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Kenwalch's Castle Hillfort
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Kenwalch's Castle Hillfort
Site Name: Kenwalch's Castle hillfort, Pen Wood, Charlton Musgrove
SCHEDULED MONUMENT: Kenwalch's Castle: a large univallate fort
Civil Parish: Charlton Musgrove
Grid Ref: ST 7477 3354 (ST 73 SW)

Univallate hillfort occupying the full width of the flat top of a N-S ridge and, to the E and W, the bank is atop steep slopes. The gaps through which a road passes is wider than the road and so are likely to be original entrances. {1}

Very overgrown and with internal features. Defences most massive on the SSE and NNW where there are entrances. A third gap, apparently recent, is present at the SW corner. {2}

Enclosure of about 1.6ha divided into two parts by the road which follows the county boundary. Bank 3.6m high from the bottom of the ditch which is 1.8-2.4m deep and 13.7m wide. {3}

Lies astride the Somerset-Wiltshire border Large univallate hillfort on the N tip of a ridge. Sub-rectangular, drawing to a point on the N. Enclosed by bank and external ditch or terrace, most massive on the S against main part of ridge with bank up to 2m high and ditch 2m deep Along sides natural steep slope is utilised to form a scarp and ditch below a shallow bank. On W side the ditch becomes a terrace 3-4m wide. Entrances probably in centre of N and S sides where a road enclosed by banks runs through Present wide gaps are probably due to course of pre-enclosure road. On NNW is an adjacent gap which may be the original entrance. Gap in SW corner unlikely to be original; also a small gap on the SE. Slight terrace inside ramparts along the west. The site is known as Kenwalch's Castle, referring to Cenwalh, and is probably a modern name. Outer terrace along W may preserve waterlogged deposits. {6}

Scheduled area revised 14.4.94 with new national number (was Somerset 319 and Wiltshire 342. {7}

Monument lies within mature conifer plantation, with trees on the banks and ditch and within interior. Track, well-used by horses, enters on SW side and runs along lip of rampart of monument's W side, with some erosion. Track exits through wide gap in N bank, with some Rhododendron spreading around the Nw side, but generally stable and in good condition. {8}

Five year management agreement to run 1/10/2002 - 30/9/2007. {9}

References:

1 Detailed records - Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division 1966 ST73SW6 (SCC Planning Department)
2 Description - BAR 91 Burrow, I 1981 "Hillfort and Hilltop Settlement...", 238-9
3 Detailed records - HBMC Field Monument Wardens report (SCC Planning Department)
4 Mention - Victoria County History of Somerset 1911 vol 2, 511
5 Mention - Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society 1904 vol 50, 43-4
6 Detailed records - English Heritage Monuments Protection Programme fieldwork, Preece A, 1993
7 Correspondence - English Heritage to Somerset County Council 19.4.94
8 Site visit report - Graham, A. Field Monument Warden's report (24/2/1999)
9 Correspondence - English Heritage to Somerset County Council (4/4/2003)

Data kindly supplied by the Somerset Historic Environment Record.

Record created in October 1984

© Copyright Somerset County Council 2007

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