More information : (SP 2465 7015) Camp (OE). (1)
A somewhat worn earthwork with an extensive prospect situated on
Camphill in Beausale. A farmhouse stands just within its western end.
"In form the earthwork is roughly egg-shaped with its broadest end
towards the west; it has a raised interior plateau of about 5 1/2
acres, which is surrounded by a rampart now much worn; beyond this is
a wide ditch, evidently far less deep than it was once, and outside
the latter, remains of a second rampart are discernible here and
there, more especially upon the north and east; some parts of the
ditch contain water. These defences have become much less imposing
during the 3/4 of a century, owing both to the effects of natural
denudation and to the operations of the agriculturist; a plan made
in the year 1837 shows the outer vallum encircling about 2/3 of the
camp, and another,made probably a few years later, marks this outer
rampart as intact along the whole of the northern and eastern sides.".As far as can be judged from appearances the work in various
particulars resembles the (I.A.) camp at Hunsbury near
Northampton. (2)
Beausale: "In this camp, on the south-east side, the remains of a
subterranean chamber were discovered some years ago; and in removing
the timber-framed house from a spot nearer the road, to its present
situation within the enclosure, two iron cannon balls of considerable
size were found. These, I surmise, were dropped during the march of
the troops to Meriden Camp during the troubles in 1745". (3)
".. in 1545 John Coppe had a lesse of a messuage and a close called
Ruytons Bury, or Rounde Table, lying in Beausall ... The earthwork
at Camphill, Beausale is still known as the Round Table and may be
the site of Rykmersbury, mentioned by Rons as a depopulated village"
(Doubtful. See SP 26 NE for site of deserted village of Dykmersbury in Beausale chapelry). (4)
Scheduled as an Ancient Monument under 'Camps'. (5) Date 2.c - 1.c
BC (6). (5-6)
A small I.A. work mutilated by farming. No entrance can now be traced
but Campbell Farm and outbuildings straddle the compass and possibly
occupy the original entrance. No finds were made and there is no
surface indication of the "chamber" of authority 3.
Published survey (25") revised. (7)
A defended enclosure occupying a promontary with slopes on the north,
south and east sides. The interior is cultivated.
The main rampart is now reduced to a scarp slope 2.5m high with
traces of a ditch on the south west side. On the north and east
there is a berm 12.0m wide and an outer scarp 2.0m high with, on the
east an outer ditch 0.6m deep.
Published survey (1:2500 1964) revised on MSD. (8)
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