Hollingbury Castle

Hollingbury Castle is an Iron Age hillfort in Brighton and Hove built on a sloping hillside with a partial contour design. A single earthen bank and ditch form a squared shape with rounded corners, and the main entrances face east and west.

The site was built during the Iron Age but excavations in 1931 revealed traces of an even older enclosure with post structures and timber-reinforced walls. Later in medieval times the location served as a beacon point.

The name comes from Anglo-Saxon times and means 'Hollings hill'. Today the remains tell of its role as a defensive stronghold and later as a beacon point for communication across the land.

The location sits next to a golf course and is accessible through several public walking paths. Sturdy footwear is recommended as the ground is hilly and paths can be uneven.

Between 1967 and 1969 five round houses from the early 6th century BC were discovered in the southwestern corner, offering glimpses into early Iron Age domestic life. These finds show the settlement served multiple generations as a residential space.

Location: East Sussex

Location: Brighton and Hove

Part of: Hillfort, the possible remains of a Romano-Celtic temple and a group of three bowl barrows at Hollingbury

GPS coordinates: 50.85540,-0.12300

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:03