Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland

EN0453 Brent Knoll, Somerset (Brent Knoll)

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

Satellite Imagery

Satellite Imagery

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HER:  Somerset 11113 (None)

NMR:  ST 35 SW 1 (192590)

SM:  1008248

NGR:  ST341509

X:  334100  Y:  150900  (OSGB36)

Summary

Large contour hillfort located on the flat top of Brent Knoll, an island hill in the surrounding levels of Sedgemoor, overlooking large areas to the Bristol Channel to the N. On 1st Ed OS map (1885-1900). Low rampart of c. 1m with internal quarry ditch enclose the hill, with external face falling steeply by c. 2m to step 2.75m wide beyond which falls to wider outer terrace c. 4-6m wide which probably represents remains of an outer ditch plus counterscarp bank. The land then falls to the base of the slope. No outer terrace to N, possibly suggesting unfinished. Rampart of stone or rubble construction, and between two terraces rough stone facing and line of cut stones visible. 35m of inner rampart to W levelled or tumbled. E entrance with narrow original hollow way up slope from below, reused later as quarry track into fort. Later hollow way from field below crosses this. Slight inturns to entrance and on outer side possible guard chambers, one D-shaped 12m by 8m and one crescent-shaped 11m by 8m. To N end another gap could be original and associated with bastians and additional rampart possibly guarding this N approach. Medieval quarrying affected interior but area of surface not affected to N and SW. The quarry hollows to the W and NE inside rampart are original. 'Antique' part excavations in 19th century by Rev Skinner of dark occupation soil to W provided evidence of Roman activity with building debris, coins, Samian and other sherds, charcoal and human remains. 18th/19th century reference to Roman coin hoard of Severus and Trajan and other Roman artefacts. Later other Iron Age and Romano-British pottery found.

Status

Citizen Science:  

Reliability of Data:  Confirmed

Reliability of Interpretation:  Confirmed

Location

X:  -327915  Y:  6666238  (EPSG: 3857)

Longitude:  -2.945708454676244  Latitude:  51.25338868723968  (EPSG:4326)

Country:  England

Current County or Unitary Authority:  Somerset

Historic County:  Somerset

Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland:  East Brent

Monument Condition

Damaged by medieval quarrying in interior and WWII Home Guard slit trenches with revetment, gun emplacement and other activity. Jubilee stone and flag mast.

Condition:
Extant  
Cropmark  
Likely Destroyed  

Land Use

Medieval quarrying in interior and WWII Home Guard slit trenches with revetment, gun emplacement and other activity. Jubilee stone and flag mast.

Current Use:
Woodland  
Commercial Forestry Plantation  
Parkland  
Pasture (Grazing)  
Arable  
Scrub/Bracken  
Bare Outcrop  
Heather/Moorland  
Heath  
Built-up  
Coastal Grassland  
Other  

Landscape

Hillfort Type

Large contour hillfort located on flat top of Brent Knoll, an island hill in the surrounding levels of Sedgemoor, overlooking large areas to the Bristol Channel to the N.

Type:
Contour Fort  
Partial Contour Fort  
Promontory Fort  
Hillslope Fort  
Level Terrain Fort  
Marsh Fort  
Multiple Enclosure Fort  

Topographic Position

Position:
Hilltop  
Coastal Promontory  
Inland Promontory  
Valley Bottom  
Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop  
Ridge  
Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp  
Hillslope  
Lowland  
Spur  

Dominant Topographic Feature:  Brent Knoll summit.

Aspect:
North  
Northeast  
East  
Southeast  
South  
Southwest  
West  
Northwest  
Level  

Altitude:  139.0m

Boundary

N/A


Dating Evidence

'Antique' part excavations in 19th century by Rev Skinner of dark occupation soil to W provided evidence of Roman activity with building debris, coins, Samian and other sherds, charcoal and human remains. 18th/19th century reference to Roman coin hoard of Severus and Trajan and other Roman artefacts. Later other Iron and and Romano-British pottery found.

Reliability:  C - Low

Principal Activity:
Pre 1200BC  
1200BC - 800BC  
800BC - 400BC  
400BC - AD50  
AD50 - AD400  
AD400 - AD 800  
Post AD800  
Unknown  

Other Activity:
Pre Hillfort:   None
Post Hillfort:   None

Evidence:
Artefactual:   Iron Age, Romano-British and Roman pottery and other artefacts.
Other:   Medieval quarrying and WWII Home Guard activity.

Investigation History

In Aubrey's Monumenta Britannica (1665-1693). On 1st Ed OS map (1885-1900). 19th century excavation by Rev J. Skinner. Surface examination and site search - details unknown. Measured survey - Defence of Britain Project. Aerial and geophysical surveys. Small post hole 2004.

Investigations:
Other (1972):   Surface examination and site search - details unknown.
Geophysical Survey (2004):   S. and S . Driscoll.
Excavation (2004):   Post hole re Easter crosses.
1st Identified Written Reference (None):   None
1st Identified Map Depiction (None):   1st Ed OS
Other (None):   RCAHME Aerial Photograph Primary Record Project.
Other (None):   Measured survey - Defence of Britain Project.
Excavation (None):   Rev J. Skinner

Interior Features

19th century excavation of dark occupation layer to W side of fort. RCAHME aerial surveys 1992-96- details not determined. 2004 geophysical surveys by S. Driscoll and S. Driscoll - details not determined. Evidence of Roman activity with building debris, coins, Samian and other sherds, charcoal and human remains. 18th/19th century reference to Roman coin hoard of Severus and Trajan and other Roman artefacts. Flint arrowhead. Later other Iron Age and and Romano-British pottery found. Three small post holes 2004 produced fragments of abraded Roman pottery, small fragments of bone, brick and burnt limestone.

Water Source

None

Source:
None  
Spring  
Stream  
Pool  
Flush  
Well  
Other  

Surface

None

Interior Features (Surface):
No Known Features  
Round Stone Structures  
Rectangular Stone Structures  
Curvilinear Platforms  
Other Roundhouse Evidence  
Pits  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  

Excavation

19th century excavation of dark occupation layer to W side of fort.

Interior Features (Excavation):
No Known Excavation  
Pits  
Postholes  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Roads/Tracks  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  
Nothing Found  

Geophysics

2004 geophysical surveys by S. Driscoll and S. Driscoll - details not determined.

Interior Features (Geophysics):
No Known Geophysics  
Pits  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Roads/Tracks  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  
Nothing Found  

Finds

Evidence of Roman activity with building debris, coins, Samian and other sherds, charcoal and human remains. 18th/19th century reference to Roman coin hoard of Severus and Trajan and other Roman artefacts. Flint arrowhead. Later other Iron and and Romano-British pottery found. Three small post holes 2004 produced fragments of abraded Roman pottery, small fragments of bone, brick and burnt limestone.

Interior (Finds):
No Known Finds  
Pottery  
Metal  
Metalworking  
Human Bones  
Animal Bones  
Lithics  
Environmental  
Other  

Aerial

RCAHME aerial surveys 1992-96- details not determined.

Interior Features (Aerial):
APs Not Checked  
None  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Pits  
Postholes  
Roads/Tracks  
Other  

Entrances

E entrance with narrow original hollow way up slope from below, reused later as a quarry track into fort. Later hollow way from field below crosses this. Slight inturns to entrance and on outer side possible guard chambers, one D-shaped 12m by 8m and one crescent-shaped 11m by 8m. To N end another gap could be original and associated with bastians and additional rampart possibly guarding this N approach.

Total Number of Breaks Through Ramparts:  
2:   None

Number of Possible Original Entrances:  
2:   None

Guard Chambers:  

Chevaux de Frise:  

Entrances:
1. Hollow Way (East):   Possible guard chambers.
1. Recesses/Guard Chambers (East):   Possible guard chambers, one D-shaped 12m by 8m and one crescent-shaped 11m by 8m.
1. In-turned (East):   Slight inturns.
2. Simple Gap (North):   Possible embellishments below.
2. Outworks (North):   Associated with bastians and additional rampart possibly guarding this N approach.

Enclosing Works

Low rampart of c. 1m with internal quarry ditch enclose the hill, with the external face falling steeply by c. 2m to step 2.75m wide beyond which falls to wider outer terrace c. 4-6m wide which probably represents the remains of an outer ditch plus counterscarp bank. The land then falls to the base of the slope. There is no outer terrace to the N, possibly suggesting unfinished. Rampart of stone or rubble construction, and between two terraces rough stone facing and line of cut stones visible. 35m of inner rampart to W levelled or tumbled.

Enclosed Area:
Area 1:   2.1ha.
Total:   2.1ha.

Total Footprint Area:  Noneha.

Ramparts

None

Multi-period Enclosure System:
✗   None

Ramparts Form a Continuous Circuit:
✓   None

Number of Ramparts:  
NE Quadrant:   1
SE Quadrant:   1
SW Quadrant:   1
NW Quadrant:   1
Total:   1

Morphology

Current Morphology:
Partial Univallate  
Univallate  
Partial Bivallate  
Bivallate  
Partial Multivallate  
Multivallate  
Unknown  

Detailed Morphology:
Partial Univallate  
Univallate  
Partial Bivallate  
Bivallate  
Partial Multivallate  
Multivallate  

Surface Evidence

None

Enclosing Works (Surface):
None  
Earthen Bank  
Stone Wall  
Rubble  
Wall-walk  
Evidence of Timber  
Vitrification  
Other Burning  
Palisade  
Counter Scarp Bank  
Berm  
Unfinished  
Other  

Excavated Evidence

None

Enclosing Works (Excavation):
None  
Earthen Bank  
Stone Wall  
Murus Duplex  
Timber-framed  
Timber-laced  
Vitrification  
Other Burning  
Palisade  
Counter Scarp Bank  
Berm  
Unfinished  
No Known Excavation  
Other  

Other

Gang Working:
✗   None

Ditches:
✓   Wider outer terrace c. 4-6m wide downslope probably represents the remains of an outer ditch plus counterscarp bank.

Number of Ditches:  1

Annex:
✗   None

References

Burrow, E.J. 1924. Ancient earthworks and camps of Somerset, Cheltenham: E.J. Burrow, 66-67.

Page, W. (ed) 1911. The Victoria County History of the County of Somerset, 2, 483, London: St Catherine Press.



Terms of Use

This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and should be cited as:

Lock, Gary and Ralston, Ian. 2024. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk


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