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<< Our Photo Pages >> Denbury - Hillfort in England in Devon

Submitted by AngieLake on Friday, 03 June 2011  Page Views: 32763

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Denbury
Country: England County: Devon Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: Newton Abbot  Nearest Village: Denbury
Map Ref: SX816685  Landranger Map Number: 202
Latitude: 50.504292N  Longitude: 3.670966W
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.
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
4

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I have visited· I would like to visit

sophiewilder visited on 1st Jan 2008 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 5 Access: 2 Not so much a long walk as a steep one, but certainly worth going to see. The undergrowth has indeed been cleared but there is still a lot of wood, and it is hard to get an impression of the whole place from any one spot. The steep-sided defensive ditch is the most impressive part.

AngieLake have visited here

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : Denbury Fort, looking towards approximately ENE (Vote or comment on this photo)
Hillfort in Devon. With two close-set ramparts and a deep ditch on the east and south sides, the fort was built around 300-100BC. The Bronze Age barrows inside were there earlier, probably built 1,000 years or more before the fort.

In her book, 'Prehistoric Hillforts in Devon' (published by Devon Books, official publisher to Devon County Council), Aileen Fox tells us that this wooded hillfort crowns the 150m high end of Denbury Down, a little ridge of Devonian limestone and of volcanic spilite to the west of Denbury village. It is conspicuous on the skyline from many directions in the surrounding undulating countryside.

The hillfort was strongly defended by two close-set ramparts and a deep ditch on the east and south sides. The lines of these diverge to form an outer enclosure on the west side, a later addition perhaps designed as a livestock enclosure. Its low bank is unconsolidated and probably was unfinished. On the north side the defences have been ploughed down leaving a single scarp, and are overlain in part by hedgebanks.

The outer enclosure was entered from the southern slopes through a 10m gap between the offset rampart ends, now complicated by a later drainage ditch. At the main hillfort, the western rampart ends were inturned to form a short defensive passage-way in front of the original wooden gate.

The wooded interior is currently obscured by undergrowth which will be cleared eventually (book published in 1996). In the centre are two large mounds, almost certainly Bronze Age barrows, and likely to cover cremation burials. Their irregular shape is due to ancient ploughing which has also destroyed the back slope of the rampart. No excavation has taken place but early forms of the place name 'Defnasburh' and 'Deveneberie' meaning 'Fort of the Devon People' suggest it was an important place inhabited in post-Roman times as well as in the Iron Age.

Site is owned by Devon County Council. Access by lane and footpath from the bye road leading west from the village. Interpretation panels on the site.

Ref.Book: Probert, S.J. and Dunn, C.J. 'Denbury Camp, Torbryan parish: a new survey by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England', PDAS 50 (1992), 53-60.

Note: On Denbury Down, a short film celebrating the hillfort, showing at the Holmfirth Film Festival. Scroll down the Denbury page to watch it.
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Denbury
Denbury submitted by filber : Denbury Hill fort taken from Lodiswell Rings (Blackdown Rings). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Denbury
Denbury submitted by MattImpey : Crouching next to the small upright stone for scale (Vote or comment on this photo)

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : A view of Denbury hillfort from a lovely walk along country lanes to the NW of Ipplepen this afternoon. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : Turning a bend in the lane on the way down, the village of Denbury comes into sight. It really was a beautiful day (19th April). (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : Looking back at the NE barrow from the NE side of it as we were (reluctantly) leaving. It was such a magical atmosphere in there. The sun and bluebells helped! (Vote or comment on this photo)

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : This is the SW barrow from the NE one IIRC! (Also a bit easier to see the mound from this angle.)

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : On top of the first barrow we encountered (nearest the entrance) was this stone, about 2.5 feet high. I don't recall any mention of it on the board, and it's not described in my Devon hillfort book, which includes a plan. In the plan the barrows are staggered SW-NE. This is the SW one.

Denbury
Denbury submitted by Antonine : Denbury Hill Fort, photo taken from South Street in March 2011

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : The lane leading up to the hillfort is narrow and rutted, but in Spring is bordered by beautiful wild flowers. A long, quite steep, but worthwhile walk. This higher section gives good views of the moors, too.

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : Because Denbury hillfort dominates the landscape in these parts I really wanted to take a view from the top, but the trees made this impossible. This was the first opportunity as we walked back down the lane. (Just outside the gate with the 'Denbury Hillfort' plaque, IIRC., by a field gate.) One for you, Hamish! Dartmoor's rugged tors rise on a misty horizon, at NW of the hillfort. (4 comments)

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : Someone had arranged logs for seats around a small fire on the centre of the NE barrow. I don't know how recent this was as the pic was taken on 19 April after a long dry spell. My friend and I sat and had a well-earned rest there!

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : This is a view through the trees of the NE barrow from the SW barrow. (A little bit easier to distinguish!)

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : While walking towards the entrance I took this shot which shows one of the barrows, but with undergrowth and trees it is hard to distinguish. It's in the far centre of the photo.

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : We walked around the top of the bank from east to south to find the original entrance at west (according to the book 'Prehistoric Hillforts in Devon' published by Devon County Council). With the sun filtering through the trees and the ground carpeted with bluebells, it was a magical atmosphere.

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : When we first arrived in the fort area this was the view to the left. It must have been near noon on 19th April then, so judging by the shadows, we must be at east.

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : Looking towards the position of the original entrance to the fort as depicted on the notice board. I was glad to have my friend with me as it is a rather isolated spot.

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : The English Heritage notice board at the site. It explains that we are standing just outside the entrance to the hillfort, built around 300-100BC. The barrows inside were there earlier, probably built 1,000 years or more before the fort.

Denbury
Denbury submitted by AngieLake : Denbury Fort (left) from Fermoys Garden Centre, looking towards approximately WNW. To the far right (just to E of N) is Haytor, at 457m one of the most prominent tors on the SE of Dartmoor

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"Denbury" | Login/Create an Account | 15 News and Comments
  
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Re: Denbury Down by Anonymous on Sunday, 23 May 2021
I went to Denbury Primary School in the 80's. Im now 45 and today was the first time I have been up the down. I can't believe our school never took the kids up there! It was so beautiful today. A little windy and raining but it added to the experience. The wooded area was full of blue bells and wild garlic. It definately has a mystical feel to the place.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Warning about illegal metal detecting at Denbury Hill fort by AngieLake on Wednesday, 03 February 2021
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The County Archaeologist has reported to that there has been illegal metal detecting activity taking place on Denbury Mound.
I am sure that everyone is aware that it is an ancient hill fort and a scheduled ancient monument and it beggars belief that people would destroy our heritage for personal gain.

Any detecting is illegal on the Hill Fort site and if anyone comes across this activity please report it to the police as a Heritage Crime asap.
The government has issued the following notice https://www.gov.uk/.../guidance-on-searching-for...

For people given permission to use metal detectors on private land the British Museum have this website https://finds.org.uk/

(Posted on Facebook page, Spotted Ipplepen today by our local councillor, Mr Alistair Dewhirst).
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Denbury Camp by AngieLake on Monday, 17 September 2018
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The hillfort was featured on a poster at the display that coincided with Ipplepen's annual archaeological excavation during late summer 2018.
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=My_eGallery&file=index&do=showpic&pid=185725
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Re: Denbury by AngieLake on Saturday, 08 July 2017
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I think this is Denbury Hillfort in the advert for camping at Glas-denbury festival this weekend! http://www.glas-denbury.co.uk/camping-accomodation/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Denbury by Anonymous on Friday, 09 January 2015
I live in Ipplepen 2 miles away, this was so informative, Denbury hill fort can be seen as a landmark from various place in the surrounding area, also the recent Dainton archaeological site may have some link?
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Denbury 'Spring Clean', and link to novels by AngieLake on Wednesday, 13 February 2013
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In the local paper last week I spotted this item:

"Two of the district's prehistoric gems are to be given a spring clean by members of the Devon Archaeological Society.
On February 27 volunteers will help clear brambles and bracken from the entrance to Denbury hillfort.
The site, home to Bronze Age burials and a later Iron Age settlement, has featured in novels by historian Derek Gore, who depicted life there in the Dark Ages which followed the collapse of the Roman Empire."

(The other is Cranbrook):

"On March 5 the archaeologists will turn their attention to Cranbrook hillfort above the River Teign at Fingle Bridge.
They intend to carry out some 'extreme gardening' at the site, another Iron Age location.'
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Denbury by Anonymous on Thursday, 17 May 2012
I found your site really interesting.
I was a Junior Leader at Denbury Camp, 1964-65, and must confess knew nothing about the historic site so close to us.
Didn't have time in those days for studying such things.
I have been back for reunions over the last seven or eight years and have done the 'Denbury Walk'...that is the walk from Newton Abbot back to camp along side the River Lemon, when we missed the last bus back.
I hope to return again this September and will try to visit the Hillfort before adjourning to the Union Inn/Jolly Sailor.
Best wishes,
Harry Harris,
Dover, Kent.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: On Denbury Down, short film showing at the Holmfirth Film Festival by rldixon on Saturday, 04 June 2011
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nice little film
and seeing it on here has saved me the walk down to the picturedrome
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Re: On Denbury Down, short film showing at the Holmfirth Film Festival by Runemage on Friday, 03 June 2011
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So evocative and peaceful, very well put together and the music complements it too. Was that the Green Man I saw fleetingly I wonder.
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On Denbury Down, short film showing at the Holmfirth Film Festival by Andy B on Friday, 03 June 2011
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Nik Heap writes: The short 'music and image' film explores the beauty and mystery of the site and is a collaboration between myself and composer Charlotte Partt for the Holmfirth Film Festival.



It was thanks to your site that I first explored the Denbury Hill fort, Devon.
Best regards

Nik
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Re: Guided Walk - Orley to Denbury, Devon, Sunday 22th March by Maia on Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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Denbury Hill Fort. I loved Angie's review of the site, and have a comment - almost a confession Angie! I suspect the 'funny things that go on up there' are nothing more than us local Pagans.

One memorable event took place there a few years ago for Spring Equinox. One gentleman 'S' had decided to re-enact 'taking the sun back up the hill', which he told us was an ancient ceremony. He chose this hill to do it. He constructed a superb cart with a metal bath attached, and we lit a fire within it. Between us we took this flaming object up to the top - in the dark and in the rain. It was truly exciting.

Once there 'S' produced 2 bags of locally sourced clay, one white one red, and I was one of those prepared to get mucky. We 'dressed' the stone with the clay, and decorated it with new spring blossom. The 2 halves representing the change from dark to light, night gives way to day. A beautiful act, so symbolic, eco-friendly and hands on.

He had prepared the logs in the centre for us to rest upon, where we shared food and flasks of hot drinks. Some of us felt we had appeased the god and goddess once again! Or maybe some of us just knew we had done someting really crazy.... but we loved it!

We left the site tidy and I still have the firey truck in my field, along with a really great memory.

Maia of Shaldon
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Re: Denbury by coldrum on Thursday, 22 January 2009
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Links:

http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=446232

http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/hill_forts.htm
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Re: Denbury by AngieLake on Monday, 14 May 2007
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Visited Denbury hillfort with a friend on 19th April. It was beautiful up there with bluebells carpeting the ground and sunlight filtering through the trees. The two barrows are quite large and set SW-NE of each other according to the plan. (I didn't use my compass!) The SW one has a stone, about 2.5ft high, in the centre of it. The NE one has become a meeting place for someone, with logs laid out as seats and the remains of a small fire.
When I first heard about this fort (80s) from a local man who lived in a cottage a mile futher along the country road, it worried me because he said 'funny things go on up there'. Maybe something has grown in gossip about it, as sometimes happens in a small rural community? However, my friend said she found it had a lovely atmosphere, and she is quite sensitive to these things. I don't think I'd have wanted to go up there alone, though.
It was a bit of a climb. We parked in the main country road near there, not far from a bus-stop, where the road is a bit wider. (It's quite narrow coming out of the village in places.) The entrance to the lane leading to the hillfort was opposite 'Denbury Down Road or Lane', a residential area, IIRC. The lane is narrow and uneven, and fairly steep. A few stops to admire the countryside were welcome. (But then, I'm not as young as I was!) When you get to the top there's a gate with a plaque announcing 'Denbury Hillfort'. We turned in towards the left after a few yards and walked around the bank till we arrived at the western entrance, where there is a notice board erected by English Heritage, with information. We didn't walk further around the perimeter, but just walked through the old entrance and towards the SW barrow, then across to the NE barrow. As we left we went straight down the NE side of the NE barrow and back down the lane.
I had a quick dowse of the NE barrow and signs were that the headperson of the community was buried near the centre of it. (Wasn't really in the mood, so this could have come across subconsciously as 'where you'd expect it to be'!) Didn't do any ritual movement dowsing. Often find companions distract me from my purpose.
It was just lovely to BE there, soaking up the atmosphere, and we were lucky with the weather.
I've posted photos illustrating this walk in detail. It was certainly worth it, though what it would be like in winter...??
[ Reply to This ]

Denbury Web site by AngieLake on Sunday, 03 July 2005
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Tip: Check out http://www.denbury.net for info on Denbury village and the fort. Recommended to me yesterday by a good friend. (Have just checked out this excellent resource, thanks Bill!)
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Re: Denbury by AngieLake on Tuesday, 01 March 2005
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In her book, 'Prehistoric Hillforts in Devon' (published by Devon Books, official publisher to Devon County Council), Aileen Fox tells us that this wooded hillfort crowns the 150m high end of Denbury Down, a little ridge of Devonian limestone and of volcanic spilite to the west of Denbury village. It is conspicuous on the skyline from many directions in the surrounding undulating countryside.

The hillfort was strongly defended by two close-set ramparts and a deep ditch on the east and south sides. The lines of these diverge to form an outer enclosure on the west side, a later addition perhaps designed as a livestock enclosure. Its low bank is unconsolidated and probably was unfinished. On the north side the defences have been ploughed down leaving a single scarp, and are overlain in part by hedgebanks.

The outer enclosure was entered from the southern slopes through a 10m gap between the offset rampart ends, now complicated by a later drainage ditch. At the main hillfort, the western rampart ends were inturned to form a short defensive passage-way in front of the original wooden gate.

The wooded interior is currently obscured by undergrowth which will be cleared eventually (book published in 1996). In the centre are two large mounds, almost certainly Bronze Age barrows, and likely to cover cremation burials. Their irregular shape is due to ancient ploughing which has also destroyed the back slope of the rampart. No excavation has taken place but early forms of the place name 'Defnasburh' and 'Deveneberie' meaning 'Fort of the Devon People' suggest it was an important place inhabited in post-Roman times as well as in the Iron Age.

Site is owned by Devon County Council. Access by lane and footpath from the bye road leading west from the village. Interpretation panels on the site.

Ref.Book: Probert, S.J. and Dunn, C.J. 'Denbury Camp, Torbryan parish: a new survey by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England', PDAS 50 (1992), 53-60.

I have already suggested to our local group that we try dowsing this place. It is a possible job for the summer months. I still haven't been up there myself, and would prefer not to go alone!
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