King's Castle, Wells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King's Castle |
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Lidar digital terrain model of King's Castle
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| Location | Mendip Hills, Somerset, England |
| Nearest city | Wells |
| OS grid reference | ST5688245641 |
| Area | 1.02 hectares (2.5 acres) (two main enclosures combined) |
| Built | Iron Age |
| Governing body | English Heritage |
| Official name: King's Castle enclosures, Iron Age defended settlement | |
| Designated | 30 May 1958 |
| Reference no. | 1008807 |
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King's Castle is an ancient site in Somerset, England. It is a type of settlement called a hill fort. People lived here during the Iron Age, a time long ago when tools were made from iron. This hill fort is found on the edge of the Mendip Hills, close to the city of Wells.
King's Castle is one of the oldest known settlements in the area around Wells. It might even have been an early version of the city we know today. The site has two or three connected areas, like separate parts of a village. There also seems to be an old field system stretching out to the east. This layout is quite unusual.
Archaeologists have not studied King's Castle much yet. No major digs have happened there. It is protected as a Scheduled monument, which means it is an important historical site. The woods around it are also called King's Castle Wood. This area is now a nature reserve run by the Somerset Wildlife Trust.
What is a Hill Fort?
Hill forts were large settlements built on hilltops. They were common during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. This was around 1000 BC. People built them for different reasons.
Why Were Hill Forts Built?
One main reason was for defense. They offered protection from attacks. Imagine a community needing a safe place when there was trouble. Hill forts provided that strong shelter.
They were also important community centers. People might have gathered there for trade or meetings. As more people lived in Britain, there was more pressure on land and resources. This sometimes led to disagreements. Hill forts could have been places where communities came together.
Life in the Iron Age
The Iron Age saw big changes in Britain. People started using iron instead of bronze for tools and weapons. Iron ore, the rock from which iron is taken, was found in different places than tin and copper (used for bronze). This changed how people traded goods.
New groups of people became powerful because of these changes. Hill forts were a sign of these new ways of life. They showed how communities organized themselves and protected their resources.
