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Ancestral Geographies of the Neolithic, Edmonds, Bender

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Solsbury Hill - Hillfort in England in Somerset

Submitted by TimPrevett on Wednesday, 03 May 2023  Page Views: 38977

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Solsbury Hill Alternative Name: Little Solsbury Hill
Country: England County: Somerset Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: Bath  Nearest Village: Bathampton
Map Ref: ST76876797
Latitude: 51.410275N  Longitude: 2.333951W
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
5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

lauraaurora visited on 1st Jan 2018 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 3

4clydesdale7 visited on 27th Mar 2012 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 3 It is easy to understand why Peter Gabriel was so charmed by this camp and its views



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

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by camperman : The main entrance allowing access through a complex set of earthworks from the shallower northern slopes. (Vote or comment on this photo)
A univallate hillfort above Bath, and probably the only hillfort that has a well known song named after it. There is a good view down to the city, hence Peter Gabriel's lyric "Climbing up on Solsbury Hill, I could see the city light".

4clydesdale7 adds: If you have not yet visited this early Iron Age Hillfort then it must be put at the top of your priorities for this year - the views are spectacular in all directions - the best perhaps to the SW over the City of Bath closely followed by that over the River Avon to the SE towards the White Horse near Westbury (Wilts) - you may need binoculars to pick out the White Horse above the 'Westbury Cement Works Chimney' -

A short perambulation brings up several interesting items - ramparts faced with dry stone walls - a strong bank over the northern scarp - a counterscarp ditch to the south - the remnants of a medieval field strip system (with several stone strip markers) - medieval quarrying at the eastern end of the northern scarp - an inturned entrance to the northwest probably sitting above an old holloway -

The Camp was abandoned before the arrival of the Romans - there have been some excellent finds - two inhumations - arrowheads - scrapers - pottery - there is also evidence of iron working -

The site somehow hardly gets more than an honourable mention from the historians but worthwhile extra reading can be found in
(a) Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society Vol 4(3) 1935; Vol 8(1) 1957 and Vol 9(3) 1962;
(b) Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol 5 1880-1 p30 and Vol 96 1978 p13
(c) Pastscape website: Bath & NE Somerset: Batheaston: Monument Number 203323
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Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by 4clydesdale7 : The inturned entrance at the northern end of the SW scarp (Vote or comment on this photo)

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by 4clydesdale7 : Two field strip marker stones in the NE corner (there are quite a few more on the inner camp) (Vote or comment on this photo)

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by mishkin : Commanding viewpoint from Solsbury Hill overlooking the A46 valley with Charmy Down on the right and Langridge/Lansdown down on the left. Both have bronze age barrows/cemeteries. (5 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by 4clydesdale7 : The impressive SE scarp (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by 4clydesdale7 : Ancient Quarrying Outcrops at the eastern end of the northern scarp (Vote or comment on this photo)

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by camperman : An aerial view from the west.

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by camperman : An aerial view from the east.

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by camperman : A view from the north west showing the triangular shape of the top of the hill forming the hillfort.

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by camperman : Limestone outcrop on the Northern slope of Solsbury Hill with my two history trip companions, Myrtle and Margot.

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by camperman : View from the North Of Little Solsbury Hill looking South, The bottom right corner shows the saddle which connects the fort to high ground. All sides of the fort face steep slopes, ideal for defence. (1 comment)

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by camperman : Little Solsbury Hill, the closest hillfort to me and a regular dog walk. This view is from the South showing the steep slope of the Cotswold scarp face which overlooks the Severn Vale. (3 comments)

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by Bladup : Solsbury Hill, looking south west at the sunlight shining on Bath.

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by Bladup : Solsbury Hill, looking north west.

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by 4clydesdale7 : The 1.5m bank above the northern scarp

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by 4clydesdale7 : Three parallel medieval field strips running SW to NE above the SE scarp

Solsbury Hill
Solsbury Hill submitted by mishkin : Solsbury hill, probably an entrance, but there seems to be a lot of quarrying in this north west corner.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 2.2km SSW 202° Kensington Meadows Holed Megalith Holed Stone
 2.2km WSW 252° St Mary's Well (Charlcombe)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST748673)
 2.8km S 173° Bathampton* Standing Stones (ST772652)
 3.0km SSE 169° Bathampton Camp* Hillfort (ST77456502)
 3.1km S 185° Bathampton Round Barrow 2* Round Barrow(s) (ST76616489)
 3.4km NE 53° Three Shires Stones* Modern Stone Circle etc (ST7961070021)
 3.5km SSW 211° Bath Postal Museum* Museum (ST7504564998)
 3.7km SSW 209° Sacred Spring, Bath* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST7505364726)
 4.2km ESE 123° Monk's Conduit (Monkton Farleigh)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST8036265692)
 4.3km W 272° St Alphages Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST72606815)
 4.4km NW 304° Cold Ashton Round Barrows* Round Barrow(s) (ST73257045)
 5.5km E 82° Box Rock Circus* Modern Stone Circle etc (ST823687)
 5.5km W 280° Lansdown Camp* Misc. Earthwork (ST71446892)
 5.6km E 85° Becket's Well (Box) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST825684)
 5.7km SSE 150° Jug's Grave* Round Barrow(s) (ST79696305)
 5.8km SSE 153° Conkwell stone circle* Stone Circle (ST79456280)
 5.8km W 280° Lansdown Tumuli* Barrow Cemetery (ST7114968962)
 5.8km SSE 157° Conkwell well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST791626)
 5.9km NW 320° Labourer's Stone* Marker Stone (ST73057251)
 6.0km NW 306° Freezing Hill Camp* Misc. Earthwork (ST72007148)
 6.0km ENE 58° Colerne Cross.* Ancient Cross (ST820711)
 6.0km W 278° North Stoke Promontory Fort* Promontory Fort / Cliff Castle (ST70886888)
 6.6km E 87° Hazelbury Manor Menhirs* Modern Stone Circle etc (ST83476830)
 6.8km S 170° Shingle Bell* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST780613)
 7.4km WNW 302° Wick Burial Chamber (Gloucestershire)* Burial Chamber or Dolmen (ST70587188)
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"Solsbury Hill" | Login/Create an Account | 11 News and Comments
  
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Re: Solsbury Hill by Anonymous on Monday, 25 April 2016
Here is a poem I wrote back in 1994 when I was involved with the road protest against the batheaston bypass.

Little Solsbury. written by Andrew Williams.

in 1994.



Sitting on top of solsbury hill I felt I could touch the sky

as the clouds floated by like wisps of candy floss

while I rested in the mounds of moss

the bustle of the city seemed far away

with only the sound of a kestrel hovering in a sunlight ray

now a great ugly scar has appeared on the slopes of the hill

tearing into the pastures the road construction overkill

the distant cries are carried with the wind

to the lofty heights where tranquillity one can find

to escape the turmoil

which nothing should spoil.

stage name-the witchyman.

[ Reply to This ]

Re: Solsbury Hill by 4clydesdale7 on Wednesday, 28 March 2012
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If you have not yet visited this early Iron Age Hillfort then it must be put at the top of your priorities for this year - the views are spectacular in all directions - the best perhaps to the SW over the City of Bath closely followed by that over the River Avon to the SE towards the White Horse near Westbury (Wilts) - you may need binoculars to pick out the White Horse above the 'Westbury Cement Works Chimney' -

A short perambulation brings up several interesting items - ramparts faced with dry stone walls - a strong bank over the northern scarp - a counterscarp ditch to the south - the remnants of a medieval field strip system (with several stone strip markers) - medieval quarrying at the eastern end of the northern scarp - an inturned entrance to the northwest probably sitting above an old holloway -

The Camp was abandoned before the arrival of the Romans - there have been some excellent finds - two inhumations - arrowheads - scrapers - pottery - there is also evidence of iron working -

The site somehow hardly gets more than an honourable mention from the historians but worthwhile extra reading can be found in (a) Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society Vol 4(3) 1935; Vol 8(1) 1957 and Vol 9(3) 1962; (b) Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol 5 1880-1 p30 and Vol 96 1978 p13 (c) pastscape website: Bath & NE Somerset: Batheaston: Monument Number 203323
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Solsbury Hill by Sunny100 on Wednesday, 16 November 2011
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Is this the very same 'Solsbury Hill' which Peter Gabriel sang about in 1978 ? Anyone remember the song it went like this "Climbing up on Solsbury Hill, I can see the city lights..........etc etc.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Solsbury Hill by Andy B on Wednesday, 16 November 2011
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    Yes and of course
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Solsbury Hill by AngieLake on Wednesday, 16 November 2011
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      My excellent mechanic, James Key, who keeps my precious old car on the road, was only telling me a couple of months ago that he grew up there, living on a farm near the hilltop. He recommended a visit, so look forward to that one fine day.
      [ Reply to This ]
        Re: Solsbury Hill by 4clydesdale7 on Wednesday, 28 March 2012
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        James Key lived probably at the now virtually derelict farm which is about 30m to the left (W) of where mishkin stood to take his first photograph - there are still some old bangers in the yard
        [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Solsbury Hill by Andy B on Wednesday, 28 March 2012
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    Analysis of the Solsbury Hill song lyrics here
    http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/71511/
    [ Reply to This ]

Views from the National Trust's Little Solsbury Hill, 27th October 2011 by coldrum on Sunday, 23 October 2011
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Views from the National Trust's Little Solsbury Hill, 27th October 2011.

Bath Skyline
Views from the National Trust's Little Solsbury Hill
Thursday, 27 October 2011 10am - 12:30 pm No Additional charges
A circular walk taking in the breathtaking views from this hill fort. Cotswold Warden led.


A gentle climb to the flat summit of Little Solsbury Hill for views over Bath, then down to Northend before returning via the Nature Reserve in the old reservoirs at Chilcombe Bottom.

More Information: Visitor Reception Team, 01225 833422, priorpark@nationaltrust.org.uk


# Booking Not Needed
# Please wear stout walking shoes and bring a packed lunch.
# Parking at layby off A46 signposted to Swainswick. Free Guided walk
# Dogs on leads welcome
# Children welcome
# The guided walk will include some uphill walking. Areas of the route may be uneven and muddy .

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-bath_skyline
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Solsbury Hill by mishkin on Friday, 11 August 2006
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Words taken from the sign at the entrance; Little Solsbury Hill

"The National Trust owns the flat top of this hill which was a walled village of the early iron age, occupied from about 300 bc to 100 bc. At first the area near the edge of the hilltop was cleared to a rock base on which substantial timber framed and wattle daub huts were built, a 20 foot wide rampart was then made. Faced inside and out with well built drystone walls and infilled with loose stones. The outer face was at least 12 ft high.
After a period of occupation some of the huts were burnt down and the ramparts overthrown. This site was abandoned and never used again."

As well as being famous for Pete Gabriel's song, it also sports a maze in the west corner, this probable commemorates!! the terrible concreted open air tunnel of the A46 that runs below the hill, and the struggle of the tree protesters to stop it.


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