Grimsbury Castle, Iron Age contour fort in Hermitage, England
Grimsbury Castle is an Iron Age hillfort located on a plateau near Hermitage. The site consists of multiple earth ramparts and ditches that encircle the area and create significant elevation changes across the landscape.
The fort was built during the Early Iron Age when such structures were constructed across southern England. Finds from excavations indicate it was occupied and used over an extended period of time.
The fort shows how Iron Age communities protected and controlled their territory through careful site selection. Its elevated position was part of a deliberate strategy to monitor the surrounding landscape.
The site is open to explore on foot and sturdy footwear is recommended due to uneven ground and earthwork changes in elevation. A modern path runs through the landscape, allowing visitors to view different sections of the fortification from various angles.
The western entrance features an unusually complex arrangement of banks and deep ditches that is rarely seen at hillfort entrances of this period. This elaborate design suggests the location received special attention in its defensive planning.
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