More information : (SO 5450 7370) Caynham Camp (NR) (1)
(SO 545 737) Fort (NR) (2)
Caynham Camp; an earthwork covering about 8 acres with an annex
on the west side and inturned entrance on the east, and traces of
a second annex on the west side, formed by a low spread bank. (see
plan A). Excavations by Gelling, 1959/61, revealed four phases of
occupation possibly up to circa AD 43, as follows:
1. Stonewall reinforced with upright timbers, and a possible
10ft. rock-cut ditch.
2. Small rubble rampart with outer stone revetments, surmounted
by a stockade.
3. Large rampart with improved stone revetment and rubble
counterscarp outside it.
4. Height of rampart increased. A number of post holes (see
plan B) suggesting a possible semi-circular building and
storage pits were discovered. Little occupation debris was found
during the excavations although the post holes contained large
quantities of carbonized wheat. Other finds include a number of
sherds, a bronze bead, scraps of burnt bone and a small annular bead
of uncoloured glass with inlaid yellow paste decoration. (3-4)
SO545737 Caynham Camp. A well preserved Iron Age earthwork of rectangular ramparts enclosing 8 acres. Inturned entrance on the east side. On the west a large bank crosses the interior from N to S forming an annex. Four phases of occupation have been identified. Traces of buildings and many grain storage pits were located (5)
Caynham Camp is Scheduled no 24 (6)
This hillfort is compared to others in the Welsh Marches in the light of recent research. A possible late Bronze Age settlement preceeded the construction of the fort. An unstratified sherd of late Bronze Age pottery was found on the site and has been compared to urns found at Bromfield (SO 47 NE 10) one of which has been dated by C14 to the 8th century BC (7,7a)
SO 545 737. Caynham. Listed in gazetteer as a multivallate hillfort with 3 phases of construction. Phase I covered 1.8ha; Phase II 2.4ha and Phase III 3.2ha. (8)
Caynham Camp. Description and plan. (9)
Report on pottery from 1959-61 excavations. (10)
SO 5450 7370. Caynham camp a large univallate hillfort with a total enclosed area of approximately 4ha. The defences show three phases of construction:
The earliest phase on the east side included a substantial earth and stone rampart completely encircling the summit of the hill. This was flanked by a ditch and outer bank and enclosed an area of 250m SW -NE
At a later date the hillfort was extended west by a roughly rectangular, round-cornered annex measuring 94m NW-SE by 60m transversely.
Beyond and below the west end of the hillfort a second rectangular annex measuring 88m NW-SE by 38m transversely was constructed but this may be of a later date than the main hillfort.
There is no visible surface evidence of habitation in the interior of the hillfort except in the NW part of the site where a roughly oval platform is believed to represent the site of a silage store.
Tradition links the hillfort with Cromwell's campaign against the Royalist-held Ludlow Castle. Scheduled (RSM) 19160. (11) |