Maes Knoll Camp, Iron Age partial contour fort in Norton Malreward, England
Maes Knoll Camp is an Iron Age fort on a natural hilltop near Norton Malreward, south of Bristol. It consists of a central plateau partly enclosed by earthen ramparts and ditches, with steep natural slopes taking the place of man-made defenses on the sharper sides.
The site was most likely built by the Dobunni, a Celtic people active in this part of Britain during the later Iron Age. Evidence suggests the hilltop continued to be used in some form even after the Roman period.
Local stories connect the site to Sir John Hautville, a medieval knight said to have had extraordinary physical strength. His name appears in tales still passed on by word of mouth in the Norton Malreward area today.
The site is accessible on foot and a dry-weather visit is advisable, since the slopes can become slippery after rain. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as the paths along the ramparts are uneven.
During the Second World War, the Home Guard set up a small observation post on the hilltop to watch the skies over Bristol. This means the same ground that once held Iron Age earthworks also served a 20th-century military purpose.
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