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Iron Age Britain, Barry Cunliffe

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Castle Hill (West Yorkshire) - Hillfort in England in Yorkshire (West)

Submitted by andy_h on Monday, 04 April 2022  Page Views: 20954

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Castle Hill (West Yorkshire) Alternative Name: Almondbury Hill Fort
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 2.503 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Yorkshire (West) Type: Hillfort

Map Ref: SE153141  Landranger Map Number: 110
Latitude: 53.623217N  Longitude: 1.770153W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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banjonutty visited on 28th Apr 2007 - their rating: Amb: 3 Access: 5

BolshieBoris visited on 1st Jan 1980 - their rating: Cond: 1 Amb: 4 Access: 5



Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Ambience: 3.5 Access: 5

Castle Hill (West Yorkshire)
Castle Hill (West Yorkshire) submitted by andy_h : Victoria Tower, Castle Hill at sunset. (Vote or comment on this photo)
This hill became a stronghold of the Iron Age Brigantine tribe but was suddenly abandoned after a fire circa 400BC. Excavation uncovered vitrification in a section of walling and found that the fire originated inside the wall. This disproves the theory that the hill was stormed by the Romans as it was abandoned long before their arrival and is thought to be the possible origin of many local folktales of the hill being a worm's lair. Evidence has also been found for occupation stretching back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods.

Legend also tells of the Devil leaping from Netherton to Castle Hill and there are rumours of numerous tunnels leading out from the hill. When the Castle Hill pub was built in 1812, it is said that workmen found a stone staircase leading down into the hill. The pub is currently derelict while controversy rages over its rebuilding (see comments below).

Following the Norman Conquest, the De Lacy family built a motte and bailey castle on the hill and extensively re-dug the earthwork fortifications. There are no visible remains of the castle to be found now, but according to old texts, it's ruins were still visible in the 16th Century and an ancient well is still to be seen on the hill.

The hill has a tradition as a beacon hill and it formed part of the chain of beacons warning of the Spanish Armada. The current Victoria Tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee.

Note: A new petition launched to trigger a Referendum to give Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Protection to Castle Hill near Huddersfield, more in the comments on our page
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Castle Hill (West Yorkshire)
Castle Hill (West Yorkshire) submitted by andy_h : Castle Hill from the nearby fields off Ashes Lane. (4 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Castle Hill (West Yorkshire)
Castle Hill (West Yorkshire) submitted by andy_h : Evening light at Castle Hill from the nearby fields. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castle Hill (West Yorkshire)
Castle Hill (West Yorkshire) submitted by andy_h : Victoria Tower, Castle Hill, from the steps to the Norman Well. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castle Hill (West Yorkshire)
Castle Hill (West Yorkshire) submitted by andy_h : Victoria Tower at Castle Hill, Huddersfield. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castle Hill (West Yorkshire)
Castle Hill (West Yorkshire) submitted by andy_h : Sunset at Castle Hill.

Castle Hill (West Yorkshire)
Castle Hill (West Yorkshire) submitted by andy_h : Castle Hill dominating the horizon, viewed from the north. (2 comments)

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"Castle Hill (West Yorkshire)" | Login/Create an Account | 12 News and Comments
  
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Petition to Historic England: Please refuse consent for a hotel on Castle Hill by Andy B on Tuesday, 12 April 2022
(User Info | Send a Message)
Castle Hill is the site of an Iron Age Hill fort and with the Victoria Tower dominates the skyline of Huddersfield. It is a loved and valued site of huge significance to the people of Huddersfield.

Despite overwhelming objections from local people and from Kirklees Council's own Conservation Team the Council's Planning Committee passed approval for building a modern hotel on this historic and treasured local site by 4 votes to 3.

Though the appeal to the Secretary of State failed has we regard this site of such historical, cultural and local importance that you should advise the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport to refuse Scheduled Monument Consent for development on this site.

Sign here
https://www.change.org/p/historic-england-historic-england-please-refuse-consent-for-a-hotel-on-castle-hill
[ Reply to This ]

Petition for Referendum re: Area of outstanding Natural Beauty Protection by Andy B on Monday, 28 March 2022
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Richard O'Calleigh writes: The local council have been trying to put a café on our Ancient Hillfort (Cambodunum) for many years. And there have been several planning breaches by the applicants, as well as contravention of greenbelt regulations by the Council. This has to stop.

The Café and any further development on the site cannot be permitted to continue.

This is a beautiful majestic hillfort in the heart of the country with a spectacular position & it is already a Grade 1 listed ancient monument site. The site & surrounding land is also by a remarkable and unique geological land feature, the Pennine Hills & Ridgeway & ancient flood plains.

This easily qualifies the Site & surrounding area to be made into an area of outstanding natural beauty. The site Should have the same respect & protection as Cissbury & Chanctonbury ring hillforts, Old Oswestry Hillfort & Maiden Castle.

Please sign to help achieve the 15633 signatures. So we can override Kirklees Council with a Referendum to create this new form of governance over the area.

For more details and to sign see here
http://www.change.org/protectcambodunum
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Castle HillHolmfirth to Almondbury for "Area of outstanding natural beauty" by Andy B on Tuesday, 02 November 2021
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Holmfirth to Almondbury for "Area of outstanding natural beauty" for protection of Ancient Hillfort

Richard Andrew Kelly writes: i intend to try get the Area Designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

it will be able to qualify as
1. Highest Grade of level of protected Neolithic heritage site
2. landscape on the edge of pennine hills unique land and terrain area



a petition with 19,000 signatures can override the local Kirklees Council decision making powers and the body of the Natural England. because triggering a local referendum raises powers to the local constituents to decide.

therefore i seek to override Kirklees Council and Natural England, in order to protect the site and make the surrounding area protected and appreciated as it is very underrated and we only have this one site. and have been losing countryside to urbanisation. the site also is culturally symbolic and significant in history and modern folklore.

it will be possible to get the 19,000 signatures under the right to petition, from the people of the UK. commuters, locals and those enthusiasts and lovers of ancient sites... have a right to petition. equal number to 3% of Kirklees electorate is about 19k signatures i believe this is easily achievable from the archaeology, Conservation, Academic and enthusiasts community and locals... to trigger a vote by the Kirklees residents by referendum on if to make the Area an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Thank You

Video is not finished yet, as we havent all the drone footage yet...
Just test edit but i need to get "something out there". music is used under the Right to petition and modified to fit video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLxxskRDe48
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Castle Hill More Planning Controversy by Runemage on Saturday, 24 November 2018
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This controversy has rumbled on for years, anyone local will know all the ins and outs. However, it's a wider audience we're appealing to.

There's a good summary in the Huddersfield Examiner
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/castle-hill-hotel-bid-back-15370903?fbclid=IwAR3OH0SNF8KDQEwRnfujGGmqluSuU-ufn9KbjbsAX3noos4oAcPIZDsneuM

The Planning link for the current proposal is below.
Public consultation end date 30 Nov 2018
http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/planning-applications/search-for-planning-applications/detail.aspx?id=2018%2F93591&fbclid=IwAR12Rw2ltCF4yLcIpYqnudsjf11KPsqCqWWyCVbL5qw_wNXCMzezgQZYZvY

Many thanks to John Billingsley ed of Northern Earth for the details of the latest proposal.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Castle Hill More Planning Controversy by Runemage on Tuesday, 20 April 2021
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    This subject has been raised again, there's a forum post asking for signatures on a petition to stop Castle Hill being built on.
    https://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forum&file=viewtopic&topic=8621&forum=4
    [ Reply to This ]
    New Petition to protest about building a restaurant on Castle Hill by Andy B on Thursday, 20 May 2021
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    OCealleigh writes: Kirklees Council has made a planning decision to allow a hotel/restaurant to be built this important monument, in the green belt in the proximity of a listed building. The design of the application may have a detrimental effect - there are consequences for wildlife and the local environment if this is allowed to go ahead.

    This fiasco has gone on for nearly 16 years when the Thandi Brothers broke planning law by tearing down to much of the original Pub. The current application looks nothing like the original Pub and nobody knows what happened to the original Yorkshire Stone of the Pub.

    There maybe a need for public toilet provisions and possibly beverages served up there but the current application may not be the answer.

    The Petition is here
    https://www.change.org/p/kirklees-metropolitan-council-do-you-want-to-protect-castle-hill
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Castle Hill by drolaf on Monday, 26 June 2017
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Alternative name is All man's bury, as its name suggests, was probably a meeting place between tribal territories. In that respect is is like the other well known All man's bury near the Severn crossing. It commands views north-west across the Holme valley, south-west to the rocking stones at Meltham, north-east to Horbury. It was an important focus in the Iron Age,and also in the Neolithic. It lies on an important route from the Humber/Ure flood plain over the Pennines to the routes across to north Wales.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Castle Hill by coldrum on Sunday, 28 March 2010
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Street View


View Larger Map
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Re: Castle Hill by coldrum on Sunday, 28 March 2010
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Link:

http://www.brigantesnation.com/SiteResearch/Iron%20Age/Almondbury/Almondbury.htm
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Castle Hill by andy_h on Tuesday, 12 May 2009
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There are a number of folktales and myths attached to the hill. It was said that Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes used the hill as a stronghold during her civil war with Venutius, her husband. However, no evidence has ever been found to support any occupation during the late Iron Age/Romano-British period. Although a Roman observation post would not be out of consideration (again, there is no physical evidence to support this).

The Roman name for the hill was Camelodunum - leading some to suspect that Castle Hill may be the true site of Camelot. Although there was a 5th Century king of the Pennines named Arthius, again, no evidence has been found to support his occupation of the hill.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Castle Hill by jfarrar on Sunday, 16 March 2008
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The pub has now been completely demolished after 3 years of legal arguments regarding the renovation Andy mentions above.

It's worth stressing that none of the earthworks are from the Iron Age fort. Indeed, most are medieval re-diggings. A village existed here for a short time in the early 14th century, maybe 30 years or so before it was abandoned.

The hill top was popular for rallies by such as the Chartists and during the Great Weaver’s Strike of 1883, several thousand people braved the cold to listen to their union leaders on the hilltop.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Castle Hill by andy_h on Friday, 07 November 2003
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I grew up within site of this hillfort from my bedroom window and played on it's slopes as a child.

A short potted history of the site is...

Evidence has been found for occupation stretching back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. The hill became a strong hold of the Iron Age Brigantine tribe but was suddenly abandoned after a fire circa 400BC. Excavation uncovered vitrification in a section of walling and found that the fire originated inside the wall. This bucks the theory that the hill was stormed by the Romans as it was abandoned long before their arrival and is thought to be the possible origin of many local folktales of the hill being a worm's lair.

Legend also tells of the Devil leaping from Netherton to Castle Hill and there are rumours of numerous tunnels leading out from the hill. When the Catle Hill pub was built in 1812, it is said that workmen found a stone staircase leading down into the hill. Unfortunately, no one seems to have plucked up the courage to explore this and it was sealed up when the pub was built. An ancient well is still to be seen on the hill.

However, the pub is currently undergoing extensive rennovation which has involved demolishing most of the pub in a plan to rebuild unsafe sections. Maybe this will uncover the old staircase?

Following the Norman Conquest, the De Lacy family built a motte and bailey castle on the hill and extensively redug the earthwork fortifications. There are no visible remains of the castle to be found now, but according to old texts, it's ruins were still visible in the 16thC.

The hill has a tradition as a beacon hill and it formed part of the chain of beacons warning of the Spanish Armarda.

The current Victoria Tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee.

[ Reply to This ]

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