Monument record MDO567 - Dungeon Hill, Buckland Newton

A hill-fort occupying the summit of Dungeon Hill, also known as Dungeon Camp and sometimes known as Dunset in the past. Earthworks consisting of single rampart and ditch form an Irregular oval enclosure enclosing an area of about nine acres. In 1952 the best preserved parts of the rampart were described as around 8 feet high and the ditch about 13 feet deep. In 1881 a small excavation of the ditch found ‘more Roman black pottery’ and several pieces of quern stones; these appear to have been in the bottom filling of the ditch, and may perhaps have been Iron Age in date. Nevertheless, there have been surface finds of Roman pottery, tiles and other material have been found on the hill, suggesting later use.

Dungeon Hill Fort is a single-rampart, ditched enclosure covering nine acres on the summit of Dungeon Hill. There are slight traces of an outer bank on the eastern side and the causewayed entrance on the south side appears to be the main entrance. The enclosure is roughly oval in shape. The bank is 8 ft above the internal area and a maximum of 21 ft above the bottom of the ditch. There are modern entrances on both sides towards the northen end. In the late 18th century the owner, Mr Foy, cleared the fort of woodland and recovered human bones, antique pickaxes, sword blades, Roman coins and other remains. Excavations in 1881 recovered Roman pottery including New Forest ware, and seven fragments of Roman querns, together with a large quantity of building stone. The interior of the camp contained Roman tegulae and other tiles. <1, 2, 4> Dungeon Hill (name confirmed at Castle Hill Farm), is a probable Iron Age hillfort, univallate except for the east side where there is an outer bank. The work measures overall 425.0m north-south by a maximum 165.0m transversely. The inner rampart is 7.0m wide and 1.5m high. The ditch averages 13.0m in width and is up to 6.0m in depth from the crest of the rampart. The outer bank is 7.0m wide and 0.7m high. The original entrance is at the south end, and is a simple causewayed entrance 3.0m wide. The earthworks are crowned by large trees and the interior is level pasture. No surface finds were made. On the east and west sides are modern causewayed entrances which pass through the rampart by brick tunnels. Published 1:2500 AM survey revised. <6> ST 690 074. Dungeon Hill. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 3.6ha. <7>

Record last edited

Nov 25 2021 3:21PM