LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
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HER: Dorset MDO5994 (None)
NMR: ST 90 SE 45 (209560)
SM: 1002679
NGR: ST964030
X: 396414 Y: 102992 (OSGB36)
Commanding, multivallate, contour hillfort, sited in prominent position on a chalk knoll and commanding wide views in all directions. Above River Stour SE-NW and on its interfluve with the River Allen. Moderate surrounding slopes. Round and domed site of c. 6.9ha. Defined by two, massive, concentric ramparts and ditches, with lesser outer rampart and ditch, surrounding knoll. Possibly, at least, two phased construction, the outer circuit less imposing and may be later and Romano-British date in origin, but unclear. Wide berm, averaging 15m across, separates outer defence from inner two, averaging c. 15m across, except where swings out to enclose a barbican formed by the middle rampart outside the WNW entrance. Interesting entrances on ENE and WNW, both having long passageways through all three circuits. Former has a simple, oblique and curving, passageway through the ramparts, that through the inner bank having inturned ends. The WNW is more complex. Access through the barbican was originally by means of a gap at SW corner, now considered modern, as is the break in the centre of its W side giving a direct approach to the inturned gap through the inner rampart. Visited by Colt Hoare 1822. Sited on Roman crossroads close to site, with adjacent Romano-British settlement on SW, identified with Vindocladia of the Antonine Itinerary, and also with Mons Badonicus of Gildas. Possible later activity by army under Ethelwold, c. AD 899, and by the `Clubmen' 1645. Group of prominent barrows close to site on NW. Geophysics and small-scale trench excavations from 1965 to 2005 found evidence of range of interior features, including possible Bronze Age ring ditches, Iron Age occupation and possible Roman shrine or temple within walled enclosure. Finds included early Neolithic flint scatter on summit and and late Iron Age pottery associated with two roundhouse sites as well as evidence of reoccupation of hillfort in 5th and 6th century AD. Spring in interior. Site largely tree covered, 'Badbury Clump', in interior with grassy banks with some scrub. Summit already planted when Colt Hoare visited site 1822. Fine condition and well-managed National Trust site. On 1st Ed. OS map (1888). Undated.
Citizen Science: ✗
Reliability of Data: Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation: Confirmed
X: -228461 Y: 6590642 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -2.052303211881051 Latitude: 50.826391021238635 (EPSG:4326)
Country: England; None
Current County or Unitary Authority: Dorset
Historic County: Dorset
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: Shapwick; Pamphill
Fine condition and well-managed National Trust site (since 1982) and now part of the Kingston Lacy House estate. Very popular public access site, with continuing management works, including access walkways on ramparts.
| Extant | ✓ |
| Cropmark | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed | ✗ |
Domed site largely tree covered, 'Badbury Clump', in interior with grassy banks with some scrub. Summit already planted when Colt Hoare visited site 1822. SSSI.
| Woodland | ✓ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation | ✗ |
| Parkland | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing) | ✓ |
| Arable | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken | ✓ |
| Bare Outcrop | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland | ✗ |
| Heath | ✗ |
| Built-up | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Multivallate, contour hillfort, sited in prominent position on Upper Chalk knoll, capped with Reading Beds inside fort, and commanding wide views in all directions. Above River Stour SE-NW and on its interfluve with the River Allen. Moderate surrounding slopes.
| Contour Fort | ✓ |
| Partial Contour Fort | ✗ |
| Promontory Fort | ✗ |
| Hillslope Fort | ✗ |
| Level Terrain Fort | ✗ |
| Marsh Fort | ✗ |
| Multiple Enclosure Fort | ✗ |
| Hilltop | ✗ |
| Coastal Promontory | ✗ |
| Inland Promontory | ✗ |
| Valley Bottom | ✗ |
| Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop | ✓ |
| Ridge | ✗ |
| Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp | ✗ |
| Hillslope | ✗ |
| Lowland | ✗ |
| Spur | ✗ |
Dominant Topographic Feature: Chalk knoll
| North | ✗ |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| East | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✗ |
| South | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| West | ✗ |
| Northwest | ✗ |
| Level | ✓ |
Altitude: 97.0m
Boundary Type: Parish/Townland
Late Iron Age pottery associated with two roundhouse sites as well as evidence of reoccupation of hillfort in 5th and 6th century AD. Morphology suggests hillfort probably Iron Age to Romano-British date.
Reliability: B - Medium
| Pre 1200BC | ✗ |
| 1200BC - 800BC | ✗ |
| 800BC - 400BC | ✗ |
| 400BC - AD50 | ✓ |
| AD50 - AD400 | ✓ |
| AD400 - AD 800 | ✓ |
| Post AD800 | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Pre Hillfort: | None |
| Post Hillfort: | None |
| Artefactual: | Late Iron Age pottery. Roundhouse sites. |
| Morphology/Earthwork/Typology: | Morphology suggests probably Iron Age to Romano-British date. |
Visited by John Leland in his Itinerary 1538-43. In Aubrey's Monumenta Britannica (1665-1693). Visited by Colt Hoare 1822. On 1st Ed. OS map (1888). Excavation Faith Vatcher 1965. Measured survey RCHME 1998, ref. no. 918785. Geophysical surveys 1993, 1998. Geophysical survey M. Papworth 2000. Small excavations M. Papworth 2000 and 2005. Geophysical survey Stewart 2006. Visits by Hillfort Study Group 1966, 2016.
| Other (1822): | Visited by Colt Hoare. |
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (1888): | OS map. |
| Excavation (1965): | F. Vatcher. |
| Other (1966): | Visit by the Hillfort Study Group |
| Earthwork Survey (1998): | Measured survey RCHME. |
| Geophysical Survey (2000): | M. Papworth. |
| Geophysical Survey (2006): | Stewart. |
| Other (2016): | Visit by the Hillfort Study Group |
| 1st Identified Written Reference (None): | Visted by John Leland in his Itinerary. |
| 1st Identified Written Reference (None): | In Aubrey's Monumenta Britannica. |
| Geophysical Survey (None): | For National Trust. |
| Excavation (None): | M. Papworth. |
Geophysics and small-scale excavations, 1965 to 2005, 2006 found evidence of range of interior features, including possible Bronze Age ring ditches, Iron Age occupation with roundhouse sites and possible Roman shrine or temple within walled enclosure. Finds included early Neolithic flint scatter on summit and and late Iron Age pottery associated with two roundhouse sites as well as evidence of reoccupation of hillfort in 5th and 6th century AD. Evidence of shallow quarrying immediately inside inner rampart, probably to provide additional material for defences.
Spring in interior.
| None | ✗ |
| Spring | ✓ |
| Stream | ✗ |
| Pool | ✗ |
| Flush | ✗ |
| Well | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Evidence of shallow quarrying immediately inside inner rampart, probably to provide additional material for defences.
| No Known Features | ✗ |
| Round Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Rectangular Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Curvilinear Platforms | ✗ |
| Other Roundhouse Evidence | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
Geophysics and small-scale excavations, 1965 to 2005, found evidence of range of interior features, including possible Bronze Age ring ditches, Iron Age occupation with roundhouse sites and possible Roman shrine or temple within walled enclosure.
| No Known Excavation | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✓ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✓ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
Geophysics and scale excavations, 1965 to 2005, 2006 found evidence of range of interior features, including possible Bronze Age ring ditches, Iron Age occupation and roundhouse sites and possible Roman shrine or temple within walled enclosure.
| No Known Geophysics | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✓ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✓ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
Finds included early Neolithic flint scatter on summit and and late Iron Age pottery associated with two roundhouse sites as well as evidence of reoccupation of hillfort in 5th and 6th century.
| No Known Finds | ✗ |
| Pottery | ✓ |
| Metal | ✗ |
| Metalworking | ✗ |
| Human Bones | ✗ |
| Animal Bones | ✗ |
| Lithics | ✓ |
| Environmental | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| APs Not Checked | ✓ |
| None | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Interesting entrances on ENE and WNW, both having long passageways through all three circuits. Former has a simple, oblique and curving, passageway through the ramparts, that through the inner bank having inturned ends. The WNW is more complex. Access through the barbican was originally by means of a gap at SW corner, now considered modern, as is the break in the centre of its W side giving a direct approach to the inturned gap through the inner rampart.
| 3: | SW breach in ramparts may not be original. |
| 2: | None |
Guard Chambers: ✗
Chevaux de Frise: ✗
| 1. In-turned (North east): | On ENE simple, oblique and curving, passageway through the ramparts, that through the inner bank having inturned ends. |
| 1. Oblique (North east): | Oblique and curving, passageway through the ramparts. |
| 1. Passage-way/Corridor (North east): | Long passageway. |
| 2. Barbican (North west): | On WNW. Complex, with access through the barbican originally by means of a gap at SW corner, now considered modern, as is the break in the centre of its W side giving a direct approach to the inturned gap through the inner rampart. |
| 2. In-turned (North west): | Inturned gap through inner rampart. |
| 2. Passage-way/Corridor (North west): | Long passageway. |
Defined by two concentric ramparts and ditches, with lesser outer rampart and ditch, surrounding knoll. Possibly at east two phases of construction. Berm separates outer defence from inner two, averaging c. 15m across, except where swings out to enclose a barbican formed by the middle rampart outside the W entrance.
| Area 1: | 6.9ha. |
| Total: | 6.9ha. |
Total Footprint Area: 20.0ha.
None
| ✓ | At least two phases of construction. |
| ✓ | None |
| NE Quadrant: | 3 |
| SE Quadrant: | 3 |
| SW Quadrant: | 3 |
| NW Quadrant: | 3 |
| Total: | 3 |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✓ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✓ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
Probable earthen banks. Berm separates outer defence from inner two, averaging c. 15m across, except where swings out to enclose a barbican formed by the middle rampart outside the W entrance.
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✓ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Rubble | ✗ |
| Wall-walk | ✗ |
| Evidence of Timber | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✗ |
| Berm | ✓ |
| Unfinished | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Evidence of shallow quarrying immediately inside inner rampart, probably to provide additional material for defences.
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✓ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Murus Duplex | ✗ |
| Timber-framed | ✗ |
| Timber-laced | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✗ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✗ |
| No Known Excavation | ✗ |
| Other | ✓ |
| ✗ | None |
| ✓ | None |
Number of Ditches: 3
| ✗ | None |
Fowler, P.J. 1965. A Roman barrow at Knob's Crook, Woodlands, Dorset. Ant J, XLV, 22-52.
Gale, J. 2003. Prehistoric Dorset, Stroud: Tempus Publishing.
Hearne, T.1768. The Itinerary of John Leland the Antiquary: Publish'd from the Original MS. in the Bodleian Library by Thomas Hearne M.A., Oxford.
Ovenden-Wilson, S. 1998. Badbury Rings Dorset: geophysical survey, Report Geophysical Surveys of Bradford.
National Trust 2000-2001. Note, The National Trust annual archaeological review 9, 2000-2001.
Papworth, M. 2001. Evaluation excavation, Badbury Romano-Celtic temple, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 122, 148-150.
Papworth, M. 2005. Excavation and geophysical survey at Badbury Rings 2005: interim report, National Trust archaeological reports.
Papworth, M. 2011. The Search for the Durotriges: Dorset and the West Country in the Late Iron Age, The History Press.
RCHME 1972. An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset, Vol 4, North Dorset, London: RCHME.
Atlas of Hillforts:
Wikidata:
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
Document Version 1.1