Westbury Camp, slight univallate hillfort, 750m north of Stokewood Cottage

Reasons for Designation

Slight univallate hillforts are defined as enclosures of various shapes, generally between 1ha and 10ha in size, situated on or close to hilltops and defined by a single line of earthworks, the scale of which is relatively small. They date to between the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (eighth - fifth centuries BC), the majority being used for 150 to 200 years prior to their abandonment or reconstruction. Slight univallate hillforts have generally been interpreted as stock enclosures, redistribution centres, places of refuge and permanent settlements. The earthworks generally include a rampart, narrow level berm, external ditch and counterscarp bank, while access to the interior is usually provided by two entrances comprising either simple gaps in the earthwork or an inturned rampart. Postholes revealed by excavation indicate the occasional presence of portal gateways while more elaborate features like overlapping ramparts and outworks are limited to only a few examples. Internal features included timber or stone round houses; large storage pits and hearths; scattered postholes, stakeholes and gullies; and square or rectangular buildings supported by four to six posts, often represented by postholes, and interpreted as raised granaries. Slight univallate hillforts are rare with around 150 examples recorded nationally. Although on a national scale the number is low, in Devon they comprise one of the major classes of hillfort. In other areas where the distribution is relatively dense, for example, Wessex, Sussex, the Cotswolds and the Chilterns, hillforts belonging to a number of different classes occur within the same region. Examples are also recorded in eastern England, the Welsh Marches, central and southern England. In view of the rarity of slight univallate hillforts and their importance in understanding the transition between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities, all examples which survive comparatively well and have potential for the recovery of further archaeological remains are believed to be of national importance.

The enclosure at Westbury survives as a good example of its class, accessible to the public, and with the remains undisturbed.

Details

The monument includes a slight univallate hillfort with earthworks enclosing an area of high ground on the edge of a plateau. The area enclosed is about 2.3ha, and of irregular shape. About half of the enclosed area is fairly level, while the rest is sloping ground lying within the south western part of the enclosure on the edge of the plateau. The enclosing earthworks consist of a bank and external ditch around the higher part, becoming a simple scarp curving down around the south west sides. The bank is no more than 0.7m high internally, and the ditch 0.5m deep. The most well-defined sides are to the north and east. The entrance to the interior is on the eastern side, and consists of a simple gap and causeway about 5m wide. This faces the plateau from which the approach is level. On the west tip of the earthworks, shallow internal scoops related to their construction are visible. Along the north side, by an adjacent modern stone wall, several quarry pits have been dug into the earthworks, and there is a small quarry and limekiln outside the entrance on the east. These all date from recent centuries. In the interior of the hillfort the ground is uneven, particularly to the south where rock strata outcrop on the surface, and there are further quarry scoops visible. There are small mounds near the centre, and one of these has been identified as a possible prehistoric round barrow, but all may be spoil heaps from surface quarrying. The low banks of medieval field boundaries are present around the enclosure, with one overlying the earthworks and running across the middle of it. These are associated with nearby deserted medieval farms.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

29039

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
SMR Record 24280, (1995)
Cole, H, (1996)

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