Cherbury Camp

Cherbury Camp is an Iron Age fort on level ground north of Charney Bassett with a triple ditch and bank defense system encircling an oval area. The earthwork was built to protect an inhabited zone and demonstrates the construction techniques of this ancient period.

The site was built during the Iron Age, likely between the 5th and 4th centuries BC, and was later abandoned. Abandonment probably occurred by the 1st century BC based on recovered artifacts and remains.

The fort holds ties to an old story about a shepherd who warned Danish forces of approaching raiders, with the Pusey Horn now displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum preserving this tale. The story reflects how people at this location engaged with their surroundings and the dangers they faced.

The site can be reached by following a public footpath starting from Charney Bassett village and leading toward the remains. Exploration is aided by signs marking the location, though access within the fort boundaries themselves is not permitted.

Unlike other fortifications of its period, this site deliberately used the marshy ground and clay subsoil as natural defensive features. This adaptation to the local terrain shows how the builders understood and used their environment to their advantage.

Location: Charney Bassett

GPS coordinates: 51.66400,-1.46038

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:24