HER 446 DESCRIPTION:- Scheduled Monument Description:- Summary of Monument Slight univallate hillfort called Towbury Hill Camp, 600m north west of Puckrup Hall Farm. 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. They are rare and important for understanding the transition between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities. Despite quarrying and tree growth the slight univallate hillfort 600m north west of Puckrup Hall Farm survives comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, trade, agricultural practices, social organisation, territorial significance, domestic arrangements and overall landscape context. History See Details. Details This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 9 July 2015. The record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records. The monument includes a slight univallate hillfort situated on a relatively low lying plateau immediately overlooking the Ripple Brook. The hillfort survives as a roughly triangular enclosed area of approximately 4.2ha defined by a slight rampart and largely in-filled outer ditch which survives differentially throughout the circuit. The interior contains traces of ridge and furrow cultivation and to the south west there is a sandstone quarry. The original entrance is in the north east. Chance finds of pottery dating from the Iron Age to 1st century AD have been made within the interior {Source Work 2873.} (SO880369) Towbury Camp, a hill fort dating from the Iron Age 'B' to c.AD85. Some pottery? 1st century found {Source Work 862.} Towbury Camp is a univallate contour fort. On north and west the inner side of the bank has been greatly reduced. On southwest some 50m of the earthwork has been destroyed by quarrying. Gap in northeast is probably original.{Source Work 862.} Towbury hillfort - ramparts and entrance are tree- lined. Interior earthworks under pasture {Source Work 3268.} Short section of well formed bank at SO8798372 may mark headland of ridge and furrow which extends eastwards. The bank is cut in the south by a circular gouged feature and deep irregular gouged ditch along its line. To the west the ground is very irregular. Possibly quarrying now grassed over. Traces of ridge and furrow extend into the northwest corner of the interior. Also visible on RAF {Source Work 864.} NMR {Source Work 3125.} and Severn-Trent APs {Source Work 566.} NMR - Ramparts tree lined, interior under pasture - earthworks not visible. Severn Trent - interior features are not well defined - under pasture.{pers comm S Brown} Field names "Towbury Ground" at SO883368, "Towbury Orchard" at SO884370 & SO880372, "Towbury Hill" at SO880370 and SO879367 from Tithe Map and Apport of 1841{Source Works 425, 599.} Possibly from "beorg" meaning "hill" or "barrow" {Source Work 599.} A stone culvert was observed in the interior in 1991, located close to the northern rampart, approx. at its centre. The significance and date of this feature is unknown. There is some evidence to suggest that an annex to the hillfort was present, although this cannot be proved conclusively. AREA ASSESSMENT :- Ramparts damaged - but interior under pasture - extant traces of Medieval cultivation and localised quarrying? Possible that earlier features not completely destroyed by Medieval cultivation. 1998 - A watching brief was undertaken at Towbury hillfort during the clearance of a pond under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. The pond is understood to be of relatively recent origin an no deposits predating the modern period were identified {Source Work 5096.} 2007 - Carrent Valley Landscape NMP [SO 880369] Towbury Hill Camp. Towbury Camp, a hill fort, dating from Iron Age `B' to c.AD 85. Some pottery, Possibly 1st century AD found. Brief mention. Towbury Camp is a univallate contour fort. On the N and W the inner side of the bank has been greatly reduced. In the SW some 50m of the earthwork has been destroyed by quarrying. A gap in the NE is probably original. SO 880369. Towbury. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 4.2ha. The ramparts of the univallate hillfort known as Towbury Camp referred to above are obscured by trees on the available aerial photographs, however, the interior of the hillfort contains extant ridge and furrow, which is recorded as part of SO 83 NE 73 (UID: 1452018). A probable Post Medieval sandstone quarry has been cut into the southwestern corner of the hillfort (see SO 83 NE 102 / UID: 1452411). {Source Work 4249.} |