Rybury

Nearest town:
Devizes (8km WSW)
OS reference:
SU083639
OS sheet:
173
Latitude:
51° 22' 24.78 N
Longitude:
1° 52' 50.68 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by thesweetcheat

Clifford’s Hill (left) and Rybury (centre) from the lower slopes of Tan Hill to the northeast.

Image credit: A. Brookes (10.6.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 1, 2024
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by thesweetcheat

Looking east from the earthwork on Clifford’s Hill, towards Milk Hill, the highest point in Wiltshire. Over to the right of centre, Adam’s Grave long barrow is prominent on its own hilltop.

Image credit: A. Brookes (10.6.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 1, 2024
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by thesweetcheat

Rybury from Clifford’s Hill, with Tan Hill rising behind.

Image credit: A. Brookes (10.6.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 1, 2024
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by thesweetcheat

Rybury from Tan Hill. The earthwork annex to the left can be clearly seen from here.

Image credit: A. Brookes (10.6.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 1, 2024
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by thesweetcheat

Rybury (centre) under dramatic skies from the Vale of Pewsey.

Image credit: A. Brookes (21.2.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 19, 2018
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by GLADMAN

Rybury is centre skyline....... approaching from Clifford’s Hill.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 18, 2016
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by thesweetcheat

Clifford’s Hill, Rybury and Tan Hill from the ENE. There is an Iron Age cross dyke and Bronze Age barrows (very ploughed-down) on the facing slopes of Tan Hill. The linear earthwork is the later Wansdyke.

Image credit: A. Brookes (20.12.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 9, 2016
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by thesweetcheat

Rybury (centre) from Tan Hill, just after the solitary downpour of the day.

Image credit: A. Brookes (20.12.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 7, 2016
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by thesweetcheat

The view west from Milk Hill – Rybury is the flat topped hill to the left of centre. Clifford’s Hill is further to the left of that, while the bigger hill on the right is Tan Hill.

Image credit: A. Brookes (21.2.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 22, 2010
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by Chance

Western side of Rybury showing the depth of the surviving ditch
Excavation of the main site has shown ditch segments 2 m deep and flat bottomed.

Image credit: Chance - May 2008
Chance
Chance Jun 19, 2008
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by Chance

The view East with the pinnacle of Adam’s Grave in the distance.

Image credit: Chance - May 2008
Chance
Chance Jun 19, 2008
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by Chance

This mysterious megalith seems to have a seat built-in.
The inscription on the back reads
Molly William Daw 1916 – 2002

Image credit: Chance - May 2008
Chance
Chance Jun 19, 2008
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by Chance

This mysterious megalith sits on the Western side of Rybury. Probably not natural but may easily have come from a part of the ancient Avebury landscape.
The inscription reads
Herbert William Daw 14 April 1915 – 1 November 1993

Image credit: Chance - May 2008
Chance
Chance Jun 19, 2008
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by Chance

Some sections of Rybury have survived well

Image credit: Chance - May 2008
Chance
Chance Jun 19, 2008
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by Chance

Looking North towards Tan Hill.
This section of the earth work has been flattened by the 18c. chalk diggings.

Image credit: Chance - May 2008
Chance
Chance Jun 19, 2008
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by Chance

Overall view of the Neolithic and Iron age outworks as seen from Tan Hill
The site’s eastern side shows the Neolithic ditches the best.
The outer ditch being Neolithic, the inner being Iron Age.

Image credit: Chance - May 2008
Chance
Chance Jun 19, 2008
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by Chance

The Neolithic and Iron age outworks as seen from Tan Hill

Image credit: Chance - May 2008
Chance
Chance Jun 19, 2008
Image of Rybury (Causewayed Enclosure) by Chance

The outwork of Clifford’s Hill as seen from Rybury.
This is on another smaller knoll, and is an arc with a chord of about 250 ft. with 7 segments of ditch.

Image credit: Chance - May 2008
Chance
Chance Jun 19, 2008

Articles

Rybury

tjj
tjj Mar 16, 2011

Visited Rybury hillfort today, walking through the mid-day mist from the village of Allington. Taking the hard surface track uphill towards the Wansdyke, it was easy walking; initially seemed to be a gentle incline but became progressively steeper, reaching 294 metres at it highest point. Earthworks visible to our left (near some sheep holding pens) as we reached the top of the hill . Amazing views of the rolling downs overlooking the Pewsey Vale; almost treeless apart from a few low lying thorn bushes, there was something beautifully bleak about the mist rolling across them.

Clifford’s Hill was to our left as we walked across the high flat hill top. A walk downhill, then a surprisingly easy scramble up Clifford’s Hill to the hill fort surrounding the summit. As with all of Wiltshire’s hillfort’s, fantastic views, in this case, towards Milk Hill. And a sense of the solitary. A windy walk along a ridge back down to the Pewsey-Marlborough road crossing over to Cannings Cross Farm where the footpath is clearly marked towards the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Misty, windy and thoroughly invigorating.

Miscellaneous

Rybury
Causewayed Enclosure
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Aug 4, 2004

Rybury began as Neolithic causewayed camp, like nearby Knap Hill, and is thought to date from about 2500BC. The hilltop is encircled by ditches crossed by causeways. It seems an excellent site to choose: a naturally isolated flattish spot, surrounded by steep slopes on a spur of the downs, with wide views of the vale below.

Later an Iron Age enclosure was built here – this is the period the bank comes from. Dyer (in ‘Southern England, an Archaeological Guide’) suggests that the site’s eastern side shows the Neolithic ditches the best (the outer ditch being Neolithic, the inner being Iron Age?).

Sites within 20km of Rybury

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