Castle Hill (Broad Blunsdon)

Also known as:
Burytown
Nearest town:
Swindon (7km S)
OS reference:
SU157912
OS sheets:
163, 173
Latitude:
51° 37' 7.97 N
Longitude:
1° 46' 23.54 W
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Castle Hill (Broad Blunsdon)

Castle Hill (Broad Blunsdon) – footpath changes

tjj
tjj Jun 27, 2010
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This little known hillfort to the north of Swindon is something of an enigma, it is on private land though apparently frequented by local dog walkers. Although privately owned it is under the jurisdiction of English Heritage.

It came to my attention last week as the farm owners want to change the current footpath route and put a fence across the hillfort to protect their pedigree cattle. The footpaths officer from the local Ramblers group has visited and talked to the owners though the outcome is still uncertain. I will try to walk up there myself soon to get a better idea of the visual impact this would have.

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Castle Hill (Broad Blunsdon)

tjj
tjj Jun 28, 2010
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I took a wander up to Castle Hill at Broad Blunsdon this morning. A very easy walk up a single track road called Burytown Lane which leads to Upper Burytown Farm. I had been unaware of this hillfort until I heard recently that the farmer wants to fence off the ‘right of way’ ... at least I think it is a right of way. There are two notices at the gate into the hillfort; one says “bull in field” the other indicates by a dotted line the path across the hillfort with the emphatic statement that there is no permissive circular path around the fort.

There is a superb view to the north and on this beautiful sunny morning it did look impressive. The hillfort has open access to a herd of pedigree cattle though today they had congregated in a lower field. I understand the farmer wants to fence the path off so that the cattle are not harrassed by dogs not on leads. Its quite hard to visualise a hillfort with a fence across the middle, even one as relatively low profile such as this one.

Another sign of the times, I noticed on my walk back down that the attractive village church has had a load of its roof tiles nicked. Sigh!

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Castle Hill (Broad Blunsdon)

ginger tt
ginger tt Mar 26, 2009
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A large univallate iron age hill fort . The earthworks on the western side consist of 2 banks and a ditch which are in good condition but appear to have been flattened out in between by farm traffic. To the north there are various remains of ditch and bank but elsewhere there seems little sign of the original earthworks as there is a farm to the east and a farm track cuts across the southern side of the site. This track would appear to follow the original edge of the site. A nice spot though with really good views on all sides except the south.

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Folklore

Castle Hill (Broad Blunsdon)
Hillfort
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Jun 19, 2006
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Castle hill is a a univallate Iron Age fort with wide views across the Thames valley. Alfred Williams spoke to two haymakers from Lus Hill, who believed the camp was built by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell’s men were also supposed to have had a shot at the Highworth church from here, with the cannonball that made the hole in the tower hanging in the church yet. * Highworth is a Long Way Away though!

*This from ‘Round About the Upper Thames’ by Williams (1922), quoted by Katy Jordan in her ‘Haunted Wiltshire’ (2000).

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Sites within 20km of Castle Hill (Broad Blunsdon)

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