Caynham Camp

Iron Age Hillfort

Caynham Camp is an Iron-Age Hillfort  3.6km SE of Ludlow on a ridge above a tributary of the river Teme. – A rectangular, 4ha hillfort, it has a double rampart and ditch, except to the N where steep slopes make only a single rampart necessary. Excavation suggests 4 phases of development, starting with a timber-laced rampart and a rock-cut ditch; subsequently refashioned, enlarged and strengthened. The original main interned entrance is on the E. Aerial photography has indicated the presence of post-holes and storage pits. Abundant carbonized wheat has been found. Finds in Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.

Caynham, hill-fort 2¼ miles SE of Ludlow (A49, A4117), ½ mile E of Poughnhill. Finds in Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery. – The main defence of the hill-fort, rectangular in plan, comprises a massive inner bank, ditch and counterscarp bank along all except the N and NW sides, where a single bank sufficed. About 100 yds. within the W end a cross-bank defines an annexe here, the bank itself perhaps representing the original W end of the fort : its entrance near the S end is modern. The original main entrance is through the E end, deeply in-turned. About 75 yds. outside the W end there is a denuded cross-bank with possible in-turned entrance at its N end and there are faint traces of a second cross-bank a further 100 yds. to the W. Excavation has shown that the earliest rampart was timber-laced, with a rock-cut ditch 10-12 ft. deep, lying inside the present line of defences. It was replaced first by a small rampart reverted roughly with stone, then by an enlargement of the latter including a better-built stone facing, followed by a further raising of ht. Air photographs and excavation have revealed storage pits all over the interior and one large building, apparently D-shaped. Dae, perhaps 7th-5th century initially, with a long life.

Map References for Caynham Camp – Shropshire

NGRef: SO545737 OSMap: LR37/138

Sites near Caynham Camp