Castle Ditches is the site of an Iron Age trivallate hillfort in the south-east of Tisbury parish in Wiltshire, England.
 Woods around Castle Ditches | |
  Shown within Wiltshire | |
| Alternative name | Spelsbury |
|---|---|
| Location | Wiltshire |
| Coordinates | 51°03′14″N 2°03′15″W / 51.0540°N 2.0542°W |
| Area | 24 acres |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | no |
| Identifiers | |
| NHLE | 1005701 |
It is probable that its ancient name was Spelsbury; it was referred to as Willburge in Tisbury's charter of 984 A.D.[1] Its shape is roughly triangular, and follows the contours of the small hill upon which it sits. The earthworks comprise a triple row of ramparts and ditches, now covered on three sides by woodland. There is a large entrance towards the south-east, where there is the shallowest incline of the hill; but there is also a narrow slit on the opposite side. The area within the site encompasses nearly 24 acres (9.7 ha), and the greatest height of the ramparts is about 40 feet (12 m).[2][3]
Castle Ditches was recorded as a Scheduled Monument in 1932.[4]
Location
editThe site is at grid reference ST964282, about 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) south-east of Tisbury village. The hill has a summit of 193m AOD and overlooks the valley of the River Nadder to the north. Public footpaths surround the site, but the land is privately owned.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Tisbury Local History Society (1984). Looking Around Tisbury. Castle Cary, Somerset: Inkwell Design & Print.
- ^ The Ancient History of Wiltshire, by Sir Richard Colt Hoare, published 1812, Chapter No. 11 - Station 8: Fovant
- ^ "Castle Ditches (Wiltshire)". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ Historic England. "Castle Ditches camp (1005701)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 April 2020.