Eggardon Hill
Eggardon Hill
Eggardon Hill is the site of an Iron Age Hillfort located in the county of Dorset in southern England. The hillfort is situated on a chalk ridge overlooking the English Channel. It is one of a number of hillforts located in the area known as the Wessex Downs.
Eggardon Hill covers an area of approximately 21 hectares and is surrounded by a system of ditches and banks. The main defensive earthworks are located on the north and west sides of the site. There is also an inner ditch which may have served as a second line of defence. The entrances to the hillfort are located on the east and south sides.
The hillfort was probably built around 500 BC and was occupied until around AD 43. It is thought that it was abandoned after the Roman conquest of Britain.
Eggardon Hill is one of the best preserved hillforts in Britain and is a scheduled monument. It is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its chalk grassland habitat.
The site is open to the public and can be accessed via a public footpath from the nearby village of Burton Bradstock. There is a small car park and an information board at the start of the footpath.
Eggardon Hill is a large multivallate hillfort, situated on the summit of the hill and enclosed by three ramparts on three sides. On the north side there are extra, outer banks and ditches.
The hillfort also encloses two bowl barrows.
There are a number of mounds and depressions on the enclosed area of the fort which represent contemporary buildings. In 1900 five of the circular hollows were excavated and found to contain a flint knife, saw, scrapers and numerous flakes and a broken quern.
There are also the remains of two, linear earthworks which are older than the fort and have been dated to the Bronze Age due to pottery found during excavations which began in 1963.
Eggardon Hill is in Dorset AONB, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Created: 12 September 2022 Edited: 29 November 2023
Eggardon Hill Details
Eggardon Hill is a 252 metre high hill in Dorset.
Eggardon Hill Information
Eggardon Hill Address
Eggardon Hill, Bridport DT6 3ST, UK
DT6 3ST
Eggardon Hill LiDAR Map
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around Eggardon Hill
There are some historic monuments around including:
Group of three round barrows on Eggardon HillWynford Wood boundary bankBronze Age enclosure, associated linear earthworks and field system, and a later dewpond on Tenants HillRound barrow E of Two GatesBowl barrow on Hammiton Hill 220m south west of Hammiton FarmBowl barrow 645m south west of North Barn FarmBind BarrowBowl barrow 800m south of Kingston Russell Farm, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownBowl barrow 800m NNE of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownBarrow 300yds (280m) SW of Kingston FarmLarge multivallate hillfort containing two bowl barrows 855m north east of North Eggardon FarmBarrow 650yds (600m) N of North Barn FarmBowl barrow 750m SSE of Lower Kingston Russell FarmPark pale in Rampisham parkEarthworks on Askerswell DownGroup of three round barrows W of Two GatesDyke on Long Barrow HillStanding stone 700m south east of North Barn FarmEarthwork 80yds (70m) long NW of Coombe BottomThree bowl barrows on The Knoll 450m north west of TreetopsBowl barrow 605m south west of Long Barrow FarmTwo barrows on Chilcombe HillDyke SE of Eggardon Hill campEggardon Hill disc barrowBowl barrow 700m east of South Eggardon FarmPart of a Later Iron Age or Romano-British settlement 590m north west of Compton BarnCross dyke 600m north of Pitcombe FarmBowl barrow 810m NNE of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownBowl barrow 620m south west of Eggardon Hill FarmLong mound and three bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery 760m NNE of Whatcombe House on the south western part of Black DownDyke on Haydon DownPenannular ditched enclosure, 150m south of Turner's Farm BarnBowl barrow 660m south west of ChilstockBowl barrow 320m north west of Coombefield FarmBowl barrow 680m north east of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownEarthwork on Shipton HillBowl barrow 550m north west of Cogden FarmBowl barrow on Limekiln Hill 650m south east of Green LeazeBowl barrow 850m north west of Barrowland FarmChambered tomb 900m south west of Manor FarmBowl barrow 1km south west of Manor FarmPart of a Later Prehistoric or Romano-British field system 250m north of Eggardon Hill FarmRound barrow on Knight's HillTwo long barrows and round barrows on Long Barrow HillThe Kingston Russell stone circle 750m north east of Gorwell FarmBowl barrow 360m south of Compton BarnCamp on Chilcombe HillMotte and bailey castle 160m north of Castle Mill FarmBowl barrow 550m north east of Pitcombe Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryTwo bowl barrows 310m north east of Lancombe FarmBowl barrow 800m north east of Gorwell FarmLong barrow NE of AshleySt Mary's Church, West MiltonBowl barrow 140m south east of Broadwater CottageSettlement E of Brow CopseBowl barrow 550m WNW of Dowerfield HouseBowl Barrow, 710m south-west of Woolcombe FarmOld Warren earthworkTwo round barrows at crossroads N of villageBowl barrow 400m north east of Look FarmBarrow beside Shotcombe LaneBowl barrow 770m north of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownChambered tomb called The Grey Mare and her ColtsBowl barrow and disc barrow 730m south of Kingston Russell Farm, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownLong mound 860m NNE of Whatcombe House, associated with the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownHillfort N of Burcombe Wood.
