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Castle Hill (Bishopton)

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Inscribed Across the Landscape: The Cursus Monuments of Great Britain

Inscribed Across the Landscape: The Cursus Monuments of Great Britain

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Castilly Henge - Henge in England in Cornwall

Submitted by MikeAitch on Monday, 13 October 2025  Page Views: 18724

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Castilly Henge
Country: England County: Cornwall Type: Henge
Nearest Town: Bodmin  Nearest Village: Lockengate
Map Ref: SX0311062740  Landranger Map Number: 200
Latitude: 50.431417N  Longitude: 4.77365W
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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hallsifer visited on 6th Oct 2025 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 2 Access: 4

Catrinm visited on 12th Jan 2025 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5

mikeaitch have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.5 Ambience: 3 Access: 4.5

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Historic England : An aerial view of the 2025 Excavations at Castilly Henge, showing investigation of the earthwork bank and the interior. Press release photo © Historic England. Image refence number DP574580. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Castilly Henge is next to the Innis Downs roundabout on the A30, it is a large egg shaped late Neolithic earthwork approximately 30m wide on the inside from each edge of the ditch. Overall the monument is approximately 60m wide by 80m long, with the outer bank up to 2m high from the bottom of the inner ditch.

Despite its roadside position it’s surprisingly quite peaceful and sheltered once you enter the henge through the original North entrance. The smaller Southern entrance is believed to have been added much later and looks very difficult to access.

Archaeologists investigated the surrounding area when the new Innis Downs road junction was due to be built, however no prehistoric archaeology was found. Impact of the new junction was reduced by building the road in a cutting.

In more recent history Castilly may have been used for defence during the civil war. The site was also recorded by William Borlase in the mid 18th century as being used as a Plain an Gwarry. The current farmer has kindly left his own offering/mark in the form of a rusting hulk of machinery in the centre.

Historic Cornwall’s Flying Through Cornwall’s Past has an excellent clickable aerial photo of Castilly Henge, with some more info & aerial photos of the few other known or suspected Cornish henge’s here.

Update March 2026:
For recent information, see the comments section below, particularly Andy B's comment of 13th October 2025, and Historic England, "Castilly Henge Excavation Draws to a Close, 11th October 2025"; and
YouTube, "Cornwall's Stonehenge Discovered Experts Search for Lost Great Stone Circle, November 2025".
Previous news from 2022
Previously unknown stone circle (or circle of pits in any case) found inside this Neolithic henge in Cornwall, details in the comments on our page

Note: The recent excavation at Castilly Henge has now finished, with finds including fragments of Neolithic flint tools and post-medieval pottery. The archaeologists are currently tight lipped on whether they are any closer to establishing if the seven 'anomalies' located by survey in 2022 are stone holes from a possible circle
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Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by MikeAitch : Castilly Henge from S Entrance (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by MikeAitch : Castilly Henge N Entrance towards S (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by dodomad : The circle, marked out here by volunteers, was found during the site's first modern archaeological survey. More details in the comments on our main site page, follow the yellow link at left and scroll down the page. Photo Credit: Historic England / Cornwall Archaeology Unit (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Panoramic view of Castilly Henge. [You forgot to use ICE, Paul. davidmorgan] (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by MikeAitch : Castilly Henge N Entrance (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by MikeAitch : Castilly Henge View S from N

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Historic England : Dr Olaf Bayer, Historic England’s Senior Archaeological Investigator and Nicola Hembrey, Historic England Archaeological Excavation Principal at the Castilly Henge excavation. Press release photo © Historic England. Image reference DP572335.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Historic England : Castilly Henge viewed from above, prior to the excavation. Press release photo © Copyright Cornwall Heritage Trust

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly Henge lidar image Source: www.lidarfinder.com

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge, The Southern part with the Southern Entrance/exit.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge looking East.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge, The North West section.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge, Bank, ditch and central area with the Northern entrance.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge, The North East section.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge, Looking North over the central area.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge, East side looking North.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge, West side looking North.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge, Southern entrance looking South.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge, Northern entrance looking North.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge East side looking south.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by Bladup : Castilly henge West side looking South.

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by MikeAitch : Castilly Henge from NW

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by MikeAitch : Castilly Henge NE to Rough Tor (L) and Brown Willy (R) in distance. (5 comments)

Castilly Henge
Castilly Henge submitted by MikeAitch : Castilly Henge NE Inner Ditch & Outer Bank from N Entrance

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"Castilly Henge" | Login/Create an Account | 8 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: Castilly by DavidHoyle on Friday, 17 October 2025
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Winter solstice synet over roche rock.
www.standingstones.org/viewer.html?name=castilly-henge_sx03116274&country=uk&year=4500&grid=None&res=Med&zoom=100&x=229.6850321395776&y=0.6926066627703094
[ Reply to This ]

Castilly Henge Excavation Draws to a Close by Andy B on Monday, 13 October 2025
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Archaeologists are a significant step closer to answering new questions about Castilly Henge, near Bodmin in Cornwall. This follows a month-long excavation (15 Sept – 10 Oct) to investigate the late Neolithic site's origins, purpose and how it changed over time. Directed by Ian Barnes of Historic England’s excavation team, the dig is led by archaeologists from Historic England and the Cornwall Archaeological Unit.

Funded by Historic England, the project builds on the work carried out by archaeologists in the 1960s.

Dr Olaf Bayer, Senior Archaeological Investigator at Historic England said: "We are excited by the progress we have made so far. We have uncovered a wealth of evidence which will help us to accurately tell the story of this important archaeological site and how it has changed over time"

Working in partnership with the Cornwall Archaeological Society and the Cornwall Heritage Trust, the dig has been supported by a community engagement and outreach programme.

This involved more than 80 volunteers, visits from more than 300 local school children and connecting over 100 people to their heritage via community groups and social prescribing programmes.

Cathy Woolcock, Cornwall Heritage Trust CEO said: "This has been such a rare opportunity for the local community to be part of uncovering the secrets of one of Cornwall’s most important ancient sites, and we’re incredibly proud to have enabled so many people to be directly involved through the project’s outreach programme. "

Castilly Henge is believed to have been built during the late Neolithic period (about 3000 to 2500 BCE). It is a substantial oval earthwork with an external bank and internal ditch, which would have formed an amphitheatre-like setting for gatherings and ritual activities.

Its significance continued into the Early Bronze Age (about 2400 to 1500 BCE) when several high-status burial mounds or barrows were built nearby. Previous researchers have suggested that the site was reused as a medieval theatre (plen-an-gwari) and as a Civil War fortification.

Scientific techniques
Historic England has been investigating anomalies identified by earthwork, aerial and geophysical surveys of the site undertaken three years ago.

Using new techniques not available in the 1960s when it was first excavated, Historic England has been asking new questions about when the henge was built and how it was used, and how it has changed over time. A key question is whether there is evidence of the remains of a now-removed stone circle at the centre of the henge.

Trenches
Three trenches have been dug which examined different aspects of the monument. The first reopened and extended work originally undertaken by eminent Cornish archaeologist Charles Thomas in 1962, investigating the structure of the henge bank and ditch and its later reuse as a possible medieval theatre and Civil War fortification.

Two additional trenches have explored the geophysical anomalies detected in Historic England's survey work, which potentially suggested traces of now removed upright stones or timber posts.
Archaeologists in hi-vis clothing excavating a series of features standing out as darker soil.

Finds include fragments of Neolithic flint tools, post-medieval pottery and a handful of early to mid-20th century coins likely related to the 1960’s excavation.
Next steps:

Finds, soil samples and other deposits are being collected for further research and scientific analysis with results expected in the next 18 months.

More at
historicengland.org.uk/research/current/discover-and-understand/landscapes/castilly-henge-excavation/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Castilly by DavidHoyle on Friday, 20 May 2022
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The Winter Solstice sunset around 2500BC was directly over Roche Rock on the horizon from here. I believe that this is no longer visible as Castle Hill Farm is now in the way.
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Previously unknown stone circle found inside this Neolithic henge by Bladup on Thursday, 19 May 2022
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The buried circle has been found inside Castilly Henge, near Bodmin, by Historic England (HE) and the Cornwall Archaeology Unit. It was found during the site's first modern archaeological survey to better understand the area, HE said.

The site has now been fenced, allowing it to be grazed by animals without damaging the structure, it added. The henge is one of 40 scheduled monuments protected by the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The 225ft long by 205ft wide (68m by 62m) oval enclosure is believed to have been built during the late Neolithic period (circa 3,000 to 2,500 BC), forming an amphitheatre-like setting for gatherings and ritual activities, HE said.

It was on Historic England's heritage at-risk register because its location made it difficult to look after, and its earthworks and part of the interior had been heavily overgrown with bracken, project bosses said.

The circle, composed of seven points, was likely, along with the henge itself, to have been "used for ritual activities", HE said. It was found with ground-penetrating radar and earth resistance techniques, using small electric currents passed through the ground.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-61492367

Interesting find, I do wonder how they know the pits held stones though, As they could have held timbers (or be just pits), I do imagine it was stones myself but i just wonder how they know!
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Castilly by MikeAitch on Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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I tried to visit here in summer 2009 but it was way too overgrown with bracken etc to see very much or even enter, so I repaid it a visit as a birthday treat for myself and the meg’ hunter a few days ago and it was well worth the wait. (It’s becoming a habit with Avebury & Stonehenge in previous years) Castilly is a nice ancient site to visit, sit with a cuppa and imagine who, what and why.
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Re: Castilly Henge Street View by MikeAitch on Friday, 02 April 2010
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Street View
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Re: Castilly by Anonymous on Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Please note that there is a planning application for a major service station to be built in the field next to this site at Innis Downs roundabout. Any objections need to be submitted by the 19th of December 2007, to log an objection go to Restormal Council web site and go to planning, search for applications for Innis Downs. Please object as a service station and hoel over 28 acres is not required and will ruin the view of this henge.
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