List of hill forts and ancient settlements in Somerset

Athelney Hill fort is an Iron Age hill fort. It is in the area where Alfred the Great hid from the Danes after his defeat in 876 AD. The hill fort may also be the site where Alfred defeated the Danes two years later.^[13]

In 1933, Backwell Camp, an Iron Age hill fort, was discovered. Two of its three sides were protected by a ditch and a bank, with the outside of the bank on the edge of the cliffs upon which the fort was built. However, by 1956, quarrying had almost completely destroyed the site.^[14][15]

Banwell Camp is a univallate Iron Age hill fort. Artefacts found in the campsite date back to the Bronze Age and Stone Age.^[17] Some of the older banks in this site are still around 4 metres (13 ft) high.^[18]

The site of an early Iron Age stock enclosure which may also have been a fort. It was also used as a Roman field system. The site was excavated in the early 1900s and again in the 1950s. Artefacts from the site include human and animal remains, pottery, and flint flakes.^[20]

Bat's Castle is an Iron Age hill fort on the highest point of Gallox Hill.^[22] Previously, it was known as "Caesar's Camp",^[23] and it is possibly associated with Black Ball Camp. Bat's Castle has two stone ramparts and two ditches. The ramparts are damaged in places due to the number of visitors.^[22][24]

Berry Castle is a hillside enclosure which survives as a series of earthworks. It dates from the late Iron Age or early Romano-British period.^[26][27]

Black Ball Camp is an Iron Age hill fort on the northern summit of Gallox Hill. It is also known as "British Camp" and is possibly associated with Bat's Castle.^[29] It has a 3 metres (10 ft) high rampart and a 2 metres (7 ft) deep ditch. At the beginning of the 20th century, the foundations of a stone tower were visible.^[30]

This Iron Age promontory hill fort, Blacker's Hill, is roughly rectangular. It covers 6 hectares (15 acres) and originally had two ramparts and two ditches, but on the west and south sides, it was defended by the steep drop. In some places, the ramparts are still considerable, but on the north-eastern side, the inner rampart and ditch have been destroyed. There are three gaps, but only the one on the east seems to be original.^[32][33]

Brean Down is a Bronze Age hill fort situated on a peninsula jutting out into the Bristol Channel. In ancient times, there were fields and barrows around the fort.^[35] The site is now a National Trust site.^[36] Roman coins have also been found here.^[37][38]

The Brent Knoll Camp hill fort is a 1.6 hectares (16,000 m²) Iron Age hill fort that has been heavily damaged by cattle and quarrying. It is defended by a single wall around 10 metres (33 ft) high and by a single ditch, with an entrance on the eastern side. An urn containing coins of the Roman Emperors Trajan and Severus has been found at the site.^[40][41]

Brewer's Castle, in Hawkridge Wood was an Iron Age defended settlement or hillfort.^[43] It is very close to Mounsey Castle.

The univallate enclosure site at Broomfield dates from late prehistoric or Roman times. Archeological excavations in 1968 uncovered a trench through a bank and ditch which produced Iron Age pottery.^[44][45]

Burgh Walls Camp is a multivallate Iron Age hill fort on the banks above the River Avon, near where it is now crossed by the Clifton Suspension Bridge. It is also called "Bower Walls Camp", "Burwalls", or "Bowre Walls".^[46]

Burledge hill fort is an univallate Iron Age hill fort situated on a promontory. The eastern side, the one with the most gradual slope, has an extra wall across it. Several pieces of clay found with iron slag indicate that the people who lived there may have smelted iron.^[48]

Archaeological discoveries of early cemeteries show that humans occupied the combe and its caves from the Bronze Age with some evidence of occupation during the Upper Palaeolithic period.^[50] There is also a sub-rectangular Iron Age univallate hill fort.^[51]

Bury Castle is a promontory fort that encloses an area of 0.2 hectares (0.49 acres). The main enclosure is encompassed by a single rampart and ditch, with steep drops on the north, east, and south sides. There is an additional rampart 30 metres (98 ft) to the west, with a deep ditch. The rampart is brevetted with drystone walling.^[53][54]

Cadbury Camp is an Iron Age hill fort that encloses around 28,000 square metres (7 acres). The banks surrounding this site are around 3.0 metres (10 ft) to 3.7 metres (12 ft) above the neighbouring ditches. A Romano-British shrine, a Bronze Age spearhead, and Neolithic flake tools have been found inside the hill fort.^[56]

Cadbury Castle was fortified into a hill fort somewhere between 500 and 200 BC, and it encloses an area of 8 hectares (80,000 m²).^[59] The site is associated with King Arthur's supposed court at Camelot.^[60]

This hill fort is known, in archaeological circles, as Cadbury-Congresbury in order to differentiate it from the Cadbury Castle. It appears to have been constructed during the Iron Age, and the remains of Iron Age roundhouses may still be seen inside. The hill fort was refortified around 400 BC and occupation extended into the sub-Roman period, from which much imported pottery has been recovered. It has been suggested that this was the monastery of Saint Congar after whom Congresbury was named.^[62][63]

Cambria Farm is the site of a burned Bronze Age mound and Iron Age roundhouses.^[64][65]

Cannington Camp is a univallate hill fort with walls that have been almost entirely destroyed. Archaeological artefacts such as stone scrapers, cores, and flakes have been found at the site.^[67][68]

There are several bank-and-ditch earthworks near Castle Neroche, indicating the presence of a hill fort at some point during the 1st millennium BC.^[70][71]

Univallate hillfort with a slightly inturned entrance.^[73][74]

Clatworthy Camp is an Iron Age hill fort situated on a promontory of the Brendon Hills above Clatworthy Reservoir. It is roughly triangular in shape with an area of 5.8 hectares (14 acres). It has a single bank and ditch, cut through solid rock. There may have been an entrance on the west and two on the east.^[76][77]

Cleeve Toot, close to the village of Cleeve, is a roughly oval settlement which is approximately 125 metres (410 ft) in length by 90 metres (300 ft) in breadth. Approximately 150 metres (490 ft) to the north is another, smaller settlement.^[15][79]

Conygar hill fort is a small Iron Age univallate hill fort. The fort is triangular in shape and there are the remains of a three foot high bank on the south-western side. There is a round barrow in the centre of the fort.^[81]

Cow Castle is an Iron Age hill fort occupying an isolated hilltop and has a single rampart and ditch, enclosing 0.9 hectares (2.2 acres). It is in the valley of the River Barle.^[83][84]

Univallate hillside enclosure, interior damaged by forestry plantation.^[86][87][88]

Curdon Camp has been almost completely destroyed by quarrying and bulldozing. A section remains that is still 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) high on the southern and western sides.^[90][91]

Dinghurst fort is the possible site of an Iron Age univallate hill fort.^[92] Close to Dolebury Warren.^[93]

Dolebury Camp is a hill fort located on a ridge in the Mendip Hills 154 feet (47 m) above the surrounding area. The walls enclose an area of 9 hectares (22 acres), with the maximum height of 30 feet (9 m) on the northern side.^[95][96]

Dowsborough is an oval univallate hill fort. The surrounding bank is around 1 metre (3.3 ft) to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) wide and around 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) high. There is a ditch outside the bank, and the distance from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the bank is around 2 metres (6.6 ft) to 3 metres (9.8 ft). Near the entrance to the hill fort are two structures that are probably gatehouses.^[98]

Dundon Hill hill fort is an Iron Age hill fort guarded by a single bank ranging from .5 metres (1.6 ft) to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) high. Flint flakes, Bronze Age pottery, and Iron Age pottery have also been found.^[100][101]

Elborough Hill is the site of a bivallate hill fort, oval in shape, and defined by a triple bank on the northern side and a double out-turned bank on the southern side.^[102]

Elworthy Barrows is a heavily damaged circular hill fort which had never been finished. It was ploughed multiple times until around 1943, when artifacts were discovered.^[104][105]

Glastonbury Lake Village is an Iron Age lake village in Glastonbury. Each house was built on its own mound of clay in the lake, starting around 250 BC and continuing for at least 150 years. The entire settlement is surrounded by a pallisade made of timbers.^[107][108]

Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic flint tools have been found at Glastonbury Tor,^[110] which indicates that the site may have been occupied in the Stone Age. It is very close to the Glastonbury Lake Village, which was occupied in the Iron Age, starting around 250 BC.^[107][111]

Oval shape measuring 886 feet (270 m) by 220 feet (67 m), surrounded by a bank and ditch.^[113][114]

The Iron Age hill fort located on Ham Hill, called Ham Hill hill fort, is possibly the largest hill fort in Somerset. It measures 800 metres (2,600 ft) by 950 metres (3,120 ft),^[116] enclosing an area of 81 hectares (200 acres).^[117] Ham Hill hill fort is surrounded by banks, some of which range up to 12 metres (39 ft) high, and ditches. In addition to the Iron Age hill fort, the site was occupied during the Mesolithic Period, the Neolithic Period, and the Bronze Age. The site has also been damaged by quarrying.^[116][118]

On Highbury Hill lies the earthwork remains of an Iron Age univallate hill fort. It occupies an area of woodland at the end of a narrow ridge.^[119]

Oval univallate hillfort 300 m long and 150 m wide.^[121][122]

Kenwalch's Castle is an Iron Age hill fort. The latter has an area of 1.6 hectares (4.0 acres). There is a single rampart and ditch which are well preserved in places. The road north from Penselwood village crosses the hill fort and probably passes through the original entrances.^[124][125]

King's Castle is the remains of an Iron Age settlement and field system.^[127][128]

King's Castle hill fort is guarded by two banks and a ditch. The interior bank is from 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) to 6 metres (20 ft) high and around 14 metres (46 ft) thick. Several Neolithic artefacts have also been found on the site.^[130][131]

Kingsdown Camp is a univallate hill fort with an area of .15 hectares (0.37 acres), and is approximately quadrilateral in shape. In the Iron Age or Roman period a drystone wall was constructed, possibly 4 metres (13 ft) high and 2.5 metres (8 ft) wide. There is an entrance on the northeast side. The fort continued to be used by the Romans.^[133][134]

The Maesbury Castle hill fort is a bivallate hill fort with a bank around 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) to 3 metres (9.8 ft) high enclosing an area of around 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres). A second bank around 30 centimetres (0.98 ft) high exists on the southeastern side.^[136][137]

Maes Knoll hill fort is roughly triangular, and encloses an area of 8 hectares (20 acres).^[139][140]

Archaeologists uncovered several hearths in the buried ruins of one of the houses at the Iron Age Meare Lake Village, which was located within the now-drained Meare Pool. They also found several lias stones lying around the fire, including one vertical stone which may have been a backrest. The archaeologists also found several artefacts, including cut pieces of red deer antler, pieces of iron, the rim of a bronze bowl, a spiral finger ring made from bronze, and a decorated amber bead.^{[142][143][144][145]}

An irregular triangular earthwork of 1.75 hectares (4.3 acres) surrounded by the remains of coursed stone walling, with an entrance to the west.^[147][148] Overlooking the River Barle.^[149]

The Norton Fitzwarren hill fort is part of the "Norton Hillfort Local Nature Reserve" and originally was occupied during the Stone Age^[151] and into the Bronze Age.^[152][153]

Oldberry Castle is an irregular oval shape measuring 220 metres (720 ft) by 91 metres (299 ft). It is defended by a bank measuring 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide and 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) high, and a 5.5 metres (18 ft) wide ditch.^[155][156]

Plainsfield Camp is a possible Iron Age univallate settlement that is shaped like a rhombus. It is around 160 metres (540 ft) by 140 metres (450 ft), enclosing an approximate area of .1 hectares (1,000 m²), with a single bank around 3.0 metres (10 ft) high.^[158][159]

It is likely that the bank and ditch defined enclosure at this site is of Iron Age date.^[161]

Roddenbury hill fort is a large, univallate hill fort enclosing .84 hectares (2.1 acres).^[163][164]

On Rodhuish Common is a small oval enclosure which is thought to be of Iron Age date.^[166]

The Ruborough Camp hill fort is on an easterly spur from the main Quantock ridge, with steep natural slopes to the north and south-east. The fort is triangular in shape, with a single rampart and ditch (univallate), enclosing 1.8 hectares (4.4 acres). There is a linear outer work about 120 metres (390 ft) away, parallel to the westerly rampart, enclosing another 1.8 hectares (4.4 acres). There was a subterranean tunnel, which has now been filed in, which gave the camp safe access to a nearby spring for water.^{[168][169][170]}

Sigwells Camp overlooks Cadbury Castle. It was the target of research by the South Cadbury Environs Project,^[171] which produced significant Early Bronze Age and Middle and Late Iron Age archaeology. Of national importance was the identification of the earliest known metalworking building in Britain, dated to Middle Bronze Age (12th century BC).^[172][173]

Small Down Camp is a multivallate hill fort enclosing 2 hectares (4.9 acres). There is also a group of around 14 barrows within the walls of the camp. Multiple walls and a ditch defend the site, but the walls are crumbling and the ditch has been filled up.^[175][176]

Occupied between 300 BC and 100 BC, comprising a triangular area enclosed by a single univallate rampart, faced inside and out with well-built dry stone walls and infilled with rubble. The rampart was 6 metres (20 ft) wide and the outer face was at least 4 metres (13 ft) high. The top of the hill was cleared down to the bedrock, then substantial huts were built with wattle and daub on a timber-frame. After a period of occupation, some of the huts were burnt down, the rampart was overthrown, and the site was abandoned, never to be reoccupied. This event is probably part of the Belgic invasion of Britain in the early part of the 1st century BC.^[178]

Stantonbury Camp is an Iron Age hill fort close to Wansdyke.^[180] On the English Heritage Heritage at Risk Register.^[181][182]

Evidence shows that Stokeleigh Camp in Leigh Woods was a key site in the defence of the Avon Gorge.^[184] It is situated on a promontory.^[185]

Sweetworthy is an Iron Age hill fort or enclosure on the north-facing slope of Dunkery Hill. It has a single rampart and external ditch, enclosing 0.25 hectares (0.62 acres). The rampart is still visible and the ditch on the east side is used as a trackway.^[187][188]

Taps Combe Camp is a Roman, Iron Age univallate hill fort in Chelvey. It is "D"-shaped, and is approximately 50 metres (160 ft) by 50 metres (160 ft).^{[15][190][191]}

Tedbury Camp is a multivallate promontory hill fort defended by two parallel banks. The inner bank measuring 1.3 metres (4.3 ft) wide and standing 3 metres (9.8 ft) to 4.5 metres (15 ft) high. There may have been a third bank. Also the site of Roman occupation and a coin hoard.^[193][194]

Trendle Ring is a univallate hill fort shaped like a rounded quadrilateral, enclosing around .7 hectares (1.7 acres). It is enclosed by a ring of stones up to around 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) high and still further by a ditch.^[196][197]

Tunley Camp comprises the slight earthwork remains of a univallate Iron Age hill fort, which is now nearly ploughed down.^[199]

A promontory fort or univallate hillfort with earthwork remains.^[201] The bank in places is up to 16 feet (4.9 m) high. Other parts have been almost completely destroyed.^[202]

Wain's Hill is an Iron Age promontory bivallate hill fort visible as linear earthwork banks and ditches. It lies on a triangular spit of land on Wain's Hill in west Clevedon, and the hill fort is defined by steep natural slopes to the south, north, and west, and by two ramparts to the east.^[204]

A banjo enclosure believed to date from the late Iron Age.^[206]

Westbury Camp is a large, irregularly-shaped hill fort surrounded by a bank and ditch covering approximately 2.3 hectares (5.7 acres).^[208][209]

Worlebury Camp is an Iron Age hill fort that was designed for defence, as is evidenced by the number of walls and ditches around the site. Archaeologists have found several large triangular platforms around the sides of the fort, lower down on the hillside. They have found nearly one hundred storage pits of various sizes cut into the bedrock, and many of these had human remains, coins, and other artefacts in them.^[211] However, in more recent times, the fort has suffered damage and been threatened with complete destruction on multiple occasions.^{[8][212][213]}

This site, situated on level ground within an upland area of carboniferous limestone was an Iron Age defended settlement.^[215]

Berwick is a possible multivallate Iron Age hill fort that has since been destroyed. A "camp" called Berwick, Berewyke, or Berewyck, adjoining Cottage Crescent and near Barrack Farm, was described in the early 19th century.^[216]

There is evidence, in the form of burials in local caves, of human occupation since the late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age.^[50]

The Daw's Castle hill fort is situated on a north-facing cliff about 80 m above the sea, on a tapering spur of land bounded by the Washford River to the south, as it flows to the sea at Watchet, about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east. The ramparts of the fort would have formed a semicircle backing onto the sheer cliffs, but coastal erosion has reduced the size of the enclosure, and later destruction by farming, limekilns, and the B3191 road, have left only about 300 m of ramparts visible today.^[219] The fort may be of Iron Age origin, but was (re)built and fortified as a burh by King Alfred, as part of his defense against Viking raids from the Bristol Channel around 878 AD.^[220]