Hardwell Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hardwell Castle |
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| Hardwell Camp | |
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| Type | Hillfort |
| Location | Compton Beauchamp, Oxfordshire |
| Official name: Hardwell Camp promontory fort | |
| Designated | 18 August 1958 |
| Reference no. | 1017820 |
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Hardwell Castle, also known as Hardwell Camp, is an ancient site from the Iron Age in Oxfordshire, England. It is a special kind of old fort, sometimes called a valley fort. You can find it near the small village of Compton Beauchamp.
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What is Hardwell Castle?
Hardwell Castle is an Iron Age fort built long ago. Unlike many forts, it is not on top of a tall hill. Instead, it sits partway down a slope. This slope is part of the Berkshire Downs, also known as the White Horse Hills.
A Mysterious Location
Most forts were built in places that were easy to defend. They were often on high ground where people could see enemies coming. Hardwell Castle is different. It is tucked away in a curve of the land. This means it is hard to see from many directions. This unusual spot suggests the builders had a special reason for putting it there. However, what that reason was remains a mystery today.
Multi-Vallate Design
Hardwell Castle is known as a 'multi-vallate' site. This means it had more than one set of banks and ditches around it. These banks and ditches would have acted as defensive walls. They would have made it harder for attackers to reach the inside of the fort.
Unexplored History
Very little is known about Hardwell Castle because it has not been excavated. This means archaeologists have not dug into the site to find artifacts or structures. Without excavation, many secrets of the fort remain hidden underground.
A Protected Ancient Site
Since 1958, Hardwell Castle has been a Scheduled monument. This means it is a nationally important archaeological site. It is protected by law to make sure it is preserved for the future. Historic England describes it as a promontory fort.
Where is Hardwell Castle?
Hardwell Castle is located in the Vale of White Horse area of Oxfordshire. It is very close to the small villages of Compton Beauchamp and Knighton. The site is about two miles from Uffington. It is also about one mile from the famous hilltop fort called Uffington Castle.
