Dudsbury Camp facts for kids
Dudsbury Camp viewed from the south
|
|
 Location in Dorset
|
|
| Location | West Parley |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°46′52″N 1°53′29″W / 50.78107°N 1.89144°W |
| Type | Hillfort |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
Dudsbury Camp, also known as Dudsbury Rings, is an ancient site in Dorset, England. It's a type of old fort called a hillfort. This fort was built long ago during the Iron Age.
Dudsbury Camp is part of a group of Iron Age earthworks in Dorset. These include other famous sites like Hambledon Hill and Badbury Rings. The ancient port at Hengistbury Head is also part of this chain of historical places. You can find Dudsbury Camp near the village of West Parley.
How did Dudsbury Camp get its name?
The name Dudsbury comes from a person named Duds or Dudd. This person was a Saxon who lived in the 6th century.
The Domesday Book, a very old record from 1086, mentions this place. It says that "Azelin holds Dodsberie of Waleran." It also notes that the land was used for farming. There were fields for crops, meadows, and woods.
What does Dudsbury Camp look like?
Dudsbury Camp is an Iron Age hillfort. It sits on the north bank of the River Stour. The fort's defenses cover an area of about 3 hectares (which is about 7.4 acres).
The fort has two large banks of earth, called ramparts, and ditches. These defenses are on the west, north, and east sides. On the south side, there is a steep slope leading down to the river. This slope acted as a natural defense.
Much of the outer rampart and ditch have been damaged over time. The best-preserved part is near the southwest corner. Here, the inner rampart is about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall from the inside. It rises 4 meters (13 feet) from the bottom of the outer ditch. The outer rampart here is over 5 meters (16 feet) tall from the ditch bottom.
There are four entrances to the hillfort. However, experts believe only the west entrance, and possibly the south entrance, were part of the original design.
Some small digs were done by Heywood Sumner in 1921. Not much was found, except for some pieces of Iron Age pottery on the northwest side.
How is Dudsbury Camp used today?
For many years, the inside of the hillfort was used for farming. However, one part in the northeast has a house and garden.
In 1930, fourteen acres of the site became a camp for the Bournemouth Division of the Girl Guides Association. The land was given by its owner, Lord Wimborne. He supported the idea and sold the land for a very small price.
This part of the site is now known as the Dudsbury Guide Camp. The house and garden in the northeast section are now used by the Warden of the Guide Camp.
