Bradley hill fort facts for kids

The Bradley hill fort is an ancient hill fort from the Iron Age. Hill forts were like strong, walled villages built on top of hills. People in Britain used them during the Iron Age as homes or safe places. Bradley hill fort is the smallest of seven such forts in Cheshire, a county in northern England. It is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, which means it's a special historical site protected by law.

What is a Hill Fort?

Hill forts started to appear around 1000 BC, during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. People built them on hills to use the natural height for defense. These forts were not just military bases. They were often busy settlements where people lived, farmed, and traded. Sometimes, they were also used as safe places when there was trouble or danger.

Historians and archaeologists have different ideas about why hill forts were built. Some think they were for protection against invaders from other parts of Europe. Others believe they were built because more people were living in Britain, which put pressure on farming and led to disagreements.

A famous archaeologist named Barry Cunliffe thinks that hill forts helped communities stay safe when tensions grew. He said they offered "defensive possibilities" when people needed them. So, while some forts might have been attacked, their main purpose wasn't always just for fighting.

Where is Bradley Hill Fort?

There are over 1,300 hill forts in England. Most of them are in the southern parts of the country. But in Cheshire, there are only seven. Bradley hill fort is the most northern of these seven forts in Cheshire. It is located close to two other hill forts: Helsby and Woodhouses.

Like all the hill forts in Cheshire, Bradley hill fort sits on a central ridge that runs from north to south through the county. However, unlike some other forts, Bradley is surrounded by higher ground. This means its views of the Cheshire Plain are not as wide. The fort was built near a small stream that flows into the River Weaver. The builders used the stream's steep banks to help defend the site.

How Was Bradley Hill Fort Built?

Bradley hill fort covers about 2 acres (8,100 m²). The area inside the fort, where people lived, is about 1.5 acres (6,100 m²). This makes it the smallest hill fort in Cheshire.

The fort was protected by a single bank and a ditch. This defense system was about 75 to 80 feet (23 to 24 m) wide from the back of the bank to the outer edge of the ditch. The main way into the fort was probably in the north-east corner. This is where the man-made defenses met the natural river bank. This entrance style is similar to another nearby fort, Oakmere hill fort.

However, it's hard to be completely sure about the entrance's exact spot. Over time, farming and modern drainage ditches have damaged the area. This has made it difficult to see the original features of the fort. So far, archaeologists have not fully explored Bradley hill fort.