<< Our Photo Pages >> Wincobank - Vitrified Fort in England in Yorkshire (South)

Submitted by majick123 on Tuesday, 12 September 2023  Page Views: 20512

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Wincobank Alternative Name: Wincobank Hill
Country: England County: Yorkshire (South) Type: Vitrified Fort
Nearest Town: Sheffield
Map Ref: SK378910  Landranger Map Number: 110
Latitude: 53.414460N  Longitude: 1.432767W
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.
 2 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.
 2 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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elad13 Thisisme123 would like to visit

Becshep19 visited on 26th Jul 2023 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 3 Access: 4 Easy parking on Wensleydale Street. Easy walk on clear footpaths.

Majick123 visited on 1st Nov 2011 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 3 Access: 4 Beautiful, site. Great access from Jenkins Road. Well worth a visit.

MartinRS have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 2 Ambience: 3 Access: 4

Wincobank
Wincobank submitted by majick123 : Wincobank, Looking about due South, over the Don Valley (Vote or comment on this photo)
The fort stands on the summit of a steep hill above the River Don near Sheffield. Iit is oval in shape and covers about 10,000 square metres (108,000 ft²), surrounded by a ditch that was originally 1.5–2 m deep and a bank consisting of a rubble core with stone facings held together with timbers. The bank is vitrified, indicating that it was subjected to intense heat at some time in the past - whether this was done purposely by the builders or through accident or attack is unknown.

Material taken from a drainage ditch dug through the north east rampart of the fort in 1979 was radiocarbon dated to c500 BC.

Early historians thought the fort to be Roman in origin. However, it is now thought to have been constructed by the Celtic Brigantes tribe, with some historians suggesting that this fort was part of a 1st century defensive line built by the Brigantes attempting to halt the northward advance of the Roman legions. This defensive line is suggested to have included hill forts at Carl Wark and Scholes Coppice, and an ancient dyke called Roman Rig that runs from the fort northwest to Mexborough.

More at Wikipedia

Page originally by Vicky

Note: Wincobank Chapel open and Iron Age Hillfort guided walk, 16th September 2023
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Wincobank
Wincobank submitted by jfarrar : Wincobank Fort ditch and bank, north-western side (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wincobank
Wincobank submitted by majick123 : Ditch around Wincobank (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wincobank
Wincobank submitted by majick123 : Earthworks at Wincobank (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wincobank
Wincobank submitted by majick123 : Looking South East over the Ciyu of Sheffield (Vote or comment on this photo)

Wincobank
Wincobank submitted by majick123 : Winkobank, Looking over the Don, to the Medowhall Shopping Centre amd the M1 Motorway

Wincobank
Wincobank submitted by majick123 : Panoramic shot (about 270*) from Wincobank, taking in some of the Earth works, and over the Don Valley.

Wincobank
Wincobank submitted by jfarrar : Western View over Sheffield

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 2.3km S 180° Darnall Common* Modern Stone Circle etc (SK378887)
 4.0km NW 322° Ecclesfield* Ancient Cross (SK353941)
 4.5km NNE 22° Scholes Wood* Hillfort (SK395952)
 5.1km N 351° St. Helen's Well (Thorpe Hesley) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK370960)
 5.4km SW 227° Weston Park Museum* Museum (SK3389487292)
 5.7km NNE 29° Roman Ridge (Rotherham)* Misc. Earthwork (SK40499598)
 6.6km W 267° Wadsley Common* Stone Circle (SK312906)
 7.0km NW 321° Robin Hood Well (Yorkshire South)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK334964)
 8.0km SSE 158° Birley Spa Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK40908361)
 8.4km NW 307° Burnt Hill Plantation* Rock Art (SK310960)
 8.9km NW 305° Dragon Well (Wharncliffe) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK305961)
 9.4km SSW 214° Ecclesall Woods* Rock Art (SK326831)
 11.2km W 278° St Nicholas (Bradfield) Ancient Cross (SK26729254)
 11.2km NW 310° Deepcar Mesolithic Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (SK291981)
 11.2km WNW 303° Dragon's Well (Bolsterstone) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK28279697)
 11.6km WSW 247° Ash Cabin Fort* Hillfort (SK271864)
 11.7km WSW 247° Ash Cabin standing stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SK270864)
 11.8km WSW 247° Ash Cabin Flat* Stone Circle (SK2693186251)
 12.0km SW 215° Peace Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK3093881126)
 12.2km WNW 285° Handsome Cross Ancient Cross (SK26019412)
 12.2km WSW 251° Reddicar Clough (Hallam Moor) Cairn (SK26248688)
 12.6km WSW 252° New Hagg (Hallam Moors)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SK2581587058)
 12.9km SW 229° Harrys Stone* Ancient Temple (SK282824)
 12.9km SW 223° Giant's Chair (Yorkshire)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SK291814)
 12.9km SSW 192° St John's Well (Dronfield) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK353783)
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"Wincobank" | Login/Create an Account | 16 News and Comments
  
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Wincobank Chapel and Iron Age Hillfort guided walk, 16th September 2023 by Andy B on Wednesday, 06 September 2023
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Upper Wincobank Chapel, 132 Wincobank Avenue, Wincobank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S5 6BB

Discover the surprising history of Wincobank Chapel and it's remarkable philanthropic founding family, and take a walk through Wincobank Wood to Sheffield's Iron Age Hillfort.

In 1817 Joseph and Elizabeth Read established a chapel in the coach house of Wincobank Hall. In 1841 their daughters, Mary Anne Rawson and Emily Read of Wincobank Hall founded a day school for local children. In 1905 the school building was extended as a new chapel. A fascinating archive of memorabilia, photographs and graphic design material, documents over a century of community activity. For the past two years, work has been underway to refurbish the adjacent chapel house as an additional community facility and heritage centre - come and see the progress. There will be an illustrated history talk in the chapel at 2pm. No booking needed.

Friends of Wincobank Hill are an established campaigning and conservation group who work with Sheffield Rangers to preserve and protect the Ancient Monuments of Wincobank Hillfort and the Roman Ridge, and raise awareness of the important heritage of one of the only English Iron Age Hillforts within a city boundary. The Friends will be at the Chapel with archaeological information and craft activities, and there will be guided walks up to the nearby hillfort at 12.30pm and 3.00pm. The round walk will take approximately one hour.

Saturday 16 September: 1200 - 1600

The Chapel is open for visitors to drop in but please text to book a place on the Walk.
Booking Contact: Penny Rea
Call: 07980 143776

The Chapel site is fully accessible. However, the walk to the hillfort is quite steep over rough paths and unfortunately, is not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Additional Information

Contact for the day:
www.wincobankchapel.org
wincobankhill.chessck.co.uk
More: www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/wincobank-chapel-and-hillfort
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Wincobank Exhibition and Tour, Saturday 14th September by Andy B on Tuesday, 03 September 2013
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Saturday 14th September 2013 10 - 4.00pm
HERITAGE OPEN DAY

Come and find out more about Wincobank Hill and the Victorian Chapel with a fascinating history all of its own.

Archive exhibition, information, time to chat, refreshments
Guided walks to the hill at 11am, 1pm and 3pm -

If you've been before - please come again and help! We need you!
More at
http://www.wincobankhill.btck.co.uk/EventsActivities
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Friends of Wincobank Hill by Andy B on Friday, 29 June 2012
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Friends of Wincobank Hill
http://wincobankhill.btck.co.uk/

A walk up Wincobank hill - Sheffield’s greatest prehistoric monument?
http://sheffieldblog.com/2012/06/08/a-walk-up-wincobank-hill/
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Petition against more development on Wincobank Hill by Andy B on Friday, 29 June 2012
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Kath writes: The Council are about to grant planning permission for more housing to be built on Wincobank Hill, which is a historic hillfort. It is already surrounded by housing as the Street View image above shows very clearly.

The land is designated open space with Greenbelt status. It is within 200m of the Wincobank hillfort which is a scheduled monument. The building works will take place on the line of the Roman Ridge. To build on this site is to strangle access to the hill and will prevent current and future generations opportunities to gain meaningful perspectives on Sheffield's earliest settlement.

It is a unique aspect of Sheffield's heritage which has remained underexploited because of entrenched attitudes to the area and the presumed role of heritage within the community. Whilst most regions have understood the importance of cherishing whatever heritage resources they have Sheffield City Council are in danger of making a decision here which will be an embarrassment and a missed opportunity to better develop the potential of this site not just for a land speculator but for the good of all Sheffield communities.

Please sign the petition here:
http://www.change.org/petitions/sheffield-city-council-refuse-planning-permission-for-houses-on-wincobank-hill
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Petition against more development on Wincobank Hill by Anonymous on Thursday, 13 December 2018
    There's plenty of brown field sites that are sitting ready for developing. Why would we want to build on historic sites, particarly ones we know very little about?
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Wincobank Street View by SteveDut on Thursday, 20 May 2010
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Sneaky one Andy! hahaha
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Wincobank Street View by Andy B on Monday, 05 April 2010
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View Larger Map Behind the houses
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Re: Wincobank by Anonymous on Friday, 22 January 2010

Wincobank is in South Yorkshire, sorry to be pedantic but important to a Yorkshireman!!
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    Re: Wincobank by jfarrar on Sunday, 24 January 2010
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    Odd, because I'm certain I entered SOUTH Yorkshire when I made the entry. I lived in Barnsley at the time, so putting West Yorkshire seems an unlikely mistake.
    [ Reply to This ]

Attracting folk to Wincobank Hill by coldrum on Sunday, 10 January 2010
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IT boasts stunning views of Sheffield, has been a key historical defence point throughout history and now a rallying cry has been made to get more people back up Wincobank Hill.
The site's natural beauty used to attract hundreds of families until problems began with bikers and joy-riders.

But residents are battling back and have reclaimed the attraction with help from Sheffield Council's rangers.

Wincobank Hill dominates the lower Don Valley and flint tools believed to have been used by hunter-gathers as early as 8,000 BC have been found there.

At the top are the foundations of an ancient hill fort which experts date to around 500 BC and the hill has been used as a key vantage point throughout history.

In 1904 it was given to the people of Sheffield by the Duke of Norfolk as a recreation ground and last year a group of residents decided to team up to get more visitors enjoying the hill.

One of the aims of Friends of Wincobank Hill is to get more school groups out and about discovering what the site has to offer both in terms of nature and history.

They also hold regular copsing, litter picking, path clearing, identifying wildlife and general clean up events.

On Saturday mornings some younger children even try their hand at building dens.

There are also living history events in the pipeline for next year when volunteers will bring the area's past to life.

Treasurer Penny Rea said the group wanted to see as many people as possible making the most of Wincobank Hill.

"The paths are a lot better to walk on now and it feels much safer so we have a lot more families coming up," she said.

"It is amazing how many people don't know the site is here but it is a really important historic site as it has remained untouched."

Adam Goodall, of Sheffield Parks & Countryside Team, has already carried out a lot of work there and says future plans include opening up the site more so people can see the views and the boundary of the Iron Age hill fort.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Attracting-folk-to-Wincobank-Hill.5877585.jp
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Re: Wincobank by coldrum on Tuesday, 24 March 2009
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Pastscape details:

http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=314855
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Re: Wincobank by Anonymous on Friday, 23 January 2009
I live fairly close to Wincobank in Pitsmoor - its a couple of miles hike up there and always worth the effort! I have to say I have some thoughts of my own about the site's significance, becoming something of an eccentric antiquarian since finishing my archaeology degree and having too much time on my hands! My partner and I took a walk up to the Hillfort a few years back and he identified what looked like stepped banks on the side that slopes down sharply (we didn't have a compass so I couldn't say which side exactly). It imdediately reminded me of Glastonbury Tor and I've wondered ever since if this site was much more than simply a 'Hillfort'...

Wincobank is supposed to have yeilded evidence of much earlier use, (as far back as the Mesolithic) and it's position on the confluence of FIVE rivers gives it high likelyhood that it was once a sacred hill like Glastonbury or Silbury. Consider the extraordinary position of this hill, with it's streams and rivers near by (do please read Michael Dame's 'The Silbury treasure' for an original and detailed analysis of sacred Goddess Hills) Surely 'Wyn-coed' was venerated land a long time ago, and this might explain the pull it exerts on people still (I do my own land-healing work up there from time to time:-) an American freind of mine, who came to stay with us a couple of years back was struck dumb by the ancient energy she felt around Wincobank - to her as much as any Native American site! The place has a great aura of peace about it and it may have been a very important sacred site in times long before the Iron Age.

Just my personal theory:-)
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Wincobank by Anonymous on Sunday, 04 May 2008
It has been scheduled by English Heritage
(monument 13375, grid SK37779099)
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Re: Wincobank by Anonymous on Tuesday, 23 October 2007
I visited here last year as part of my research for my undergraduate dissertation and was also amazed to discover a hill fort so close to home. Hill forts in this part of the country are rare and unfortunately underresearched. It is clear why people in the Iron Age would have chosen this. It has amazing views all sides and visiting Weston Park hospital, it is clearly visible from the terrace there. Enemies could be seen from miles away! This site needs to be protected from any further damage and it definitely needs signs. Im not sure if it is scheduled and if it isn't, its a crime.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Wincobank by Anonymous on Friday, 06 April 2007
When I discovered Wincobank hill when I moved to this part of Sheffield in1997, I was amazed to find such a place nestled between the estates and the don valley below. It has provided me with continuous inspiration and awe ever since. What an underated and forgotten gem in the mythical landscape of this country? Only later did I discover the historical significance. Until that point only on many walks over its grand summit and amidst its fine woodlands did I sense something of the former importance of the site. Working all over sheffield i often spy a view of the hill in the distance, catching in a different angle , but always the majesty of its natural shape rising above the city. A geologist in a former life I have marvelled at its structure, and continue a personal quest to enlighten its lost glory through study of its recorded archaeology and physical semblence. Also a singer song-writer, it has inspired me in my work, the serenity and connection i gained from lonely walks up there absorbed into creativity. So glad to find so much on the net about my favourite place.
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Re: Wincobank by jfarrar on Wednesday, 14 March 2007
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Built by the Brigantes, the fort is an oval with a, now discontinuous, bank and ditch. In excavations, it was shown the bank shows signs of vitrification which indicates intense heat, although how this happened is unknown.

The fort had been reinforced to try and block the Roman advance northwards. It is likely that the fort was eventually overrun in about 75CE when three divisions commanded by Petilius Cerialis and Julius Agricola outflanked the southern defences of the Brigantes by moving to the east of Doncaster and then back down via York.

An anti-aircraft gun was stationed inside the inner south rampart during the war.

The fort's interior is scrubby and paths have been grooved by motorbikes. However, the most striking thing is the stunning panoramic view afforded on all sides.

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