Castle Hill, Hampshire facts for kids
Castle Hill is an ancient site in Hampshire, England. It was once an Iron Age hillfort, which was like a fortified village built on a hill. This special place is found in the New Forest national park, near the village of Burley.
A hillfort is a type of old fort built during the Iron Age, a long time ago. People used to build these forts on hills for protection. Castle Hill has a single rampart (a large bank of earth) and a ditch around it. These earthworks enclose about five acres of land, which is roughly the size of three football fields!
Even though it's very old, the hillfort is still in good shape. However, some paths leading to nearby houses cut through it. Inside, parts of the area can be a bit wet and are covered with trees like oak and silver birch, and plants like holly and bracken. The highest part of the earth bank is on the eastern side, while the western side slopes down steeply.
Castle Hill is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's a very important historical site that is protected by the government.
The Dragon Legend
There's a fun legend about Castle Hill! People say that a long time ago, a dragon lived on this hill. A brave knight from the nearby village of Brook supposedly fought and defeated the dragon. Because of this story, the local pub in Brook is even named the Green Dragon!
Where is Castle Hill?
Castle Hill is located right next to the village of Burley Street. It's part of the beautiful New Forest national park in Hampshire. The hill itself is about 92 meters (300 feet) above sea level.
The area is within the parish of Burley. The name "Burley" might even come from an old Anglo-Saxon word, bury, which means 'a fortified place'. This makes sense, given the hillfort's history!
Images for kids
-
A 3D view of the digital terrain model of Castle Hill.
