Bignor Hill facts for kids
Bignor Hill is a beautiful hill located near the village of Bignor in Sussex, England. It's a popular spot for walkers and nature lovers. A famous long-distance path called the South Downs Way goes right over the top of this hill.
There's a special stone near the top of Bignor Hill called Toby's Stone. It's a memorial to Toby Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, who was involved with a local hunting group called the Cowdray Hounds.
Legends of Bignor Hill
Bignor Hill has a cool old story from Celtic times. People used to believe that a scary dragon lived in a secret cave on top of the hill! They even said you could see the dragon's remains in the way the ground folds. It's a fun legend to imagine when you're walking there.
Ancient History on the Hill
Bignor Hill is also important for its history. A very old Roman road, called Stane Street, runs right past the hill. The Romans built this road thousands of years ago to connect important towns.
Prehistoric Sites
On the southern side of Bignor Hill, you can find Barkhale Camp. This is a very old site from the Neolithic period, which was a long time ago when people first started farming. It's a special type of ancient settlement called a causewayed enclosure, which means it had banks and ditches with gaps or "causeways."
The hill also has a bowl barrow. This is an ancient burial mound shaped like an upside-down bowl. It's a rare example because it's still in very good condition. Both Barkhale Camp and the bowl barrow are protected as "scheduled ancient monuments" by the government. This means they are very important historical sites that must be preserved.
Nature and Management
Bignor Hill is part of the Slindon Estate. This area is looked after by the National Trust. The National Trust is a charity in the UK that protects important historic places and natural spaces for everyone to enjoy.
The hill is also home to a special and rare type of plant life called Chalk heathland. This unique habitat grows on chalky soil and has plants that are usually found on heathland, making it a very interesting place for nature.
