Holmbury Hill, Iron Age hillfort in Surrey Hills, England
Holmbury Hill is an Iron Age hillfort in Surrey that rises to 261 meters above sea level, surrounded by a densely forested slope. Two layers of defensive ramparts protect the western and northern sides of the summit, creating distinct terraced rings around the hilltop.
Celtic tribes built this fortification between 100 and 70 BC, as revealed by archaeological digs in 1929, shortly before the Roman invasion reached Britain. The location was chosen for its defensive advantages and control over important routes through the surrounding landscape.
The name combines Old Saxon roots: 'holm' means hill and 'bury' refers to a fortified place. This linguistic heritage tells you something about how early settlers named their locations.
You can reach the hill through various walking paths, with the easiest starting point at the village of Holmbury St Mary nearby. The site is best visited on dry days, as the forested slopes can become slippery after rain.
The fort sits on a hard chert layer that provided strategic control over trade routes crossing the Weald, a significant advantage in ancient times. The defensive ditches dug into this resistant rock reached depths of about 9 meters, showing the builders' engineering skill.
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