British Camp

There are a number of generally round hut platforms on British Camp, which may well suggest a permanent occupation.

[2] The ditch and counterscarp bank around the entire site covers three hills, although those to north and south are little more than spurs.

Medieval castles were sometimes built within earlier sites, reusing the earthworks of Iron Age hill forts for instance as was the case at British Camp.

The castle was finally destroyed by King Henry II in 1155 and mentioned in passing by William Langland before 1386.

The Shire Ditch, or Red Earl's Dyke, runs north and south of British Camp along the ridge of the hills.

However, the description by Tacitus, the Roman historian makes this unlikely: Caratacus resorted to the ultimate hazard, adopting a place for battle so that entry, exit, everything would be unfavourable to us and for the better to his own men, with steep mountains all around, and, wherever a gentle access was possible, he strewed rocks in front in the manner of a rampart.

And in front too there flowed a stream with an unsure ford, and companies of armed men had taken up position along the defences.