Five miles along the busy A419 is much-loved destination – Castle Hill. It quietly waits the end of a straggly road (Burytown Lane) on the edge of Broad Blunsdon village.
Siân and I discovered it soon after our arrival in Wiltshire. It has been a leitmotif, the inspiration for a number of my paintings and drawings.
This Iron Age hillfort is something of a conundrum. It is on private land, though apparently frequented by local dog walkers. Although privately owned it is under the dominion of English Heritage. Look north to relish some magnificent views across the Thames valley into Gloucestershire.
There is a story about this place being built by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell’s men were also supposed to have had a shot at the Highworth church from here, with the cannonball that made the hole in the tower*. A crack shot sir! (from 4 miles away).
How many Hillforts are there in Wiltshire I wondered? Wiltshire farmer Mr. Timothy Daw. He has visited and written about all fifty two. Each is celebrated on his web site “The 52 Hillforts of Wiltshire“. Tim also has another blog, about Stonehenge Replicas, yes, you guessed it called Clonehenge. A vital link to learn more.
Barrow Boy: In 2013 Tim was given planning permission for a project for a 50 metre-long barrow where families would be able to lease a space inside to deposit six to eight urns containing the ashes of the dead. This is within sight of the ancient Silbury Hill, and, on the skyline ridge, the West Kennet Long Barrow built slightly earlier 3650 BC. Here’s the story.
OH! THE WONDERS OF WILTSHIRE
The Modern Antiquarian is a collaborative guide to the ancient sites of the UK and Europe.
*This detail from ‘Round About the Upper Thames’ by Williams (1922), quoted by Katy Jordan in her ‘Haunted Wiltshire’ (2000) an excellent read.
Thanks to Guild member Tim Baynes for this article, more musings can be found on his substack Tim Baynes painter and writer.
