We now come to another strongly fortified eminence called SCRATCHBURY, a name derived probably from Crech, or Crechen, signifying a hill, or summit. This fine came differs very materially from Battlesbury in the formation of its ramparts, which consist chiefly of one high vallum and a deep foss; but where the access is easier, there is another slight rampart. It appears to have had three entrances: the principal one to the south-east is approached by a narrow neck of land called Barbury: another entrance lies nearly east, and the third faces Middleton farm and Battlesbury camp. Near the first of these, a broken flint celt, with British and Roman pottery were dug up; and a stone celt, with pottery and animal bones, was found by Mr. Cunnington amongst some loose earth and stones which had been recently excavated. These circumstances prove the very high antiquity of this camp, and bespeak a British origin. Its area exceeds forty acres: the circuit of the outer rampart is one mile eighty-six yards, and the greatest height of it is sixty-six feet.

But this camp is rendered particularly interesting by several tumuli, and another earthen work within its area. This latter inclines to a circular form, and occupies the apex of the hill; but the whole of the area having been formerly in tillage, its shape has been much mutilated. On the north-west side, which is the most perfect, there is some appearance of an entrance; the opposite side has been much defaced by the plough. Within this work is a large circular barrow, No. 1, but not above three feet in elevation. It contained an interment of burned bones, with which were deposited a small lance head of brass, a large amber ring, above fifty beads of the same material, a piece of brass two or three inches long, resembling a screw, and another bit of twisted brass, all of which are preserved in the museum of Miss Benet at Norton-house. Close to the above interment was a pile of ashes intermixed with fragments of burned bones. No. 2 contained within a cist in the chalk, an interment of burned bones, and some articles of bone, two of which were about two inches long, and flat, and the third was either a pin or arrow head, neatly polished to a very sharp point. No. 3 was unproductive, as well as the very small barrow No. 4. No. 5 contained a few burned bones at a considerable distance from the centre. No. 6 was also unproductive. No. 7 is a large barrow nearly one hundred feed in diameter, and twelve feet and a half in elevation, and is a very conspicuous object from the turnpike road below. Much labour and time were employed upon this tumulus, but without success, as the interment was not found. The various fragments of stag’s horns, teeth of wild boar, charcoal, as well as an immense quantity of stones which had undergone the action of fire, seem to indicate this to have been a sepulchral barrow, in which the ceremony of cremation had been performed.