<< Our Photo Pages >> Badbury Rings - Hillfort in England in Dorset

Submitted by Andy B on Sunday, 10 July 2022  Page Views: 41279

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Badbury Rings
Country: England County: Dorset Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: Wimborne Minster  Nearest Village: Shapwick
Map Ref: ST96400299  Landranger Map Number: 195
Latitude: 50.826436N  Longitude: 2.05248W
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.
 3 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.
 5 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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DrewParsons Elodin would like to visit

graemefield visited on 21st Apr 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

h_fenton JimChampion fyrefly PhilipT AngieLake have visited here

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by croppy : Badbury Rings August 2015 (Vote or comment on this photo)
Three well-worn chalk banks and ditches surround 7 hectares of trees inside this Dorset hillfort. Has never been excavated, so details are sketchy at best, although it lies at the junction of two Roman roads. Common to many south-western hillforts, it harbours Arthurian legends.

This site gets very busy with dog-walkers, picnickers and other such visitors on warm weekends.

Access: Well signposted just off the B3082 between Wimborne Minster and Blandford Forum. Large car-park.

Note: Festival of Archaeology events at Badbury Rings, Sat/Sun 16/17th July, more details in the comments on our page
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Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by h_fenton : Badbury Rings viewed from roughly east. Kite Aerial Photograph 26 June 2011 @ 8.49pm (5 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by h_fenton : Kite aerial photograph of a bowl barrow (Grid Reference: ST 9583 0295) to the west of Badbury Rings, this is the most south-westerly barrow of the group of three next to the road into the carpark. 26 June 2011 @ 7.45pm (Vote or comment on this photo)

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by h_fenton : Vertical kite aerial photograph of a bowl barrow (Grid Reference: ST 9583 0295) to the west of Badbury Rings, this is the most south-westerly barrow of the group of three next to the road into the carpark. 26 June 2011 @ 7.58pm (Vote or comment on this photo)

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by camperman : An aerial view from the North showing the two main concentric rings and ditches with the lesser outer rampart and ditch. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by h_fenton : The low angle of light clearly highlights from remains of a Roman road from Dorchester heading towards Salisbury as it passes Badbury Rings. The modern trackway sits in one of the ditches of the Roman road. Kite Aerial Photograph 26 June 2011 @ 8.40pm

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by camperman : Aerial view from the West showing the entrance through the three ramparts.

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by AngieLake : Bronze Age bowl-barrows about 500yds west of Badbury Rings Iron Age Hill fort's ramparts. This shows one of the three in the rays of the setting sun in May 2005. The fence right of picture borders the westerly of two N/S lanes leading to the site from the main road south of the fort. (2 comments)

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : A 3D view of the digital terrain model of Badbury Rings Fort by Rouven Meidlinger, The perfect circles in the middle of the fort aren't prehistoric and are from when the copse of trees were planted (sometime before 1850)

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by PhilipT : Early morning, Badbury Rings. (2 comments)

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by gubber : Badbury Rings October 2005. Aerial photo taken from a kite. View is roughly west facing looking at the south west corner of the rings. (2 comments)

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by gubber : Badbury Rings October 2005. Aerial photograph taken from a kite. View looking approximately north along the eastern edge of the rings.

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Badbury Rings Fort from the line of barrows west of the fort

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Defences at Badbury Rings Fort

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Badbury Rings Fort

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : The path into the interior

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Southern defences looking East

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Southern defences looking west

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : The south western defences

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Looking west over the forts defences

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : North side looking north west

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Northern side looking west

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Eastern side looking south

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Eastern side looking north

Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings submitted by Bladup : Looking into the central part of the fort

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 605m W 261° Badbury Barrow Barrow Cemetery (ST958029)
 1.7km W 274° Straw Barrow Round Barrow(s) (ST94660312)
 3.3km WSW 246° Shapwick Round Barrow(s) (ST9336301635)
 4.1km SE 131° Pamphill* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (ST995003)
 4.3km SSE 149° The Bearstone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY986993)
 4.4km E 98° Bakers Dozen* Modern Stone Circle etc (SU008024)
 4.7km NE 48° High Lea Farm* Barrow Cemetery (ST999061)
 5.1km WSW 259° Spettisbury Rings* Hillfort (ST914020)
 5.4km NW 304° Buzbury Rings* Ancient Village or Settlement (ST919060)
 6.1km NW 307° Tarrant Rawston Long Barrow* Long Barrow (ST91550667)
 7.4km NW 317° Blandford Race Down Round Barrow(s) (ST91360836)
 7.4km ENE 68° Colebarrow* Hillfort (SU033057)
 8.4km WNW 302° Pimperne Maze Turf Maze (ST892074)
 8.5km WNW 289° Blandford Forum Stones* Standing Stones (ST884058)
 8.6km NNE 12° Parsonage Hill* Long Barrow (ST98131137)
 8.8km ESE 107° Bowl round barrow just outside Stapehill community centre Dorset Barrow Cemetery (SU0482700373)
 8.9km NNW 328° Pimperne Long Barrow* Long Barrow (ST917105)
 9.1km NE 41° Knowlton Great Circle* Henge (SU024099)
 9.2km N 4° Thickthorn Round Barrows* Round Barrow(s) (ST971122)
 9.2km N 4° Thickthorn Down (South)* Long Barrow (ST971122)
 9.3km ENE 78° Holt Heath* Round Barrow(s) (SU055049)
 9.3km N 4° Thickthorn Down (North)* Long Barrow (ST970123)
 9.4km NE 39° Knowlton Rings* Henge (SU02381028)
 9.4km N 3° Gussage St Michael Cursus Cursus (ST969124)
 9.5km NE 40° Knowlton Great Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SU02541027)
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Festival of Archaeology at Badbury Rings, Sat/Sun 16/17th July by Andy B on Sunday, 10 July 2022
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Festival of Archaeology at Badbury Rings, Sat/Sun 16/17th July

Uncover 4,000 years of history at Badbury Rings at a weekend of guided walks, living history and digital reconstructions, part of the Council of British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology.

Over the weekend there will be a range of activities to get involved with.

Saturday 16 July, 10.30am and 2pm – join National Trust Archaeologist, Martin Papworth for a two hour walk of Badbury Rings. £10 per person. Pre-booking is essential. Please see separate event listing for online bookings or telephone 0344 249 1895.

Sunday 17 July, 10.30am and 2pm – join National Trust Ranger, Mark Wratten for a two hour walk of Badbury Rings understanding its significance for archaeology and nature. Free, offered on a first come, first served basis on the day.

Saturday 16 July and Sunday 17 July, 10am to 4pm – the National Trust is supporting Beth Darlington (Bournemouth University PhD student) to research and test different storytelling methods in prehistoric landscapes. As part of her work you will be able to discover:
• Ancient Wessex Network demonstrating a Living History area where you can learn more about bronze casting, flint knapping, pottery, textiles and jewellery
• Step inside a ‘barrow’ and discover the significance of the collections found within
• Using digital techniques get up close and personal with the Badbury Stone, one of only two known examples of Bronze Age dagger carvings
• The location and style of a roundhouse

Badbury Rings, B3082, Wimborne, Dorset, DT11 9JL, United Kingdom
Park at Badbury Rings car park. Located off of B3082.

The event goes over uneven terrain so not very suitable for wheelchairs.

Sat/Sun 16/17th July from 10am

#FestivalofArchaeology 2022
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Neolithic occupation at Badbury Rings by Andy B on Tuesday, 11 July 2017
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Submitted by coldrum on Friday, 24 September 2004
For the first time archaeologists can confirm there was neolithic occupation on the summit of Badbury Rings. The first ever excavations within the Iron Age hill fort on the Kingston Lacy estate have unearthed neolithic flints, which would have been used as cutting instruments.

The work has been carried out by the National Trust in conjunction with East Dorset Antiquarian Society and a team of volunteers.

Martin Papworth, an archaeologist for the National Trust Wessex, said: "Previous interpretations of these impressive earthworks have been based on what can be seen from the surface and by comparing Badbury with other excavated hill forts in Dorset such as Hod Hill and Maiden Castle.

"To date it is the only hill fort of its size not to have been excavated in the area. Its location on the River Stour would suggest that it played a key role in defending the area and that later it would have been involved in battles during the Roman invasion."

And it seems that when they weren't fighting bloody battles the Romans were tucking into luxury picnics at the summit - among the items unearthed are oyster shells thought to date back to Roman times.

The excavations, which were prompted by concerns that tree roots on the summit were damaging the monument, have already revealed neolithic flits and as the dig continues the trust is hoping to find further evidence about the date of the earliest occupation.

Finds so far date the first occupation of Badbury Rings to between 3500 and 1500 BC.

Mr Papworth added: "We are hoping that this first excavation of Badbury Rings will help us untangle the chronology of this important piece of Dorset's history - to clarify the dates of its first occupation and when it was finally abandoned."

The excavation is due to end tomorrow and there is a daily tour of the site at 2pm.

Source: This is Bournemouth 23/09/2004
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2146411846
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Badbury and the Devil’s Footprint by Andy B on Thursday, 06 July 2017
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Martin Papworth writes: This is about the 6th century… Dark Times.

You will need to go to Badbury Rings in Dorset and head to the west side of the outer rampart. Stand where the great Roman road, known as the Ackling Dyke, touches the hillfort and then look north.

From the Badbury Roman cross-roads take the road to Old Sarum (nr Salsibury) where there is another hillfort at another cross-roads. After the Roman conquest, just like at Badbury, a small Roman town grew up nearby. At Badbury it’s Shapwick (Vindocladia) at Old Sarum its Stratford sub Castle (Sorviodunum).

The Roman administration lasted about 400 years then the troops left for the continent and Britain sorted out its own politics. It broke up into factions, petty political infighting and one by one these new Romanised British states caved in to alien cultures from outside the old empire. Our modern counties tell the story of conflict and the place names of our villages and towns in the east are almost exclusively Anglo-Saxon. Bit by bit the Roman centres were abandoned or taken over. In recent years it has been suggested that British and Germanic incomers integrated more amicably than has traditionally been believed…but ancient DNA compared with DNA from modern populations argues for the old fashioned view …that the Brits were ethnically cleansed from the east.

More at https://archaeologynationaltrustsw.wordpress.com/page/2/
and more Badbury Rings news here https://archaeologynationaltrustsw.wordpress.com/category/badbury-rings/
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Wheelchair accessible tractor trailer rides around Badbury Rings, June 11th 2014 by Andy B on Monday, 02 June 2014
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Tractor trailer for the less able ' Badbury Rings and wild flowers, June July

Ride around and through the ramparts of this ancient Iron Age hill fort and discover some of the wild flowers found at this magnificent site.

Tours carried out by a specially adapted trailer which can take both wheelchairs and standard seats, so carers can travel alongside wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties.

Alternative dates for groups of 6 to 14 persons (including carers) may be possible subject to availability. Please telephone 01202 883402 (line 8) for details.

Wednesday, 11 June 2014 11am - 12:30 pm All Tickets £0 (Carer), All Tickets £4

Wednesday, 11 June 2014 1:30 pm - 3pm All Tickets £0 (Carer), All Tickets £4

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/whats-on/find-an-event/?uuid=1db391cd-a43e-4594-85ee-f8b3f3a1ffc9
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Re: Walking with Archaeologists, Badbury Rings, 23rd October 2011 by enjaytom on Wednesday, 19 October 2011
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Badbury Rings is a most significant prehistoric site, linked to the east and west by ancient tracks, the trio Stonehenge, Woodhenge and Durrington Walls then to Mount Pleasant and Stanton Drew all of whom are calendar buildings of the third millennium BC.
Badbury Rings is joined by neolithic tracks NOT Roman Roads to these locations. The two straight tracks existed two millennia before Roman was even built.
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Walking with Archaeologists, Badbury Rings, 23rd October 2011 by coldrum on Tuesday, 18 October 2011
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Walking with Archaeologists, Badbury Rings, 23rd October 2011

Kingston Lacy
Walking with Archaeologists

An opporutnity to explore the ancient Rings with archaeologist Bekki Stalker from the Estate, and discover the hidden history of Badbury and the surrounding countryside. The walk is over flat, but uneven, terrain.
Sunday, 23 October 2011 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Adult £5, Child £3

Booking Essential 01202 883402 (line 8)

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-events/w-events-find_event.htm?regionid=1
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Re:Badbury Rings by coldrum on Sunday, 28 March 2010
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Street View


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Panoramic Image of Badbury Rings linked to Satallite Picture by Anonymous on Friday, 07 September 2007

Here is an active 360 panoramic image taken of Badbury Rings linked to Google maps satellite view of the area:

Badbury Rings Panorama.
http://www.panoramicearth.com/1143/Wimborne_Minster/Badbury_Rings

>
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Events at Badbury and surrounding areas by coldrum on Tuesday, 12 June 2007
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The National Trust has a few events at Badbury and Kingston Lacy.

Further information on their website under events.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-events/w-events-find_event.htm?propertyID=297
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Re: Lou Mill by Andy B on Thursday, 02 February 2006
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How did this get -1 comments, perhaps this will fix it...
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    Re: Lou Mill by Andy B on Thursday, 02 February 2006
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    Adding one more comment to give it a +1 and some sense of normality. Dum de dum, don't mind me...
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Re: Badbury Rings by AngieLake on Wednesday, 27 July 2005
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There are three good Bronze Age Barrows near the SW/NE lane leading to the car park for visitors to Badbury Rings. (My OS map shows two access roads leading up to Badbury Rings, and this would be the most westerly lane.) The photos I took of them in May 2005 have been posted on to this section. I hadn't noticed the barrows on the way up the lane; in fact, two of them are hidden behind a thick hedge, but the most southerly (SW?) one would appear to be visible from the lane.

In Nicholas Thomas's Guide to Prehistoric England (I have a reprint, 1977 - Book Club Associates copy, in agreement with orig. pub. B.T.Batsford Ltd) he tells us:
"In Roman times there was probably a large settlement either within the Iron Age ramparts, or close to them. Here is the meeting place of 2 main roads, the Ackling Dkye from Old Sarum to Dorchester, and one from Bath to Poole Harbour.
A superb length of Ackling Dyke impinges upon the outermost rampart of Badbury Ring at the NW. Here the road agger is 13yds wide and 4-6ft high; it is flanked by well-defined side-banks and ditches 40yds apart.
Five-hundred yds W of the intersection with the Iron Age hill-fort, 3 conspicuous mounds are set immediately N of Ackling Dyke. A fourth mound of similar shape can be seen 400ft W of the intersection. Excavation (1959) has shown that these are Bronze Age bowl-barrows, the bank and ditch around the most W mound being recent."
(Not quite sure what he means by 'recent'!)
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Lou Mill by Anonymous on Monday, 13 October 2003
Ambience is a 5!
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