Creech Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Creech Hill |
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Creech Hill
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| Location | Milton Clevedon and Lamyatt, Somerset, England |
| Built | Bronze Age – Iron Age |
| Official name: Creech Hill | |
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Creech Hill is a special hill in south east Somerset, England. It is well-known for an ancient Iron Age hill fort. This hill is located about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) northwest of the small town of Bruton.
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Discovering Creech Hill's Hill Fort
The hill fort at Creech Hill is found at the northern end of the hill. It is close to the village of Milton Clevedon. This ancient site is officially protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it is an important historical place.
What is a Hill Fort?
Hill forts were large, fortified settlements built on hills. They were usually surrounded by ditches and walls. These forts were built a very long time ago. They appeared in Britain during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. This was around the start of the first millennium BC (about 3,000 years ago).
People have wondered why these forts were built. Some think they were military sites. They might have been built to defend against invaders from other parts of Europe. Others believe they were built by invaders themselves. Another idea is that they were built because of fighting between groups of people. This fighting might have happened as the population grew. More people meant more pressure on farming land.
Today, many experts believe that new ways of using iron changed society. Iron ore was found in different places than the metals needed for bronze. This changed how people traded goods. Old leaders might have lost their power. New groups of people became important.
Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe thinks that more people also played a part. He said that hill forts offered places to defend communities. This was important when tensions led to open fighting. But he doesn't think they were built only because of war. They were useful strongholds during times of trouble. Some forts were attacked and destroyed. However, this was not the only reason they were built.
Roman Temple on the Hill
The highest part of Creech Hill is called Lamyatt Beacon. Here, you can find the remains of a Romano-Celtic temple. This temple was used by people from about 250 AD to 375 AD. It shows that Romans and local people mixed their cultures.
Spooky Stories from Creech Hill
Creech Hill has some interesting local legends. According to folklorist Katharine Briggs, the hill is haunted. People say a ghost called the "Bullbeggar" lives there.
In 1906, stories were collected by Ruth Tongue. She wrote that in the 1880s, two bodies were dug up on the hill. This happened during quarrying work. After that, people said the hill became haunted. They reported seeing a "black uncanny shape." They also heard unseen footsteps.
One night, a farmer was walking home late. He saw a figure lying in the road. He went to help, but the figure suddenly stood up. It chased him all the way to his door! His family ran out to help him. They saw the figure bounding away, laughing wildly. Another traveler was attacked on Creech Hill at night. He defended himself from midnight until morning. He used a staff made of ash wood to keep the ghost away.
