Hollingbury Hillfort Hillfort View all content for Hollingbury Hillfort

This roughly square hillfort encloses about 3.6 hectares and is defended by a single rampart and ditch with a counterscarp bank on its southern side. This fort gave it's name to a particular type of construction, whereby the rampart was built of 2 rows of posts 2 metres apart, tied together with cross beams to form a continuous box, and then filled with chalk rubble. On my visit today a large section of the interior has been freshly strimmed (much is still covered in thick gorse) and so gives a chance to have a better look at the disk barrows near the center. I have visited the larger one many times before, but two other smaller barrows are evident to the North of this one. There is an even smaller barrow to the West, but I didn't spot it. These (bronze age) barrows predate this sites defensive use. Someone had placed a small bunch of fresh flowers at the meeting of the paths that disect the interior of the fort. Those seeking a glimpse of the eternal and an escape from the modern bustle of Brighton can do no better than to climb the Ditchling Road to the stunning viewpoint of Hollingbury. Access: It's in the middle of a public golf course, several paths leading in from all directions. Bring your wits, or a cycling helmet!

Posted by danielspaniel 25th April 2005ce

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