from the
bottom of the ditch which is 1.2m deep. In the NW corner there
is a simple entrance approached by a hollow way; other breaks,
including the denuded rampart at the southern end, seem more
recent.
Both the situation and the relatively weak construction suggest
a defended settlement rather than a true hillfort.
Surveyed at 1:2500 on AM. (7)
A survey by Faringdon and District Historical and Archaeological Society has begun on earthworks of a possible hillfort at Ringdale Manor. (8)
Repeat of previous reference, giving grid ref of SU 289928. (9)
Survey carried out of earthworks of possible IA hillfort, Ringdale Manor. (10)
SU 288 928. One Tree Hill (Little Coxwell). Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 4.8ha. (11) |