<< Our Photo Pages >> Ravensburgh Castle - Hillfort in England in Hertfordshire

Submitted by vicky on Tuesday, 03 December 2002  Page Views: 50665

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Ravensburgh Castle
Country: England County: Hertfordshire Type: Hillfort

Map Ref: TL099295  Landranger Map Number: 166
Latitude: 51.953141N  Longitude: 0.402214W
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.
 no data 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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Ravensburgh Castle
Ravensburgh Castle submitted by Andy B : Ravensburgh Castle Hill fort The castle itself is on private land this is the view of it taken from public land. Copyright Martin and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence (Vote or comment on this photo)
Contour Hillfort in Hertfordshire

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Ravensburgh Castle
Ravensburgh Castle submitted by AngieLake : An old plan of Ravensburgh Castle, found online. (Vote or comment on this photo)

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Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
TL0929 : Ravensburgh Castle Hill fort by Robert Matin
by Robert Matin
©2009(licence)
TL0929 : Looking over the wheat towards Ravensburgh Castle (fort) by Philip Jeffrey
by Philip Jeffrey
©2022(licence)
TL1029 : Plantations by Richard Thomas
by Richard Thomas
©2006(licence)
TL0929 : Climbing up the bridleway by Philip Jeffrey
by Philip Jeffrey
©2022(licence)
TL0929 : Bridleway to Barton Hills by Philip Jeffrey
by Philip Jeffrey
©2022(licence)

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"Ravensburgh Castle" | Login/Create an Account | 28 News and Comments
  
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Book review: The Ravens by James Dyer by Andy B on Monday, 31 July 2017
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Kim Biddulph writes: The Ravens is a children’s book set in the late Iron Age, in fact in 54 BC, the year of Caesar’s second invasion of Britain, similar to Adventure on the Knolls which we reviewed earlier (and published by the same publisher). It even starts with a modern boy dreaming about what went on in an ancient hillfort. Where it differs, though, is in the quality of writing and research. It was written by James Dyer, an archaeologist with a specialism in Iron Age hillforts.

The modern boy is called Adam and he is a really good runner. He is training with a rival, a boy called David Azlett and stops on the Mound overlooking Ravensburgh hillfort. The Iron Age story then begins in the next chapter, leaving you wondering whether it’s all in Adam’s head or not.

The book is filled with amazing attention to detail, such as the importance Iron Age Britons attached to their appearance, sacrifices made to Iron Age gods and accounts of the campaign from Caesar’s perspective as well as the Britons’. One reference to the now discredited Icknield Way can be forgiven; the book was written in 1990.

More at
http://www.schoolsprehistory.co.uk/2015/02/04/book-review-the-ravens-by-james-dyer/

She goes on to say

What’s particularly lovely about studying this book is that the author also surveyed and excavated at Ravensburgh, so you can look up the work he did and compare it to what he wrote in the novel. This PDF from the Chilterns AONB in which Ravensburgh sits is quite useful
http://www.chilternsaonb.org/uploads/files/AboutTheChilterns/HistoricEnvironment/Dr_Ian_Brown-Ravensburgh_Castle-new_surveys_new_interpretations.pdf

or there is a quick summary from North Hertfordshire Archaeological Society: Excavation, 1964

In 1964, a trench was dug across the ramparts of Ravensburgh Castle, a well preserved Iron Age hillfort in Hexton. The Society worked with James Dyer, a lecturer at Putteridgebury College of Education, and his students. This trench established that there were four separate phases of construction, ranging from the Early to Late Iron Age. Later excavations indicated that, unlike Wilbury, the hillfort had still been occupied at the time of the Roman Conquest in AD 43. James Dyer has suggested that it may have been the base of Cassivellaunus, the king defeated by Julius Caesar in 54 BC; Ravensburgh does not really match Caesar’s description of the base, which more closely fits the situation at Baldock.

http://www.nharchsoc.org/?page_id=340
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Book review: The Ravensburgh Castle by suzannewozere2 on Friday, 05 January 2018
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    Has anyone been there recently?
    Do you still have to ask permission if so who from and where?
    Are unescorted visits allowed?
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Book review: The Ravensburgh Castle by Runemage on Saturday, 06 January 2018
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      I'd assume as it's still a working Estate then permission will be needed for your own safety. Try contacting the Estate Office to ask, these details are from 2014 but I'd doubt they will have changed for such a big concern.

      Estate Office, Hexton Manor Farm, Hexton SG5 3HX. Tel: 01582 883635

      If you find better contact details then please let us know.
      [ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by AngieLake on Monday, 30 November 2015
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A very useful link, here:
http://www.chilternsaonb.org/uploads/files/AboutTheChilterns/HistoricEnvironment/Dr_Ian_Brown-Ravensburgh_Castle-new_surveys_new_interpretations.pdf
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by AngieLake on Monday, 30 November 2015
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In his excellently atmospheric book about walking the Icknield Way ('The Green Road into the Trees' - first published in 2012, paperback 2013.), Hugh Thomson writes:

"Ravensburgh Castle is one of the most important and significant of all the Iron Age hill-forts, the largest in eastern England. Moreover, it's thought to be where the British mounted a heroic resistance to Caesar when he invaded.

Just to get an idea of the scale of the place: the perimeter wall is a kilometre long; it encloses eight hectares; when partially excavated in the 1960s, a thousand postholes were found, along with a rich haul of late Iron Age jewellery, like La Tene brooches.

You would have thought that it would be a national monument, lovingly tended and signposted from afar. But Ravensburgh, far from being treasured, is not even accessible to the public, let alone cared for."
[This doesn't seem to ring true after reading our report from 'Anonymous' on 31 May 2013.]
"It lies on private land, just to the north of the Icknield Way, covered in scrubby woodland and used as a pheasant shoot."
"............."
[He talks about fallen trees] "In the past, when some of these trees had fallen, Iron Age artefacts had been found entangled in the roots."

"James Dyer, the archaeologist who led the partial excavations in the 1960s and 1970s, made the plausible suggestion, from the scale of the fortifications and the artefacts found, that it was the base from which the Catuvellauni led the British resistance against Julius Caesar's invasion. If so, it was well chosen. Even covered by trees and at night, I could see how precipitous the slope was on the southern side, and how the fort dominated the approaches to the north and west.

"Julius Caesar, writing in his customary third person, left a description that fitted well:

"The oppidum of Casivellaunus, which was protected by woods and marshes, was not far off, and a considerable number of men and of cattle had assembled in it. The Britons apply the name of oppidum to any woodland spot, difficult of access and fortified with a rampart and trench, to which they are in the habit of resorting in order to escape a hostile raid. Caesar marched to the spot indicated with his legions, and found the place had a great natural strength and well fortified: nevertheless he proceeded to assault it on two sides. The enemy stood their ground a short time, but could not sustain the onset of our infantry and fled precipitately from another part of the oppidum.
(Caesar, Commentari de Bello Gallico)"

[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Saturday, 03 January 2015
Today I wanted to take a look at this hill fort. I used my GPS to find it exactly. Approaching from the bridlepath from the west it is quite distinct, but sadly covered in woods, which is pheasant ''farming'' and shooting business these days. The entire fort it a big wooded area and the surrounding flatter ground is farmed, so with the woods you can squint and imagine what it must have looked like two millenium ago. The banks and levels are quite visible, a shame there is no access at all. It was very quiet. Watch out for the electric fences to keep the foxes out from taking the baby pheasants from the bird pens.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Monday, 29 December 2014
Is there a contact number to get access to Ravensburgh castle?
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Runemage on Tuesday, 30 December 2014
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    Try this which I found via Google, please let us know if you're successful or not.
    Helen Rose Estate Office, Hexton Manor Farm, Hexton SG5 3HX. Tel: 01582 883635
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Friday, 31 May 2013
Sorry guys, this post will be quite long.

My partner and I decided to visit Ravensburgh Castle as we've been to Deacon Hill and the Sharpenhoe Clappers before. We visited the Megalithic Portal hoping for some guidance as to how to visit. I'm ever so glad we did.

As per instructions, when we got to Hexton, we searched for the manor estate office to ask permission to visit. Instead, I found a man whom I assume is the homicidal gamekeeper. On this occasion I am happy to report that he was nothing of the sort. When I asked about the office, he pointed toward a Jeep coming up the long winding drive. "That's the governor," he said. "You can ask him."

With a degree of trepidation I approached the Jeep and the gentleman inside rolled down his window. After a polite greeting, he listened to my request for permission to visit the site. "Funny you should ask about that today," he said. "I'm meeting some people from English Heritage to show them around. You can come if you like." And so an hour later we rocked up to the front of a huge 18th century manor house, where we found the current owner of the pile talking to an archeologist from Oxford. Introductions, and then he nipped into his country pile and came back with a beautiful broach that had been found on the Ravensburgh site--a broach from circa 300 BC!!!!!!!!! Three inches from my face! It was amazing. The craftsmanship was incredible, and it was in wonderful nick, very similar to modern safety pins.

We were joined shortly by two others whose names now escape me, but who were also archeologist and geophysicist. Actually, they are the reason I wanted to write. There seems to be the mistaken belief that a.) it's wrong that this monument should be on private land and b.) that it's just sitting there going to ruin. More on those later.

We approached the site on the private road, and after a long, steep climb, found ourselves scrambling through undergrowth to the edge of the embankment. We traced it on the east side, then around, walking all the time at the very ridge of the fort. Below us, we were told, on level break in the slope, would have been a wooden palisade structure surrounding the site. As we continued along the ridge, the academics with us pointed out where the entrance to the site would have been, although we couldn't really tell now. We continued around the perimeter, listening intently to the plans for the site.

At this point, I would like to say that any fears that the site is just going to waste are unfounded. The owner seems to understand how important the place is, and he called in the academics in order to start a conservation project. There was a discussion with the geophysicist (I think his name was Dave Kinney or something like that) about how best to deal with the scrub so that it wouldn't interfere with geophys readings. It was he who pointed out that the greatest threat to sites like this is actually the trees; apparently, the shallow root systems don't support the trees well enough and they fall over, disturbing the line of the perimeter and also any archeology below. He gave the example of Devil's Dyke, which he says has been destroyed by falling trees upheaving the ground. On the other hand, apparently the land owner also received some bad advice from English Heritage a few decades ago to cut down some trees which had acted as a wind break, and the same year a massive storm (1990, I think he said) blew over many of the trees within the Ravensburgh site. SO trees help as well as hinder.

I think that's about it. I'd only like to add that the land owner was a warm, friendly man who is well aware that the site is worthy of great stewardship, and takes the responsibility very seriously. The site isn't *completely* out of the reach of the public; every year between February and April they get together groups who wish to see it and guide them up there. I don't know if it would be in depth or just along the perimeter, but it's still obvious that they are

Read the rest of this post...
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Re: Ravensburgh Castle by angieweekender on Sunday, 28 August 2011
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yes some years ago now ! beautful place but access is actually difficult as we took a friend who was partially disabled and the going was tough for him so you have to be fit as there is a fairly long walk! One of the ramparts is absolutely sheer and so dramatic -it is worth the effort to see it!
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Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Runemage on Sunday, 14 August 2011
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http://www.ramblers.org.uk/freedom/righttoroam/questionsanswer
"The right of access provided under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW) gives the public access to 936,000 hectares of mapped open uncultivated countryside. The CRoW Act is sometimes called the "Right to Roam". However, this term can be misleading as CRoW does not provide a right to walk everywhere at all times.
You can find out where the right of access applies by getting your hands on a new OS Explorer Map. These have all been OS Explorer access symbol updated and show the new access land."

It would depend whether this site is included in one of the designated mapped areas shown on the OS Explorer Map.
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Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Wednesday, 27 October 2010
This is private land and you have all trespassed if you have been to Ravensburgh Castle as there is no public access. People who think that they have a right to walk wherever they want do not understand the law.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Friday, 04 February 2011
    +
    I'm sure they understand the law, They just think it is an outrage that a site of such historical interest should be in the hands of some plutocrat an guarded against the harmless curiosity of decent people by a lackey with a shot gun and a mindlessly murderous intent
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Sunday, 22 March 2009
We visited this site today, no sign of the homicidal gamekeeper!

Very large site, well preserved rampart. Definetally should not be private land.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Wednesday, 18 March 2009
The site is heavily wooded and the fort/castle earthworks quite indistinct to the layman like me.

However the countryside it is in is quite magical.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Tuesday, 07 October 2008
at 4.30am in the summer there are pheasants in the wood and the gamekeeper is about. so please donot visit this site without permission.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Monday, 06 August 2007
visited site a few years ago with my kids, well worth a look. someone should do a dig.
we walk up from barton spring, through a fantastic natrual amphitheatre and over a crest to the castle. thers a fantastic view to the right as you walk over the crest.
theres a pub down the road called the raven, you will need refreshing after the walk.
also some books(fiction) use the castle as a basis for there story.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Wednesday, 18 July 2007
It is possible to visit the site - but you must ask permission from Hexton Manor first. Unauthorised visitors risk getting shot if they are disguised as a pheasant.

A perfect time to visit the site in the summer is at 4.30a.m. during the summer when the sun is rising, and there are no homocidal gamekeepers hanging around.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Friday, 18 August 2006
You are not allowed to visit this site or the roaring meg as the game kepper is shotting the ravens and crows of ravensbourgh and you could get shot going in there I always get asked to leave there they breed and shot pheasents in the hill fort.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Saturday, 08 April 2006
This site should be investigated further some one like Time Team
would be apropiate
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Thursday, 02 August 2007
    No time team ,tv people will crap up this sacred place,like wood henge.Theres peace there,This site is to importent,to mess up. If this site is to be dug up it should take time not time team.The castle may have so much to tell as about its place in uk history.The true kings of this land were from there.The castle should be left till the true king rises from wayting hill or the technolgy is there to see under ground like xray.Also the castle at the moment is not well known once its well known the robers will loot it, the country will lose out .
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Sunday, 19 June 2005
James Dyer believes this could be the possible site of the belgic opidium, later to be held by the danes. The Hillfort is on land now owned privately and is fenced off from the public. Surrounded by chariot tracks that run around the hill and evidence of wooden stakes either side of the bank and ditches, also near by the ancient sacred spring known as the burr well.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Tuesday, 17 May 2005
This hillfort must have been a very important place possible the home of cassivaunus king of the tribes of briton
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Monday, 11 April 2005
a very exciting hillfort .the hills around are very steep and dramatic.you can see the main entrance clearly.worth a visit.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Ravensburgh Castle by Anonymous on Sunday, 31 October 2004
This site is forested and in the middle of farmland close to the Barton Hills nature reserve.
There is no clearly marked path, access is through farmland which may not be a right of way.
If you do visit, you will find that the structure of the fort is quite well preserved. The outside wall and the road outside the wall is clearly observable.


Cathy White
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