Ancient England A-Z Gazetteer
From stone circles to burial mounds, hill forts to causewayed camp, this gazetteer lists the best of Ancient Britain.

Abbotsbury Castle    An Iron Age Hillfort to the northwest of Abbotsbury village. The fort encloses an area of 4 acres, and within the double ramparts, the outlines of huts can still be seen. The location is superb, with views across Lyme Bay. Abbotsbury, Dorset, England Attraction Type: Prehistoric Location: From the B3157 just west of Abbotsbury a narrow road leads up Wear Hill (signposted ). A small layby on the left allows parking for several cars. A path leads from the downhill side of the layby. The way can be slippery. Details of Abbotsbury Castle OS SY555 866 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Arbor Low    Henge monument with the addition of a later stone circle. A Bronze Age round barrow was later grafted onto the rear of the site. Arbor Low has been called the finest henge monument in the north of England. The site is composed of a henge with the addition of a later stone circle. The outer bank of the henge is roughly circular, measuring about 259 x 246 feet in diameter. Within the bank is a ditch about 6 feet deep and 30 feet wide. The weathered limestone stones are not standing, but lie in a rough circle pointing outwards. There is no firm evidence to suggest whether the stones were originally standing or not; speculation exists that they were knocked down by zealous Christians, but they may also have been laid down by the builders of the circle. Upper Oldhams Farm, Monyash Bakewell, Derbyshire, England Attraction Type: Prehistoric Location: half mile off A515 Website: Arbor Low Phone: 01629 816 200 English Heritage Details of Arbor Low OS SK160 635 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Avebury Stone Circle    Avebury is unique in that the village of Avebury lies partly within the henge, or outer circle of stones, and a road splits the circle. The main Avebury stone circle is roughly a quarter mile across, enclosing an area of about 28 acres, and it contains two smaller circles within it. There is an avenue of stones leading away from the circle towards Overton Hill a mile and a half away, and it has been speculated by some archaeologists that the avenue was constructed to form the body of a snake, with the circle as the snake's head. The avenue stones alternate from tall and thin to broad and trapezoidal, leading to more speculation that they represent males and females respectively. There is a very steep ditch and bank surrounding the stone circle. Excavation shows that the ditch was originally about 30 feet deep, with the bank an equal height. Do your math - that makes for a 60 foot tall barrier! Avebury probably served as a religious and ceremonial centre, though what those beliefs or ceremonies were we do not know. We also don't know quite when the site was built, though the current best guess (subject to change at a moment's notice, it seems) is that it was begun in about 3000 BC. Nearby are West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill. Well worth visiting. Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, SN8 1RF Attraction Type: Prehistoric Location: 6 m W Marlborough on the A4361 Website: Avebury Stone Circle Email: avebury@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01672 539 250 Fax: 01672 539 388 National Trust Location map Details of Avebury Stone Circle OS SU100 699 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Badbury Rings    Contained within the considerable estates of Kingston Lacy House is this Iron Age hillfort, surrounded by three concentric ditches and ramparts. It has been conjectured that Badbury is the site of Mons Badonicus (Mount Badon) - the great battle at which King Arthur defeated the advancing Germanic tribes of Angles, Saxons, and Jutes in the late 5th or early 6th century. Kingston Lacy, Shapwick, Dorset, England Attraction Type: Prehistoric Location: One mile from Shapwick, off the B3082 between Wimborne Minster and Blandford Forum. National Trust Details of Badbury Rings OS ST964 029 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Belas Knap   A chambered tomb dating from about 1400BC. Thirty eight skeletons were discovered in the tomb, and these and other artifacts can be seen in the church museum in Winchcombe. Winchcombe, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, England Attraction Type: Prehistoric Location: Northeast of Cheltenham, off B3642 Details of Belas Knap OS SP021254 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bigbury Camp    An Iron Age hill fort which was the scene of British resistance against Roman invaders in 54AD. The Romans subsequently used the hill fort as a military encampment site. Finds unearthed during excavations at Bigbury can be seen at both Canterbury and Maidstone museums. Bigbury Camp, Kent, England Attraction Type: Prehistoric OS TR116576 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Blakely Rise stone circle   A small stone circle of 11 stones, set in a lovely moorland location south of Ennerdale Bridge. Not the largest, nor the most imposing, but a very attractive stone circle in a lovely setting. Ennerdale Bridge, Lake District, Cumbria, England Attraction Type: Prehistoric Location: Just off the minor road south of Ennerdale Bridge towards Hailes. Easy parking on the roadside. Details of Blakely Rise stone circle - Photos of Blakely Rise stone circle OS NY060139 Photo Credit: David Ross/Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

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Ancient Britain

Ancient Britain A-Z England - Scotland - Wales FEATURES Ancient Wessex - Avebury - Castlerigg - Grimes Graves - Hadrian's Wall - Long Meg - Rollright Stones - Silbury Hill - Stonehenge ARTICLES A-Z Gazetteer - Prehistoric life - Understanding ancient sites ATTRACTIONS A-Z Abbeys and Monasteries - Ancient Britain - Castles - Cathedrals - Historic Houses - Gardens - Museums - Roman Remains

 

 

Text © David Ross and Britain Express

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