Fosbury Camp facts for kids
Fosbury Camp, looking along the inner wall of the Iron Age hillfort towards Oakhill Wood
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 Location in Wiltshire
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| Alternative name | Haydon Hill Castle |
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| Location | Wiltshire |
| Coordinates | 51°18′24″N 1°32′38″W / 51.3067°N 1.5438°W |
| Area | 26 acres (11 ha) |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | yes |
Fosbury Camp is an ancient site in Wiltshire, England. It is a large hillfort from the Iron Age. This means it was a fortified settlement built on a hill.
The camp is shaped like an oval and covers about 26 acres. That's roughly the size of 20 football fields! It sits on top of a hill called Knolls Down. Fosbury Camp is a protected national monument. Its number is WI162.
Contents
Discovering Fosbury Camp
What is a Hillfort?
During the Iron Age, people built hillforts for protection. They were often used as homes, meeting places, or safe spots during attacks. Fosbury Camp had two sets of walls or ditches. This made it extra strong against enemies.
A Naturally Strong Location
Fosbury Camp was built in a very smart place. The land around it drops steeply to the south, southwest, and east. This made it very hard for attackers to reach the camp. To the north, the land is not as steep. This side is mostly protected by a forest called Oakhill Wood. To the west, the ground rises up to the highest point of Haydown Hill.
The Camp's Features
Inside the eastern part of the camp, there is a pond. Experts think this pond might have been there since the time the camp was first used. It would have been a very important source of water for the people living inside the fort.
Visiting Fosbury Camp
The site is located south of the village of Fosbury in Wiltshire. It is also close to the towns of Marlborough and Hungerford. The camp is 254 meters (about 833 feet) above sea level. This is just below the very top of the hill, which is 258 meters high.
You can easily visit Fosbury Camp. There are public footpaths that lead to the north side of the site. These paths also run along the edges of Oakhill Wood.
