Devonshire
The
BLACKBURY CAMP a peaceful place Blackbury Camp is one of the best
approach by narrow metalled road
where the original main entrance is
The enclosure itself is level and there
preserved iron age settlements in
to the car park set at the eastern end.
located, it is possible to look down
are scattered oak and beech trees
Devon. It is situated off the beaten
Blackbury Camp is a single bank and
into the valley of a small brook that
which throw a friendly, dappled
tourist track, some three miles
ditch enclosure, shaped roughly like
would have been the main source of
sunlight onto the ground. Some places have an atmosphere
north of the popular coastal village
a ‘D,’ and lies on a ridge which runs
water for the community.
of Branscombe in east Devon.
east-west. Although the immediate
The earthworks are in very good
that is instantly recognisable and
Unlike many ancient monuments
area is now heavily wooded, it is still
condition. In most places the banks
my overall feeling here was one of
of similar vintage, Blackbury Camp
possible to see the reason the site
are some ten feet high, and with the
peace. It is difficult to explain why
is not perched on top of a steep hill
was chosen. To the north the ground
ditch being an equivalent depth, they
I had this strong impression since
accessible only on foot. I was able to
slopes steeply away and to the south,
still provide an impressive obstacle.
history, and the fortifications, speak
The
Devonshire
magazine
of turbulent and warlike times.
felt I had gained an insight into the
the land. The father drives a plough
was easy to believe it was so. I could
Perhaps it is because of the scale of
minds of the ancient people who
pulled by a pair of oxen while the
almost smell the wood smoke curling
the place and the fact that its location
had built this place. Suddenly they
mother, with a baby on her back,
from comfortable houses; the ring
is less obviously one picked purely for
seemed very real.
walks beside. Was this what life
of an axe on wood; maybe even the
defence. My stride measures roughly
The impression was further reinforced
was really like for the people that
laughter of children at play. I am
a yard and I decided to pace out the
by the information plaque provided
lived here?
sure that life here was good and that
enclosure. The result was 207 paces
by English Heritage. It states that this
As I sat among the trees listening
the happy atmosphere is not just a
by 103; numbers too close to ‘round
was probably the home of a small
to the distant lowing of cattle and
fanciful illusion.
numbers’ to be a coincidence. I was
farming community and depicts a
watching a group of horses swishing
thrilled at this small discovery and
pastoral scene of a family working
their tails lazily in the sunshine, it
Andy Foan