Wandlebury Hill Fort facts for kids
Wandlebury Hill Fort, also known as the Wandlebury Ring, is an ancient fort from the Iron Age. It sits on Wandlebury Hill in the Gog Magog Hills in Cambridgeshire, England. This spot is southeast of Cambridge. Today, Wandlebury is a popular country park. It was the most important of three hillforts in the area.
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Wandlebury Hill Fort: Where It Is
Wandlebury Hill Fort was the most important of three hillforts in its region. It stands about 62 meters (203 feet) above sea level. Experts have two main ideas about why this spot was chosen. It might have been picked for its good military position. Or, it could have been the last fort in a line controlling a key river route.
This fort also looked over the old Icknield Way, an ancient trackway. Wandlebury was also near where three old local areas, called "hundreds," met. These were Thriplow, Chilford, and Flendish.
The History of Wandlebury
The first fort was built around 400 BC. It had a large outer ditch and an inner wall made of chalk and soil. This wall surrounded a circular area about 6 hectares (15 acres) wide. Later, in the 1st century BC, a second ditch and wall were added inside the first one. A smaller bank was also built around the outside. The inner wall likely had a wooden fence to keep out enemies.
Roman Times and Beyond
Wandlebury was a settlement on a border. There is proof that Romans lived here too. The Romans even built a road from Worts Causeway to Wandlebury. Two different types of pottery have been found, showing two building periods. People might have lived here until the 1st century AD.
Later, the Anglo-Saxons called it Wendlesbiri. This name means "Waendal's fort." They used it as a meeting place for their local council. Sir Thomas Malory might have mentioned Wandlebury Ring in his 1470 book, Le Morte d'Arthur. He wrote about a "Wandesborow Castle."
Changes Over Time
The fort has changed a lot since the 1600s. In 1685, a house, garden, and horse racing stable were built inside the old fort. This was for King James II. To make space, the inner wall and ditch were flattened. Later, Lord Godolphin owned the mansion. It was taken down in 1956, but the stable is still there. Today, the site is a lovely country park for everyone to enjoy.
Legends and Stories
Many old stories and legends surround the fort and the hills. In 1214, a writer named Gervase of Tilbury wrote about Wandlebury in his book, Otia Imperialia.
He wrote about a very old legend. It said that if a warrior went into the fort's flat center at night, under moonlight, and called out "Knight to knight, come forth," another warrior would appear. This new warrior would be ready to fight. They would charge on horseback, and one would knock the other off their horse.
The Knight's Challenge
One knight named Osbert decided to test this story. The legend says a knight in full armor appeared. Osbert defeated him but was wounded in his leg as he left. This tale is even mentioned in Sir Walter Scott's 1808 poem, Marmion. In the poem, King Alexander III of Scotland jousts with a goblin knight. Another poet also wrote a poem called Wandlebury Ring. It was a happy memory of a childhood day spent there with his family.
Gallery
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Fortification
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15th-century Tadlow Granary now housed in the hill fort
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The stable
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Entrance to the stable
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Plaque on Wandlebury Stable
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Roman road passing near to the hillfort
