Whitsbury Castle, Iron Age hillfort in Whitsbury, England
Whitsbury Castle is an Iron Age hillfort on a chalk outcrop near Whitsbury with a pear-shaped layout covering about 16 acres. The site features two main ramparts with outer ditches and a counter scarp bank that form a continuous defensive system.
The hillfort developed in the Iron Age as a settlement and defensive site on the chalk plateau. Archaeological excavations revealed earlier Mesolithic and Bronze Age activity at the location, suggesting occupation over a much longer time span.
The fort shows how Iron Age communities used elevated positions for defense and control of the surrounding land. The layout reflects practical thinking that mattered to those early settlers.
The site is accessible via public bridleways that run around nearly all sides of the hill. This easy access allows visitors to explore the ancient earthworks from multiple viewpoints.
The southwestern entrance of the original fort was modified later when a post-medieval manor house was built on the site. This alteration shows how later occupants adapted the ancient structures to their own needs.
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