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Eddisbury hill fort

May 09, 2024

Eddisbury hill fort, also known as Castle Ditch, is an Iron Age hill fort near Delamere, Cheshire, in northern England. Hill forts are fortified hill-top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age. Eddisbury is the largest and most complex of the seven hill forts in the county of Cheshire. It was constructed before 200–100 BC and expanded in 1–50 AD. In the 1st century AD, the Romans slighted the site. It was reoccupied in the 6th–8th centuries AD, and an Anglo-Saxon burh was probably established at Eddisbury in 914. In the medieval and post-medieval periods quarrying and farming have damaged the site. Ownership is currently split between the Forestry Commission and a local farm. Eddisbury is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[1]

Eddisbury hill fort
Eddisbury hill fort from the west
Location within Cheshire
General information
Architectural styleIron Age hill fort
CountryEngland
Coordinates53°13′13″N 2°40′13″W / 53.220214°N 2.670175°W / 53.220214; -2.670175
Technical details
Size7 acres (28,000 m2) interior
15.5 acres (63,000 m2) including defences
Designated17 December 1934
Reference no.1013295[1]

Background edit

Further information: Hill fort

Hill forts developed in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age, roughly the start of the first millennium BC.[2] The reason for their emergence in Britain, and their purpose, has been a subject of debate. It has been argued that they could have been military sites constructed in response to invasion from continental Europe, sites built by invaders, or a military reaction to social tensions caused by an increasing population and consequent pressure on agriculture. The dominant view since the 1960s has been that the increasing use of iron led to social changes in Britain. Deposits of iron ore were located in different places to the tin and copper ore necessary to make bronze, and as a result trading patterns shifted and the old elites lost their economic and social status. Power passed into the hands of a new group of people.[3] Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe believes that population increase still played a role and has stated "[the forts] provided defensive possibilities for the community at those times when the stress [of an increasing population] burst out into open warfare. But I wouldn't see them as having been built because there was a state of war. They would be functional as defensive strongholds when there were tensions and undoubtedly some of them were attacked and destroyed, but this was not the only, or even the most significant, factor in their construction".[4]

Location and layout edit

 
The earthworks of Eddisbury hill fort from the east

Although there are over 1,300 hill forts in England, they are concentrated in the south of the country, with only seven in Cheshire.[5] Eddisbury is the largest and most complex of the Cheshire hill forts.[6] The forts form two geographical groups of three, with Maiden Castle on its own in the south of the county; Eddisbury hill fort is in the southern group with Kelsborrow Castle and Oakmere hill fort. Located at grid reference SJ553694, Eddisbury Hill, in common with all of the hill forts in Cheshire, sits on part of the central ridge that runs north–south through the county.[6][7] Eddisbury hill fort follows the contours of its hill and measures 200 by 380 m (660 by 1,250 ft). It is surrounded by two ramparts with a ditch in between. The ditch is 10 m (33 ft) wide and 0.5 m (1.6 ft) deep. The inner bank lies between.[7]

History edit

There is evidence of Bronze Age activity at Eddisbury.[8] Before 250 BC, a palisade was erected on Eddisbury Hill. The first hill fort was built in 200–100 BC.[7] Eddisbury hill fort has two main archaeological phases. In the first phase of activity, the site was defended by a single rampart and ditch; this type of hill fort is termed "univallate". The settlement was concentrated on the eastern part of the fort's hill. During the second phase, the fort extended westwards, occupying the entire hill top, and the defences were enhanced through the addition of more ramparts and ditches.[6] The enclosed area expanded from 5.5 acres (22,000 m2) to 7 acres (28,000 m2), and the defences covered 15.5 acres (63,000 m2), 6 acres (24,000 m2) more than previously. There are two theories about the expansion of the fort: either the growth westwards and the extended defences were completed at the same time or that they were separate events. If they happened at the same time it is likely to have been in the interest of making the site easier to defend. If they were separate, the ramparts may have been extended to incorporate an entrance at the western end of the site.[9] The expansion phase dated to 1–50 AD.[7]

 
A revised chronology proposed by Pope et al identified four phases in the hillfort's development.[10]


In the late 1st century AD, the hill fort was destroyed (slighted) by the Romans.[8][6] In the 4th–6th centuries AD, the hill fort was reoccupied and huts were built over the inner rampart. A later hut, dating from the 6th–8th centuries, has also been discovered. Eddisbury has been suggested as the site of an Anglo-Saxon burh built in 914 by Æthelflæd, daughter of Alfred the Great, and recorded in the Mercian Register in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle but this has been queried.[11][12][13] In the medieval and post-medieval period, the south-east part of the site was inhabited, at one point being used as a forester's lodge. The centre of the fort has been cultivated since at least the 19th century, still undergoes ploughing, and was used as a quarry.[14]

 
The reconstructed eastern gateway

Eddisbury was excavated between 1935 and 1938 by W. J. Varley, who also undertook excavations at Maiden Castle nearby,[15] as part of his investigation into the origin of Cheshire's hill forts.[6] The structure was made a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1995, giving Eddisbury protection against unauthorised change.[7] The eastern entrance was re-excavated by the Habitats and Hillforts Project in 2010, finds including sling stones and a saddle quern. The excavated walls were partially reconstructed and remain visible.[16]

The site has been assessed as being "at high risk" due to ploughing on the site, causing erosion.[14] Five of Cheshire's seven hill forts have been assessed as being "at high risk" compared to 15% of North West England's Scheduled Monuments.[17] Although the western and northern parts of Eddisbury are owned by the Forestry Commission, the rest of the site is part of Old Pale Farm.[14]

In fiction edit

Eads Byrig is a burh that is fought over in Bernard Cornwell's novel Warriors of the Storm.

See also edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eddisbury hill fort.

References edit

Notes
  1. ^ a b Historic England, "Eddisbury hillfort east of Old Pale Farm (1013295)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 1 December 2012
  2. ^ Payne, Corney & Cunliffe 2007, p. 1.
  3. ^ Sharples 1991, p. 71–72.
  4. ^ Time Team: Swords, skulls and strongholds, Channel 4, 19 May 2008, retrieved 16 June 2009
  5. ^ Forde-Johnston 1962, p. 13–14.
  6. ^ a b c d e Forde-Johnston 1962, p. 23.
  7. ^ a b c d e Historic England. "Castle Ditch (71146)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Iron Age hillfort at Eddisbury", Revealing Cheshire's Past, Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils, retrieved 25 September 2018
  9. ^ Forde-Johnston 1962, p. 25.
  10. ^ Pope, Rachel; Mason, Richard; Hamilton, Derek; Rule, Eddie; Swogger, John (2020). "Hillfort gate-mechanisms: a contextual, architectural reassessment of Eddisbury, Hembury, and Cadbury hillforts". Archaeological Journal. 177 (2): 457. doi:10.1080/00665983.2019.1711301.
  11. ^ , Revealing Cheshire's Past, Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils, archived from the original on 20 February 2012, retrieved 25 September 2018
  12. ^ "Early Saxon activity at Eddisbury". Revealing Cheshire's Past. Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  13. ^ Sharp, Tony (2013). "The Foundation of the Chester Burh in the Tenth Century: When and by Whom?". Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  14. ^ a b c , Habitats & Hillforts Landscape Partnership Scheme, archived from the original on 25 February 2012, retrieved 25 September 2018 Alt URL
  15. ^ Forde-Johnston 1962, p. 26.
  16. ^ Eddisbury Hill: the reconstructed eastern entrance (on-site notice), Habitats and Hillforts Project, 2010
  17. ^ , Habitats & Hillforts Landscape Partnership Scheme, archived from the original on 29 August 2012, retrieved 25 September 2018
Bibliography
  • Forde-Johnston, James (1962), "The Iron Age Hillforts of Lancashire and Cheshire", Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 72: 9–46
  • Payne, Andrew; Corney, Mark; Cunliffe, Barry (2007), The Wessex Hillforts Project: Extensive Survey of Hillfort Interiors in Central Southern England, English Heritage, ISBN 978-1-873592-85-4
  • Sharples, Niall M (1991), English Heritage Book of Maiden Castle, London: B. T. Batsford, ISBN 0-7134-6083-0

Further reading edit

  • Varley, William Jones (1936), "Recent investigations into the origins of Cheshire hill-forts", Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 51: 51–59
  • Varley, William Jones (1950), "Excavations of the castle ditch, Eddisbury, 1935–1938", Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 102: 1–68

May 09, 2024
eddisbury, hill, fort, also, known, castle, ditch, iron, hill, fort, near, delamere, cheshire, northern, england, hill, forts, fortified, hill, settlements, constructed, across, britain, during, iron, eddisbury, largest, most, complex, seven, hill, forts, coun. Eddisbury hill fort also known as Castle Ditch is an Iron Age hill fort near Delamere Cheshire in northern England Hill forts are fortified hill top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age Eddisbury is the largest and most complex of the seven hill forts in the county of Cheshire It was constructed before 200 100 BC and expanded in 1 50 AD In the 1st century AD the Romans slighted the site It was reoccupied in the 6th 8th centuries AD and an Anglo Saxon burh was probably established at Eddisbury in 914 In the medieval and post medieval periods quarrying and farming have damaged the site Ownership is currently split between the Forestry Commission and a local farm Eddisbury is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument 1 Eddisbury hill fortEddisbury hill fort from the westLocation within CheshireGeneral informationArchitectural styleIron Age hill fortCountryEnglandCoordinates53 13 13 N 2 40 13 W 53 220214 N 2 670175 W 53 220214 2 670175Technical detailsSize7 acres 28 000 m2 interior15 5 acres 63 000 m2 including defencesScheduled monumentDesignated17 December 1934Reference no 1013295 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Location and layout 3 History 4 In fiction 5 See also 6 References 7 Further readingBackground editFurther information Hill fort Hill forts developed in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age roughly the start of the first millennium BC 2 The reason for their emergence in Britain and their purpose has been a subject of debate It has been argued that they could have been military sites constructed in response to invasion from continental Europe sites built by invaders or a military reaction to social tensions caused by an increasing population and consequent pressure on agriculture The dominant view since the 1960s has been that the increasing use of iron led to social changes in Britain Deposits of iron ore were located in different places to the tin and copper ore necessary to make bronze and as a result trading patterns shifted and the old elites lost their economic and social status Power passed into the hands of a new group of people 3 Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe believes that population increase still played a role and has stated the forts provided defensive possibilities for the community at those times when the stress of an increasing population burst out into open warfare But I wouldn t see them as having been built because there was a state of war They would be functional as defensive strongholds when there were tensions and undoubtedly some of them were attacked and destroyed but this was not the only or even the most significant factor in their construction 4 Location and layout edit nbsp The earthworks of Eddisbury hill fort from the east Although there are over 1 300 hill forts in England they are concentrated in the south of the country with only seven in Cheshire 5 Eddisbury is the largest and most complex of the Cheshire hill forts 6 The forts form two geographical groups of three with Maiden Castle on its own in the south of the county Eddisbury hill fort is in the southern group with Kelsborrow Castle and Oakmere hill fort Located at grid reference SJ553694 Eddisbury Hill in common with all of the hill forts in Cheshire sits on part of the central ridge that runs north south through the county 6 7 Eddisbury hill fort follows the contours of its hill and measures 200 by 380 m 660 by 1 250 ft It is surrounded by two ramparts with a ditch in between The ditch is 10 m 33 ft wide and 0 5 m 1 6 ft deep The inner bank lies between 7 History editThere is evidence of Bronze Age activity at Eddisbury 8 Before 250 BC a palisade was erected on Eddisbury Hill The first hill fort was built in 200 100 BC 7 Eddisbury hill fort has two main archaeological phases In the first phase of activity the site was defended by a single rampart and ditch this type of hill fort is termed univallate The settlement was concentrated on the eastern part of the fort s hill During the second phase the fort extended westwards occupying the entire hill top and the defences were enhanced through the addition of more ramparts and ditches 6 The enclosed area expanded from 5 5 acres 22 000 m2 to 7 acres 28 000 m2 and the defences covered 15 5 acres 63 000 m2 6 acres 24 000 m2 more than previously There are two theories about the expansion of the fort either the growth westwards and the extended defences were completed at the same time or that they were separate events If they happened at the same time it is likely to have been in the interest of making the site easier to defend If they were separate the ramparts may have been extended to incorporate an entrance at the western end of the site 9 The expansion phase dated to 1 50 AD 7 nbsp A revised chronology proposed by Pope et al identified four phases in the hillfort s development 10 In the late 1st century AD the hill fort was destroyed slighted by the Romans 8 6 In the 4th 6th centuries AD the hill fort was reoccupied and huts were built over the inner rampart A later hut dating from the 6th 8th centuries has also been discovered Eddisbury has been suggested as the site of an Anglo Saxon burh built in 914 by AEthelflaed daughter of Alfred the Great and recorded in the Mercian Register in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle but this has been queried 11 12 13 In the medieval and post medieval period the south east part of the site was inhabited at one point being used as a forester s lodge The centre of the fort has been cultivated since at least the 19th century still undergoes ploughing and was used as a quarry 14 nbsp The reconstructed eastern gateway Eddisbury was excavated between 1935 and 1938 by W J Varley who also undertook excavations at Maiden Castle nearby 15 as part of his investigation into the origin of Cheshire s hill forts 6 The structure was made a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1995 giving Eddisbury protection against unauthorised change 7 The eastern entrance was re excavated by the Habitats and Hillforts Project in 2010 finds including sling stones and a saddle quern The excavated walls were partially reconstructed and remain visible 16 The site has been assessed as being at high risk due to ploughing on the site causing erosion 14 Five of Cheshire s seven hill forts have been assessed as being at high risk compared to 15 of North West England s Scheduled Monuments 17 Although the western and northern parts of Eddisbury are owned by the Forestry Commission the rest of the site is part of Old Pale Farm 14 In fiction editEads Byrig is a burh that is fought over in Bernard Cornwell s novel Warriors of the Storm See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eddisbury hill fort nbsp Cheshire portal Hillforts in Britain List of hill forts in England Scheduled Monuments in Cheshire pre 1066 References editNotes a b Historic England Eddisbury hillfort east of Old Pale Farm 1013295 National Heritage List for England retrieved 1 December 2012 Payne Corney amp Cunliffe 2007 p 1 Sharples 1991 p 71 72 Time Team Swords skulls and strongholds Channel 4 19 May 2008 retrieved 16 June 2009 Forde Johnston 1962 p 13 14 a b c d e Forde Johnston 1962 p 23 a b c d e Historic England Castle Ditch 71146 Research records formerly PastScape Retrieved 25 September 2018 a b Iron Age hillfort at Eddisbury Revealing Cheshire s Past Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils retrieved 25 September 2018 Forde Johnston 1962 p 25 Pope Rachel Mason Richard Hamilton Derek Rule Eddie Swogger John 2020 Hillfort gate mechanisms a contextual architectural reassessment of Eddisbury Hembury and Cadbury hillforts Archaeological Journal 177 2 457 doi 10 1080 00665983 2019 1711301 Post medieval quarrying at Eddisbury Revealing Cheshire s Past Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils archived from the original on 20 February 2012 retrieved 25 September 2018 Early Saxon activity at Eddisbury Revealing Cheshire s Past Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils Retrieved 26 September 2018 Sharp Tony 2013 The Foundation of the Chester Burh in the Tenth Century When and by Whom Retrieved 25 September 2018 a b c Archaeological management issues Eddisbury Habitats amp Hillforts Landscape Partnership Scheme archived from the original on 25 February 2012 retrieved 25 September 2018 Alt URL Forde Johnston 1962 p 26 Eddisbury Hill the reconstructed eastern entrance on site notice Habitats and Hillforts Project 2010 Archaeological management issues Habitats amp Hillforts Landscape Partnership Scheme archived from the original on 29 August 2012 retrieved 25 September 2018 Bibliography Forde Johnston James 1962 The Iron Age Hillforts of Lancashire and Cheshire Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society 72 9 46 Payne Andrew Corney Mark Cunliffe Barry 2007 The Wessex Hillforts Project Extensive Survey of Hillfort Interiors in Central Southern England English Heritage ISBN 978 1 873592 85 4 Sharples Niall M 1991 English Heritage Book of Maiden Castle London B T Batsford ISBN 0 7134 6083 0Further reading editVarley William Jones 1936 Recent investigations into the origins of Cheshire hill forts Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society 51 51 59 Varley William Jones 1950 Excavations of the castle ditch Eddisbury 1935 1938 Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire 102 1 68 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eddisbury hill fort amp oldid 1209947026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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