ARBURY BANKS

ABOUT THIS MONUMENT

+ / -

EH Visitor Information
Related Monuments
Related Text
Investigation History

More Pictures
Modern Map
Old Map
Aerial Photograph

Monument Types
Sources
Thesaurus
Description

DESCRIPTION

+ / -

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

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

(SP 494 486) ARBURY CAMP (LB) (1)

"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. (2)

Features answering the above description and accompanying plan
are traceable on AP's 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 (c) 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. (a-c)(3)

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. (4)

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. 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. (5)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1955

( 2) General reference

Hist Banbury,1841,30 (J Beasley) With plans

( 3a) General reference

AP's (RAF 59/1567 110-111 21/9 54)

( 3b) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1955

( 3c) General reference

Prob IA in S Britain, 1958, 200 (Ed s Frere, Article D F Allen)

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 JB 12-MAY-70

( 5a) General reference

A/P (CUAP AKS10)

( 5b) General reference

A/P (RAF VAP 106G/UK/721, 3002-4)

( 5) General reference

RCHM Inventory Northants IV 27 fig 36 Monument (2)

MONUMENT TYPES

+ / -

COMMENTS

+ / -

Please help us keep our information accurate let us know if you see any errors on this page.

Further information about monuments may be obtained by contacting NMR Enquiry and Research Services , through the English Heritage website.

EH Prints
English Heritage
Heritage Explorer
Heritage Gateway
Images of England
NMR
ViewFinder