A possible hillfort was suggested by Haslam in 1976.

A measured survey by Mark Corney in 1998 suggests that an earthen bank at least 4m wide and 1m high could belong to an Iron Age hillfort.

Geophysical survey of mound at ST93528729 ?tower site.

The ramparts were revealed during excavation of 10 trenches between 1998 and 2000 . Several constructional phases of ramparts and ditches of a multivallate hillfort were revealed. The original Early Iron Age inner rampart was probably a clay bank, revetted in front with timber. 3 postholes, possibly associated with the timber revetment, were sealed beneath a later layer of rampart material. A ditch, set in front of a berm less than 0.50m wide, probably contemporary with the earliest rampart. Also the foundations of a 3.72m limestone wall, originally as much as 7-8m high, dated to the Middle Iron Age, surmounted the latest phase of inner earthen rampart.

The outer defences consisted of a series of successive earth banks surmounted by timber and stone ramparts. A 2nd, outer, ditch excavated in front of the outer bank was found to contain large quantities of collapsed burnt masonry, indicating some of it was vitrified. Most of the stonework of the inner revetment wall was robbed, including large pits which had been backfilled with domestic rubbish. (Late 2005 – a surviving section of wall near St joseph’s School is thought to be Iron Age).

Location

OS map reference: ST 932 870. Nearest town/village: Malmesbury.

Information © Wiltshire County Council.