Monument record 15 - Arbury Camp (Probable Iron Age Hillfort)

Probable Iron Age enclosure (remains); `Remic' stater found.

{1} Iron Age Fort (SP 494 486), known as Arbury Camp, lies on the flat summit of a low rounded hill S.W. of Chipping Warden village, mainly on Marlstone Rock at 134 m. above OD. The monument is of considerable interest not only as a rare survival of an upstanding prehistoric site in this part of the county but also because of the medieval land use; the ramparts have been incorporated into the headlands of the common field system of the parish and a windmill stood on a mound on part of the outer bank. The site was described by Bridges in the early 18th century who said: ‘It is certain that no Roman coins or other marks of antiquity have ever been discovered there, though the ground is now ploughed up’. The absence of finds from the site is still notable. The site was described in the 19th century by A. Beesley; he interpreted it as circular with a large outer enclosure attached to it on the west. This idea was elaborated by the Ordnance Survey who said that the site consisted of a hexagonal enclosure, probably Belgic in date because of its shape, a rectangular annex or extension to the west, a further annex to the north, and a bank of unknown purpose further west again. These interpretations can be discounted as all the banks of the suggested annexes are simply well-marked headlands between ridge-and-furrow and have no connection with the fort itself. Moreover the fort is now hexagonal in plan almost certainly because its original ramparts have also been used as headlands of the medieval fields and have been pulled out of shape by ploughing. There is no reason to doubt that, in its original form, the enclosure was roughly circular. The whole of the E. part is now under permanent arable and the surviving rampart is no more than 10cm. high with no trace of a ditch.

{2} "Arbury Banks" near Chipping Warden are becoming difficult to trace through ploughing. The principle vallum is 296 yards in length, running N-S. Near the village is a second higher embankment, almost parallel to the first, but of less extent. This appears to have been connected with the first-named vallum in the manner marked in the plan. To the E parts are still traceable, but elsewhere those represented on the plan by a single line are conjectural. The circular mount is part of the vallum
once surmounted by a windmill.

{6} Features answering the above description and accompanying plan {2} are traceable on AP's [6a} and the OS 6" (see map diagram) The complex thus comprises: a. A hexagonal enclosure b. a rectangular annexe on its SW side.c. a possible further annexe or extension of the last to the N. d. A N-S bank 150 metres away on the W side, thought by Beesley to have been part of a larger annexe. e. Another N-S bank 200 metres further W still, not mentioned by Beesley.

The siting and hexagonal plan of the enclosure, and the finding of a "Remic" gold stater here {6b} suggest that this part of Arbury Banks (the wood "camp" is only used by the OS) may be Belgic. The annexe(s) could of any date. The (?Medieval) "broad-rig" pattern suggests that Beesley's long bank might be a substantial plough headland, while the outer bank not mentioned by Beesley is probably another.

[7} An irregular defensive ewk enclosing 6-7 acres. A bank only is now evident but major rig and furrow is adjacent and any former ditch has been ploughed out. The "embankments" referred to by
Auth 2 are plough headlands (see map diag). The topographical situation and manner of construction suggest an IA origin. See annotated 25" survey.

{8} Map of site;

<1a> Aerial Photograph, A/P (CUAP AKS10) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<1b> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP 106G/UK/721, 3002-4) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.27 site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.111 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<3> Beesley J., 1841, History of Banbury, p.30 (unchecked) (Book). SNN280.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP44NE2 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Hatton G.; Aveling J., 2013, Arbury Banks, Chipping Warden, Northants, (unchecked) (Report). SNN109929.

<6a> Aerial Photograph, AP's (RAF 59/1567 110-111 21/9 54) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<6b> Frere S. (Ed.), 1958, Problems of The Iron Age in Southern Britain, Article by D F Allen, p. 200 (Book). SNN7173.

<6> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<7> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments (Notes). SNN110341.

<8> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/284/5 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 1:55PM