| Summary : An Iron Age multivallate hillfort surviving as an earthwork. Possible hearths near the entrance were revealed by excavation in 1930, and a possible quernstone was also found. Building foundations, initially supposed to be medieval, were also noted (see SJ 52 NE 15). Recent research has suggested that these are actually the remains of a Romano-Celtic temple. There is a tradition of Roman occupation at Bury Walls, finds are supposed to include coins, armour, pottery and bricks, and a stone well was alleged to be a Roman bath. Scheduled. |
More information : (SJ 576 275) Bury Walls (NAT) Fort (NR) (1)
Bury Walls is classed by Forde-Johnston as a Group II site in
which the minor defences take the form of a single bank. On the
approach side, from the north, the site is defended by two massive
banks and ditches, but around the promontory edge there is only
a small bank 3-4m (10-15ft) wide, standing at the head of the
steep natural slope. The material for this bank is presumably
derived from an inner quarry ditch, although there is now no
surface indication of this. (2-4)
Excavations by E W Bowcock in 1930 revealed two areas of broken
stone to the right of the entrance which may be hearth sites, and
what appeared to be the upper stone of a quern was also found.
Foundations of a large Medieval building were found (see
SJ 52 NE 15). There is a tradition of Roman occupation at Bury
Walls and finds are said to include coins, armour, pottery,
Roman bricks, a Roman altar (see SJ 52 NE 13) and stonework round
a well in the camp was supposed to be the remains of a Roman
bath - but no siting is given for any of these alleged finds.
Surveyed at 1:2500 (5)
Bury Walls, (name confirmed) (a) an Iron Age fort generally as
described above, occupying a promontory at 160m. above OD. with
steep natural slopes on the south, west, and east. The enclosed
area, rising to the centre, from which there are good views in all
directions except the north, covers 20 acres (8ha).
The major defence comprises two banks and ditches placed across
the neck of a SW facing promontory; the inner has an internal
height of 7.8m. with an external height of 10.9m, and the outer
an internal height of 3.5m. with an external height of 4.8m. The
outer ditch has been re-cut for drainage at the west end, and
its outer slope is encroached upon by ploughing.
The defences continue around the edge of promontory as a rampart
generally 3.0m. in height along the east side, but no higher
than 1.8m. along the west side. The main entrance to the fort
is a fine inturned example near the NE corner, but on the SE
side a slight change of alignment of the rampart with suggestions
of inturning suggests that there may also have been a small
entrance here which was subsequently blocked.
The ramparts are covered by trees and bushes, and are generally
well preserved except for (i) the outer rampart which has been
removed between the north-east corner and the entrance, although
traces of the outer-ditch survive, and (ii) at SJ 57712736 where
a section of 3.0m. in width has very recently been removed from
the rampart down to ground level. The interior is cultivated.
Published survey (1:2500) revised on MSD. (6)
SJ 577275 Bury Walls Scheduled (7).(9).
SJ 577 274. Bury Walls. Listed in gazetteer as a multivallate hillfort covering 8.8ha. (8)
SJ 57652749. The remains of a large multivallate hillfort known as Bury Walls. The site measures 380 metres east/west by 520 metres north/south overall and the defensive circuit encloses an area of around 8 hectares. Much of this circuit comprises a single sustantial rampart, defined on its northern side by a ditch, an outer rampart and an external ditch. The principal entrance is at the north eastern corner. Limited excavation in 1930 found the bedrock here cut by a series of cart ruts. An intensive archaeological investigation was carried out in 1999 and 2000, including geophysical and topographical surveys. This investigation revealed that a series of large concentric terraces had been created over the northern part of the fort's interior. The material excavated was then used to construct the defences. The 1930 excavation uncovered the remains of stone structures near the middle of the interior. These were initially believed to be medieval but more recent research suggests they may represent the remains of a Romano-Celtic temple. Scheduled. (10) |