Toothill Fort facts for kids
Toothill Fort, looking north from Toothill Road, towards the rampart of Toothill iron-age camp
|
|
 Location in Hampshire
|
|
| Alternative name | Toothill Ring, or Camp |
|---|---|
| Location | Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 50°57′58″N 1°27′28″W / 50.9660°N 1.4579°W |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | on private land |
Toothill Fort, also known as Toothill Ring or Toothill Camp, is an ancient site in Hampshire, England. It was once an Iron Age hill fort. A hill fort is a type of fortress built on top of a hill. People in the Iron Age used these forts for protection.
Toothill Fort is built in a very strong spot. It sits at the northern end of a high piece of land. The fort's defenses included a single big wall, called a rampart, and a ditch around it. In some places, there were even more earthworks to make it harder to attack. The name "Toot hill" means "lookout hill." This makes sense because from the top, you can see for many miles around. Today, the fort area is covered in trees, including tall redwood trees. These trees make the hill stand out even more.
Contents
What is Toothill Fort?
Toothill Fort is a special kind of ancient site. It was built during the Iron Age, which was a time in history from about 800 BC to AD 100. People back then used iron tools and weapons.
How Was It Built?
The fort was designed for defense. It had:
- A rampart: This was a large earth wall, probably topped with a wooden fence or palisade.
- A ditch: A deep trench dug outside the rampart to make it harder for enemies to get close.
- An extra slope: On the north side, where the fort was less protected, there was an additional slope about 2 meters (6.5 feet) high. This made it even harder to climb up.
The main way into the fort was from the south side, along the ridge. This entrance would have been carefully guarded.
Where is Toothill Fort Located?
Toothill Fort is found in the county of Hampshire, in southern England. It is located between the towns of Southampton and Romsey.
How High is the Hill?
The top of Toothill Fort is about 84 meters (275 feet) above sea level. This height gave the people living there a great view of the surrounding area. The M27 motorway, a major road, passes close by to the south of the site today.
