The Modern Antiquarian. Ancient Sites, Stone Circles, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic Mysteries

England   Southern England   Devon  

Denbury

Hillfort

<b>Denbury</b>Posted by dude from budeImage © Dude from Denbury
Nearest Town:Newton Abbot (5km NE)
OS Ref (GB):   SX817686 / Sheet: 202
Latitude:50° 30' 16.57" N
Longitude:   3° 40' 6.31" W

Added by Rhiannon

Show map   (inline Google Map)

Sites in this group:

6 posts
Denbury Hillfort round barrows Round Barrow(s)

Images (click to view fullsize)

Add an image Add an image
<b>Denbury</b>Posted by dude from bude <b>Denbury</b>Posted by dude from bude <b>Denbury</b>Posted by dude from bude <b>Denbury</b>Posted by dude from bude

Fieldnotes

Add fieldnotes Add fieldnotes
Visited 5.5.11
I parked on the outskirts of Denbury village, outside some houses, in Denbury Down Lane.
Opposite is the track that leads directly to the Hillfort. DO NOT try to drive up this track.
A lovely 10 minute walk takes you up to the Hillfort; the hedgerows full of flowers, birds singing, Denbury church bells peeling away in the distance – it felt like stepping back in time!
There is public access to the site as the gate at the top of the track informs you that this is indeed Denbury Hillfort (please close the gate).
On going through the gate you are immediately confronted by a large rampart – perhaps 3 metres in height. I followed the path in an anti-clockwise direction and walked the entire circumference of the Hillfort – it doesn't take long. There is a path which runs around the outer ditch and another which runs around the interior of the Hillfort.
The defences to the North West are the best preserved; some as high as 5 metres.
The rest of the rampart varies in height from about 2 to 6 metres in height.
There are good views to be had and I would highly recommend a visit to this site when you are in the area – don't forget to check out the two Barrows – easy to spot.
Posted by CARL
9th May 2011ce

Folklore

Add folklore Add folklore
Denbury Hill, or Denbury Down, has an encampment. There is also to be seen an ancient stone, with all the markings thereon, with which the Danes sharpened their weapons of war. Treasure is said to be hidden there, and these two rhymes are current:

"When Exeter was a furzey down,
Denbury was a borough town."

"If Denbury Down was levelled fair,
Denbury could plough with a golden share."
This information was taken from the Illustrated Western Weekly News, 5 August, 1911, p24, and quoted in Notes on English Folklore
J. B. Partridge
Folklore, Vol. 28, No. 3. (Sep. 30, 1917), pp. 311-315.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
16th January 2007ce

"'They' say that a king is buried on Denbury, and among several couplets one goes:
'Whoever delves in Denbury Down
Is sure to find a golden crown'."

This comes from Tristram Risdon's 'Chorographical Description.. Devon,' written in the early 17th century, and quoted in 'The Folklore of Devon' by Theo Brown, in Folklore, Vol. 75, No. 3. (Autumn, 1964), pp. 145-160.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
1st October 2006ce

Links

Add a link Add a link

The Denbury Archive


Take a tour of the Down (with photo of the bronze age barrows that predate the fort).
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
9th June 2004ce
Edited 16th January 2007ce

Latest posts for Denbury

Denbury Hillfort round barrows (Round Barrow(s)) — Fieldnotes

Visited 5.5.11
The two Barrows in the middle of the Hillfort are quite easy to spot despite the area being overgrown with ferns and brambles.
Walking in an anti-clockwise direction around the inner bank of the Hillfort, the first Barrow you come to is next to the path. It is about 2.5 metres high x 15 metres x 10 metres.
The second Barrow is only 20 metres away and is about 1.5 metres high x 20 metres x 20 metres. This is the Barrow which has the standing stone poking out the top – about 2ft x 1ft x 8 inches – covered in moss and surrounded by ferns.
Posted by CARL
9th May 2011ce

Denbury Hillfort round barrows (Round Barrow(s)) — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>Denbury Hillfort round barrows</b>Posted by dude from bude<b>Denbury Hillfort round barrows</b>Posted by dude from bude Posted by dude from bude
14th April 2008ce

Denbury Hillfort round barrows (Round Barrow(s)) — Fieldnotes

Within the Iron age hillfort at Denbury are two Bronze age round barrows, that pre date the hillfort by at least a 1000 yrs. They are situated to the N/E & S/W of the site . There is a small upright on top of the S/W barrow its unclear if its contemporary with the barrows. Posted by dude from bude
14th April 2008ce

Denbury Hillfort round barrows (Round Barrow(s)) — Images

<b>Denbury Hillfort round barrows</b>Posted by dude from bude<b>Denbury Hillfort round barrows</b>Posted by dude from bude Posted by dude from bude
14th April 2008ce