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<< Our Photo Pages >> Bury Ditches (Shropshire) - Hillfort in England in Shropshire

Submitted by TimPrevett on Sunday, 11 July 2010  Page Views: 30792

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Country: England County: Shropshire Type: Hillfort
 Nearest Village: Bishops Castle
Map Ref: SO327837  Landranger Map Number: 137
Latitude: 52.447098N  Longitude: 2.991633W
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
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 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.
3 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
3

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I have visited· I would like to visit

drolaf visited on 19th Jul 2012 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

TheWhiteRider TimPrevett Serenstar have visited here

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett : A composite of 3 shots, looking south at the eastern entrance of Bury Ditches. John & Lynne K here help give a sense of scale. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Bury Ditches is a wonderful example of a hillfort; the views are breathtaking, too. Until 1976, it was shrouded in trees - but a storm blew many of them down, and then the Forestry Commision felled the remainder of trees from the ramparts, revealing the oval-shape hillfort

. Parking is to the south east side, where the fort is entered by a prolonged 'inturned entrance', adding additional chance of defence to any attackers breaching the fort's gateway. The more western entrance relies upon the usual overlapping of ramparts and ditches for defence. There are four ramparts to the north, and only to on the south, where the land falls away more steeply. It is commonly felt that forts were in fact rarely used defensively, and intended more as a statement to impress visitors.

If you only ever visit one of the fifty plus Shropshire Hillforts, make it Bury Ditches. This picture gives some idea of the scale of the location. Since visiting here in March 2003 on a Megalithic Meet, I wanted to bring my family back. The sense or remoteness is astounding. Hills as far as can be seen in all directions. Not even roads nor towns can be seen. Just hills and trees. Even in the hefty shower which followed this, my family, who are not megalithically inclined, really enjoyed this visit and the superb views and ambience afforded by the location.

Note: The Landscape of Lower Down walk, Sat 24 July
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Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by Darrell : This picture is of Bury Ditches, Shropshire taken on October 25th 2004. The photograph is of the sunset taken from inside the second dich facing east towards Wales. It was a great couple of hours up there with not a soul in sight, watching the sun set and the full moon rise at the same time. (6 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett : From the innermost rampart on the NE corner, looking south east east towards Clee Burf and Abdon Burf in the distance. Next rampart visible below left. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett : The western entrance, which cuts diagonally between the 2 southern ramparts, and 4 northern ramparts. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett : The sign, with relief model of the hillfort. Some of the sign is in braille, too. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by w650marion : Where have the neat grass covered ramparts gone? Heather, broom, bracken and brambles cover the fort, but there is a well walked path on top of the ramparts. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by w650marion : Guy on a mountain bike cycling the ramparts at the eastern entrance to the hillfort. I didn’t see any signs saying it was prohibited, unlike Nesscliffe hillfort where there are several signs which are ignored, and significant erosion.

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by w650marion : Ramparts in the mist. This is the path along the top of the middle rampart at Bury Ditches.

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TheWhiteRider : Close up of the Iron Age warrior guarding the approach to Bury Ditches. He wasn't there in January when I last visited so he was a welcome surprise this time. (1 comment)

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TheWhiteRider : An Iron Age welcome to Bury Ditches.

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett : On the north inside of the eastern entrance, there is a large pit (its depth can be ascertained by the height of the holly growing inside). I believe this was a quarry pit, though its situation just inside the main entrance puts me in mind of Old Oswestry Hillfort with its unusual entrance complex.

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett : From the toposcope in the mid north interior of Bury Ditches; the star shows the location of the toposcope.

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett : The eastern entrance - a very long inturned pair of ramparts, and extended opportunity to kill would be attackers.

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett : If you only ever visit one of the fifty plus Shropshire Hillforts, make it Bury Ditches. This picture gives some idea of the scale of the location. Since visiting here in March 2003 on a Megalithic Meet, I wanted to bring my family back. The sense or remoteness is astounding. Hills as far as can be seen in all directions. Not even roads nor towns can be seen. Just hills and trees. Even in the heft...

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett : Bury Ditches is a wonderful example of a hillfort; the views are breathtaking, too. Until 1976, it was shrouded in trees - but a storm blew many of them down, and then the Forestry Commision felled the remainder of trees from the ramparts, revealing the oval-shape hillfort. Parking is to the south east side, where the fort is entered by a prolonged 'inturned entrance', adding additional chance of ...

Bury Ditches (Shropshire)
Bury Ditches (Shropshire) submitted by TimPrevett

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 2.1km SSW 198° Radnor Wood Camp* Hillfort (SO320817)
 4.7km WSW 248° Oak Farm Bowl Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SO283820)
 5.1km SSW 194° Pen-Y-Wern Outlier Standing Stone (Menhir) (SO31447880)
 5.1km SSW 195° Pen-Y-Wern Hill* Stone Circle (SO313788)
 5.1km S 187° Fiddler's Elbow Standing Stone (Menhir) (SO32007865)
 5.2km SSW 194° Pen-Y-Wern Conglomerate* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SO31407871)
 5.2km WSW 254° Whitcott Keysett* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SO27648234)
 5.5km E 96° Burrow Hill Camp (Shropshire)* Hillfort (SO38218305)
 5.7km SSW 209° Clun Hill Stones* Standing Stones (SO29897873)
 5.8km SSW 211° Clun Hill Glacial Erratic* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SO29667881)
 6.0km SE 143° Hopton Castle Standing Stone (Menhir) (SO36297883)
 6.1km SE 132° Fairy Stone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SO37237958)
 6.4km SW 215° Rockhill Iron Age Enclosure* Misc. Earthwork (SO290785)
 6.8km WNW 283° St Chad's Well (nr Clun)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SO26068529)
 7.2km SSE 166° Great Hagley* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SO343767)
 7.2km SW 234° Llanfair Hill East Standing Stone (Menhir) (SO26797950)
 7.3km E 81° Wart Hill Camp* Hillfort (SO400847)
 7.8km W 261° Fron Camp* Hillfort (SO250826)
 8.1km ENE 66° Castle Ring (Shropshire)* Misc. Earthwork (SO40128689)
 8.1km SSW 191° Caer Caradoc (Chapel Lawn)* Hillfort (SO310758)
 8.1km WSW 243° Llanfair Hill North Standing Stone (Menhir) (SO25428006)
 8.2km SSE 160° Castle Ditches (Shropshire)* Ancient Village or Settlement (SO35357594)
 8.8km N 358° The Roveries* Hillfort (SO325925)
 8.9km SW 234° Offa's Dyke west of Llanfair Hill Misc. Earthwork (SO25407862)
 10.0km NE 53° Botley Stone* Ring Cairn (SO408896)
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"Bury Ditches (Shropshire)" | Login/Create an Account | 9 News and Comments
  
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Re: Bury Ditches (Shropshire) by Anonymous on Monday, 22 May 2023
Hi there Tim, I just wanted to add on your comment about the put you thought could be a quarry. I believe there was in fact two springs up in the fort, maybe this could be one of them? Maybe the large excavation on the other side of the entrance could be the other? Would love to hear your thoughts?

Regards a fellow lover of our majestic hillforts,
Luke.
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The Landscape of Lower Down, Sat 24 July by Andy B on Sunday, 11 July 2010
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The Landscape of Lower Down

Sat 24 July 14.30–16.00

Tour of earth workings at lower Down looking at the Iron Age farm enclosure, Norman motte and bailey and Median ridge and furrow field systems. …

Tour of earth workings at lower Down looking at the Iron Age farm enclosure, Norman motte and bailey and Median ridge and furrow field systems. 1 1/2 hours on level ground. Adults £3, children free.

Location: Meet at telephone box, Lower Down, Lydbury North. SO 3283. B4385 Bishop's Castle to Little Brampton road. Turn off to Brockton, continue to Lower Down.

O: Lydbury Field Group, Community Archaeology
N: Mike Greene
E: greenefate@hotmail.co.uk
W: http://www.lydburynorth.net

Festival of British Archaeology 2010
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Re: Bury Ditches by coldrum on Friday, 23 January 2009
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Links:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandHerefordshireTheMarchesBuryDitchesAndColsteyWood

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandHerefordshireTheMarchesBuryDitchesAndColsteyWoodBuryDitchesHillFortCarPark
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Re: Bury Ditches by TimPrevett on Wednesday, 08 June 2005
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A useful walk and more details:

http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/roots/walks/bur/bur_01.htm
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Re: Bury Ditches by Andy B on Thursday, 07 October 2004
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Aerial photo and info:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/history/2004/01/gallery_hill_forts_01.shtml
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Re: Bury Ditches by TimPrevett on Saturday, 05 June 2004
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I have not been to the Clun area yet, but I have searched the entirety of Shropshire on the National Monuments Record, and in the Clun area, it shows several lost stones. It is on my wish list to investigate. Maybe this year. If you want to mail me it's shropstones@tiscali.co.uk. Cheers :-)

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Re: Bury Ditches by Anonymous on Saturday, 05 June 2004
Condition:good
Ambience:good
Access:good

I live in clun and use this place regularly. Does anyone know the heart stone above clun? this is not marked on modern maps but is on the 1901 OS map for the area. It marks a line through bury ditches and the st michael church of nearby Lydbury North which is in nline with the longest day sunrise and shortest day sunset. Interesting
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Re: Bury Ditches by RikLoon on Monday, 20 October 2003
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Visited this 19th October - very impressive site . We approached up the hill from Clun (Shropshire Way) and the fort emerges from the forest as you reach the top, very atmospheric. The views are superb and it's well worth a visit.
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Re: Bury Ditches by Anonymous on Sunday, 01 June 2003
We went to this site three weeks ago and it was wonderful. You can really get the feeling of people living there, and watch out for the watchful crow, he`s lovely.
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