The outer rampart.
Images
Outer rampart on the western side of the fort.
Standing in the ditch below the inner rampart, which rises to a huge height on the left.
Much of the defences rely on the natural slopes of the hill.
Inner entrance at the southwestern side of the fort.
Looking out from the southern rampart across the ravine separating the fort from Coombe Hill and Goram’s Chair.
Looking from the ramparts towards the folly castle.
The impressive western inner rampart.
The top of the northern rampart, showing evidence of stone construction.
This folly castle was built in the mid 1700’s on the hill that was originally an iron age camp. St Blaisus (sp?) an hermit lived on the hill and thats where today we get the term blaizer for jacketwear. There is some connection to Jane Austen and the castle whether it was a direct connection or featured in her storyline, I’m not sure.
Blaise Castle built in the 1770’s as a folly. The castle is sited on top of the Iron Age Camp in the grounds of the estate.
Articles
Visited 25.3.12
‘Where do you fancy going this weekend?’ asked I.
‘Somewhere not too far, where we can have a picnic and is a National Trust site’ replies Karen.
That got me scratching my head but I eventually came up with Blaise Castle park – ideal for a picnic (children’s park), close to the lovely Blaise Hamlet (N.T. site) and just so happens to have two Hillforts to explore. That’s what I call a ‘win/win’!!
We parked in the large free car park (which was crammed due to the fine weather) and headed across the grass to set the picnic out. Sophie and Dafydd happily munching their way through anything they could get their hands on! We then went over to the play area and Karen kept an eye on the children while I headed up towards the Hillfort.
This has to be one of the easiest Hillforts there is to access. Across a level park and up any one of many paths which lead to the top. I was conscious of leaving Karen alone with the children for too long so settled for exploring the western defences.
The outer rampart is still very large – approximately 3 metres high in places – although the inner rampart is more around 1.5 metres. The ditches can also be clearly seen. A path runs between the two sets of defences.
Although the sides of the Hillfort are covered in trees, the top is a flat grass clearing in which stands a pretty impressive mock castle ‘folly’ – Blaise Castle. There was a mediaeval re-enactment going on with several men-at-arms going through their paces. I enjoy watching re-enactments but I didn’t have time to stay as long as I would have liked.
This is such an easy site to access (and with the defences pretty well preserved) it is well worth a visit when in the area. You can also get an ice cream or a cuppa on the way back to the car!
Time to head for the nearby Hillfort of Kings Weston – only a 10 minute walk away!
Topics
Sites within 20km of Blaise Castle
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Kings Weston Hill
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Kings Weston Hill Barrows
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Druid Stoke
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Badock’s Wood
photo 8 forum 1 description 3 link 1 -
Seven Sisters
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Redland Park
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King Offa’s Tomb
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Stokeleigh Camp
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Clifton Down Camp
photo 26 link 1 -
Burgh Walls
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Ashton Court
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Portbury
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Almondsbury Fort
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Bury Hill Camp
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Sudbrook
photo 30 description 4 -
Red Hill (Elberton)
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Elberton Fort
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Heston Brake
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Cadbury Camp (Nailsea)
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Durley Hill
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Alveston Down
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Shortwood Hill
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Titters Hill
photo 2 description 2 -
Maes Knoll
photo 28 forum 1 description 5 link 1 -
Winford Big Barrow
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Walton Common
photo 1 -
Thornwell
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Little Abbey Camp
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Crick Barrow
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Winford Twin Barrows
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Felton Hill Longbarrow
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St Arilda – Oldbury-on-Severn
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Bulwarks Camp (Chepstow)
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The Castle, Tytherington
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Willis Hill
photo 3 description 3 -
Llanfihangel Rogiet
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Bitton
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The Water Stone
photo 6 description 2 link 1 -
Nempnett Thrubwell Horse Barrow
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Hautville’s Quoit
photo 8 forum 1 description 5 link 1 -
Middle Ham, Tynings
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Oldbury Camp
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Redhill
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The Great Circle, North East Circle & Avenues
photo 159 ondemand_video 1 forum 2 description 38 link 7 -
Cleeve Toot
photo 4 description 1 -
The Cove
photo 48 forum 1 description 12 link 1 -
The South West Circle
photo 29 description 5 -
Redhill
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Bicknell Farm Round Barrow
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Wick
photo 9 forum 1 description 6 -
Great Barnets Wood
photo 1 forum 1 description 2 -
Gwent Levels
photo 3 description 1 link 1 -
Five Lanes (Caerwent)
photo 1 description 2 -
Nempnett Thrubwell
photo 3 forum 1 description 8 link 1 -
Knowle Hill Settlement
description 1 -
Carrow Hill
photo 6 description 1 -
Nuclear Stone
photo 2 description 3 -
Llanmelin Wood
photo 23 forum 1 description 4 link 1 -
Camp Hill (Thornbury)
description 1 link 1 -
Wilcrick Hill
photo 10 description 2 -
Freezing Hill
photo 2 description 3 -
Piercefield Camp
photo 22 description 3 -
North Stoke
photo 13 description 3 -
Lansdown Flint Working Site
photo 2 description 1 -
Little Down Camp Barrow
photo 1 description 1 -
Cadbury Hill (Congresbury)
photo 3 description 2 -
Beech Wood Barrows
description 1 -
Lansdown Golf Course Barrows
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Llanvair-Discoed
photo 4 forum 1 description 3 -
Tog Hill Camp
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Lansdown Camp
photo 1 description 4 -
Hinton Hill
photo 12 description 5 -
Windmill Tump Cairn
description 1 -
Stantonbury
photo 7 forum 1 description 4 -
Bloody Acre Camp
photo 2 description 3 link 1 -
Lancaut
description 1 -
Nempnett Thrubwell Round Barrow
description 1 -
Goldcliff
photo 2 description 3 -
Lansdown Race Field Barrows
photo 1 description 1 -
Langridge
photo 9 description 4 -
Wibdon Broadstone
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Lansdown Barrows
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Gray Hill
photo 66 forum 7 description 6 link 2 -
East Vaga
photo 3 description 1 -
Burledge Hill
photo 3 description 2