AngieLake writes: Visited 5th May 2006 and picked up the 'Ham Hill Herald', a guide to the Ham Hill Country Park, from the Rangers' centre. As usual, I did this after my visit, which meant I missed out on the best view of the Iron Age ramparts! However, I did see the amazing modern circle, and noticed interesting strata showing underlying levels of bank construction in the current quarry near the circle. If the pic comes out well I'll post it here. Also took a pic of some of the remaining banks from the war memorial.
Meanwhile, here's an excerpt about the history of the place:
A Brief History of Ham Hill
Introduction.
Ham Hill has a long and fascinating past. It was prehistoric man who first recognised the advantages of settling on top of this raised hamstone outcrop. Little has survived the intervening 4000 years, but just enough has remained to let us know they were here.
Intensive occupation on the hill starts in the Iron Age. Roundhouses were built, fields created and the settlement flourished. Trading links were wide and the 200 acre size of Hamdon Hillfort testifies to the powers it held in the South West. Huge treeless ramparts, with palisades and a hamstone scree were meant to deter would be invaders. All went well until the first century A.D. when a fighting force to conquer all others invaded England. Under Vespasian's command, Hamdon Hillfort succumbed to Roman occupation.
Earliest Settlers
Ham Hill has been used by man since Stone Age times, and flint tools have been found here. Thousands of years ago the surrounding area was an inlet of the sea. The South Somerset Moors which can be seen northwards from the hill are still a flood plain for the local rivers (being only a few metres above sea level). In ancient times, the hill was not only a natural choice for a defensible position, but would have been one of the few areas locally which remained dry throughout the year.
In Stone Age times the hill, especially the northern spur, would
probably have been a focus point for people and a point of navigation through the surrounding countryside of wet areas and woods or forests. With the addition of the war memorial, the hill remains a prominent landmark for travellers along the busy A303.
Later Communities
An Iron Age tribe made the hill their main northern fort 'capital'
about 2000 years ago. It is these people who are generally credited with constructing the earth ditches and ramparts around the hill to form what is known as a hillfort. The remains of these ramparts can still be seen today, although it must be remembered that over the centuries soil has slumped down the hillside, and the ramparts and ditches are considerably gentler and lower than when they were originally constructed.
In this area the Iron Age people would have belonged to a tribe called the 'Durotriges', and within the area in which they ruled are known to be around forty hillforts of similar construction to Ham Hill. From its huge size, Ham Hill was obviously an important stronghold and may well have controlled the upper reaches of the Parrett Valley. This important settlement needed protection. Inner ramparts were the main defence, with deep ditches and steep banks being created as an obstacle to oncoming attackers who found it difficult, probably almost impossible to get a foothold whilst under attack from sling stones and other airborne 'missiles'. Competent 'slingers' could often 'see to a
victim' at a distance of 60 metres (200 feet). The hillfort must have been an awesome sight to attackers. First they would have to encounter the lower ramparts, then the upper ramparts under a hail of airborne missiles from above, not to mention trying to climb over the bank defences, or batter and burn their way through the huge entrance gates.
Roman Invaders
The invading Romans took over the hillfort around AD 43, and used the hill for policing the area. Roman legions built the nearby Fosse Way, better known today as the A303/A37 which can be seen from the war memorial. [To the north]. The Romans then built their local centre at Ilchester. They were generally acknowledged as being the first people to quarry hamstone. A coffin made of hamstone can be seen in Dorchester Museum, and is widely accepted by historians as evidence of quarrying by the Romans."
The leaflet (a really good A5 magazine-style 34-pager published by South Somerset District Council) goes on to describe the likely appearance of the hillfort and of the tribes who inhabited it. I noticed that amongst things brought in through trade by the inhabitants were slingstones from Chesil Beach. There is much more information on the history and geology, and quarrying, wildlife, flora and fauna, etc.
It is easy to reach the summit of this hill. I drove up from the village of Stoke sub Hamdon, and there was plenty of space for
parking. I didn't go as far as the pub, but apparently there's a good view of the embankments from there.
Whilst looking at the modern circle I met a Ranger who told me that a nearby old quarry face by the path had been designated a place of special scientific interest because of its ancient layers of seabed material.
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road