Berth Hill facts for kids
 Location in Staffordshire
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| Location | Near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire |
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| Coordinates | 52°56′53″N 2°19′3″W / 52.94806°N 2.31750°W |
| Type | Hillfort |
| Length | 320 metres (1,050 ft) |
| Width | 150 metres (490 ft) |
| Area | 3.75 hectares (9.3 acres) |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Designated | 30 November 1925 |
| Reference no. | 1009771 |
Berth Hill is an ancient hillfort from the Iron Age. It is located in Staffordshire, England. You can find it about 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is also close to the village of Maer. Berth Hill is a special place, protected as a scheduled monument. Sometimes, it was called Bryth, Bruff, or Burgh Hill.
Contents
Discovering Berth Hill's Secrets
Berth Hill sits on a sandstone hill. This hill is on the edge of the Maer Hills. The fort's defenses follow the natural shape of the hill. This gives it an unusual, uneven outline.
The hillfort stretches about 320 meters (1,050 ft) long. It is about 150 meters (490 ft) wide. Inside these defenses, the area covers about 3.75 hectares (9.3 acres). That's roughly the size of five football fields!
What Were the Defenses Like?
The main defense was a large bank, called a rampart. This rampart was made of earth and stones. It was up to 15 meters (49 ft) wide. It stood about 0.8 meters (2.6 ft) higher than the inside of the fort.
On the northern side, the hill was not as steep. So, another rampart was built there. This outer rampart was about 10 meters (33 ft) wide.
There were two main ways to enter the fort. One entrance was in the southwest. It had a special "inturned" design. This meant the ramparts curved inwards, making it harder for enemies to get in. The other entrance was at the north end of the eastern defenses. There is also a natural spring on the eastern side of the fort. This would have provided fresh water.
Digging Up the Past: What We Learned
Archaeologists studied Berth Hill in 1966 and 1975. Their digs helped us understand its history. They found signs that people lived there a very long time ago.
After this early period, the fort was empty for a long time. The ditches filled with dirt, and parts of the rampart fell down. Later, the defenses were quickly rebuilt. This suggests there might have been a sudden need for protection.
How Berth Hill Changed Over Time
In the early 1800s, Berth Hill saw some changes. Josiah Wedgwood II owned Maer Hall nearby. He was the son of the famous potter, Josiah Wedgwood. He built a special water channel, called an aqueduct. This aqueduct piped water from the spring on Berth Hill. It carried water all the way to his home, Maer Hall, and the village of Maer. You can still see where this aqueduct damaged the inner rampart on the east side.
During the 19th century, part of the site became a beautiful garden. This was mainly in the north and east areas. There were garden paths for walking. There was also a zig-zag path leading to a small platform. People think this platform was a viewing area. From here, people could enjoy the scenery.
