Ruborough Camp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ruborough Camp |
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Plan of earthworks at Ruborough Camp
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| Location | Broomfield, Somerset, England |
| Area | 1.8 hectares (4.4 acres) |
| Built | Iron Age |
| Reference no. | 191142 |
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Ruborough Camp is an ancient hill fort from the Iron Age period. It is located on the Quantock Hills in Somerset, England, close to the village of Broomfield. The name Ruborough comes from old words like Rugan beorh. These words mean Rough Hill, which describes the area well.
Today, Ruborough Camp is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it is an important historical site. It is also listed on the Heritage at Risk Register. This list includes historic places that need special care to protect them for the future.
What is Ruborough Camp?
This hill fort sits on a piece of land that sticks out from the main Quantock ridge. It has steep natural slopes on its north and south-east sides. The fort itself is shaped like a triangle.
It has one main wall and a ditch around it. This type of fort is called univallate. Inside this protected area, the fort covers about 1.8 hectares (about 4.4 acres).
About 120 meters away from the fort's western wall, there is another long, straight earthwork. This outer wall runs parallel to the fort and encloses another 1.8 hectares of land.
Water and Later Uses
Long ago, there was a secret tunnel at Ruborough Camp. This tunnel allowed people inside the fort to safely reach a nearby spring for water. This was very important for survival, especially if the fort was under attack. The tunnel has since been filled in.
Many ancient hill forts were used again in later times. During the Medieval period, Ruborough Camp became a porcheria. This is a fancy word for a piggery, a place where pigs were kept. Records show that this piggery was owned by the Saxon area of Somerton.
