Huntsham Castle facts for kids
Huntsham Castle is an ancient Iron Age hillfort located in Devon, England. It sits near the village of Huntsham, high up on a hill. This old site is about 260 meters (853 feet) above sea level. It offers great views over the valleys of two small rivers that flow into the River Lowman.
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What is a Hillfort?
A hillfort is a type of ancient fort built on a hill. People in the Iron Age (around 800 BC to AD 100) built them. They were often used as homes, safe places, or meeting points. These forts were protected by large banks of earth called ramparts and deep ditches.
Why were Hillforts Built?
People built hillforts for several reasons. They offered a good view of the surrounding land, which helped spot enemies. The high ground made them easier to defend. They could also be important places for communities to gather.
Huntsham Castle: An Ancient Home
Huntsham Castle is a special type of hillfort. It is called a "univallate" hillfort. This means it has one main rampart and ditch system. The fort is shaped like a rough circle. It measures about 150 meters (492 feet) across. The ground inside slopes gently downwards towards the south.
The Castle's Defenses
The main defense of Huntsham Castle is its large earth bank, or rampart. This rampart is quite tall, ranging from 1 meter (3.3 feet) to 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) high on the inside. On the outside, it can be up to 2.9 meters (9.5 feet) tall. The northern side of the fort has the highest parts of the rampart.
Around the rampart, there is a wide ditch. This ditch can be up to 5.4 meters (17.7 feet) wide. It was once deeper, but over time, it has filled in. You can still see parts of it today.
Entrances and Features
Huntsham Castle has a clear entrance on its north-eastern side. This opening is about 7 meters (23 feet) wide. The banks on either side of the entrance curve inwards. This design made it harder for attackers to get in.
There might be another entrance on the western side. Here, the rampart seems to bend slightly inwards. Inside the fort, an old parish boundary bank crosses the area. This bank is also made of earth and is about 2 meters (6.6 feet) wide.
Over the years, some parts of the hillfort have been changed. Small quarries, which are places where stone or earth was dug out, can be seen. One quarry is near the north-eastern entrance. Another is on the western side. These quarries show how people used the land in later times.
