Monument record 0001600000 - CHOLESBURY CAMP

Summary

Iron Age hillfort at Cholesbury Camp, surviving as earthworks, situated to the east of Cholesbury Common. The hillfort is roughly oval in plan and measures 310 metres north east to south west by 230 metres north west to south east. The interior of the hillfort is quite level. The earthern ramparts lie mostly within a wooded belt which encircles all but the southern quarter of the hillfort, where the banks and ditches have been obscured by houses and gardens. A large ditch flanked by internal and external banks runs throughout the wooded belt, forming the sole defensive boundary to the north east and north west, but accompanied by further banks and ditches to the west and south east. The inner bank averages 8 metres in width, and varies between 0.8-2 metres in height. The outer slope of this bank is continuous with the inner face of the accompanying ditch, which ranges from 6-12 metres in width and 2.5-3 metres deep. The external bank is less pronounced but can still be identified around most of the northern defences. The outer defences on the south western part of the circuit can be seen extending over a distance of circa 180 metres. The counterscarp bank surrounding the main ditch forms the middle bank in this sequence of ramparts, and at nearly 6 metres across and 1 metre high, is better preserved here than elsewhere. A shallow ditch separates the middle bank from a similar bank forming the outermost component of the defences. A second section of external ditch and outer bank remain well preserved in the woodland to the north of the church driveway, abutting the inner works near the driveway but then extending in a straight line to the north east for some 90 metres, whereas the inner defences curve around to the north east. Excavations have revealed hearths which showed evidence of iron smelting. It is believed that the hillfort was constructed in the Middle Iron Age.

Protected Status/Designation

Archaeological Notification Area: Earthworks of Prehistoric hillfort and Medieval parish church of St Lawrence, Cholesbury (DBC9666)
Scheduled Monument 1015585: LARGE MULTIVALLATE HILLFORT KNOWN AS CHOLESBURY CAMP (DBC7208)

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Type and Period (1)

MULTIVALLATE HILLFORT (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)

Description

Dimensions - Length 265m, Width 190m.
Plan Form - Oval.
Site defended on E by triple rampart & double ditch & on remaining sides by double rampart & single ditch. Ramparts are c.13m wide & c.3m high on W to c.3.8m high on SE. Ditches 1-4m deep, 10-16m wide. Small triangular outwork projects from W. Excavation: see CAS 0001601000 (B1-12).
Scheduled Monument No. 27161 (B10).
Trial excavation and watching brief at the village hall failed to find any trace of outer ditch to the south (B15).
Watching brief during excavation of fence post holes - no significant archaeology disturbed (B16).
Geophysical surveys carried out in July 2000 in interior of hillfort indicated extensive activity, possibly concentrated in the western half of the site. In the western part of the site, one of the hearths (H2) excavated by Kimball was identified, along with 3 circular anomalies, possibly prehistoric roundhouses, several rectangular anomalies and a large square anomaly, which it is suggested represent remains of medieval settlement, possibly manorial. In the northeastern part of the site 2 further circular anomalies and 4 subrectangular anomalies, at least one of which seems to lie within an enclosure and appeared to be subdivided, were also identified as possible prehistoric roundhouses and traces of medieval settlement (B17-18).
Negative watching briefs (B19-21,B23).
Evaluation trial trenching carried out by AS&C in August 2002 in advance of house extension found the inner edge of the hillfort ditch. The upper ditch fills (excavated to a depth of 1.2m only) contained 19th century building debris and residual finds of medieval pottery. See report for detail (B22).
Included in Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register in 2021 and 2022. Condition described as 'extensive significant problems' with the principal vulnerability being from scrub/tree growth and the trend as declining (B25-26).

(SP 930072) Camp (AT) (B27).
A plateau fort with two ditches and three banks on the south-west and south-east and two banks and a ditch on the north-west and north-east. Apart from a break of some 750 ft on the south side where only traces remain, the banks and ditches are well preserved (see plans). In many places the present scarp of the inner ditch
is from 10 to 12 ft high. The entrance was probably on the south-west. Excavation by Kimball in 1932 produced pottery and hearths from the interior. Hawkes concluded that although there was some pre-Belgic pottery it was not earlier than the 2nd century BC and that the main occupation belongs to the middle of the 1st century BC (B6).
The so-called 'hill-fort' at Cholesbury has yielded a small quantity of sherds which may perhaps fall within the period of the Roman occupation. Continuity of occupation from the 1st c BC into the middle or late 1st c AD should not surprise us (B28).
Bloomery slag has been found within the fort (B29).
An IA settlement as described and planned by Kimball. No trace of any occupation or industry within (now under pasture). Published survey (25") revised (B30).
SP 930 072. Cholesbury. Listed in gazetteer as a multivallate hillfort covering ?4.0ha (B31).

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.

Sources (32)

<1>SBC26953 Bibliographic reference: George Lipscomb. 1847. The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham (Volume 3). Volume 3. pp314-315.
<2>SBC486 Article in serial: ARCHAEOLOGICAL JOURNAL 14 1957 PP273-275 (PLAN).
<3>SBC20350 Bibliographic reference: A Hadrian Allcroft. 1908. Earthwork of England. pp48, 134-135, 153, Fig.
<4>SBC20466 Bibliographic reference: Royal Commision on Historical Monuments. 1912. Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire Volume 1. Volume 1. pp106-107 (Plan).
<5>SBC20461 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1908. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume II. Volume 2. pp22-24, Plan.
<6>SBC7096 Article in serial: D Kimball. 1933. 'CHOLESBURY CAMP', IN BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION JNL 39 PP187-212. Vol 39.
<7>SBC967 Bibliographic reference: BCM ACCESSIONS REGISTER 1948-53, 1979 (RE-ACCESSIONED).
<8>SBC6246 Bibliographic reference: J F Head. 1955. Early Man in South Buckinghamshire. pp72,75-76,149.
<9>SBC10852 Bibliographic reference: OS RECORD CARD SP 90 NW 03 (PLAN).
<10>SBC13927 Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1997. SCHEDULING LIST OF INSPECTORATE OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS (REPORT, FILED) SAM (BUCKS) NO.1/SCHEDULING REV.
<11>SBC4449 Article in serial: James Dyer. 1976. 'A FUTURE FOR PREHISTORY IN THE CHILTERNS', IN CBA GROUP 9 NEWSLETTER 6 P7. No 6.
<12>SBC13884 Bibliographic reference: SAUNDERS C 1971 THE PRE-BELGIC IRON AGE IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN CHIL-TERNS IN ARCHAEOLOGICALJNL12.
<13>SBC884 Unpublished document: Buckinghamshire County Museum. 1992. AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION AT MOAT HOUSE, CHOLESBURY.
<14>SBC14650 Unpublished document: Buckinghamshire County Museum Archaeological Service. 1997. A Watching Brief at Overburnts, Cholesbury Hillfort.
<15>SBC19076 Unpublished document: Buckinghamshire County Museum Archaeological Service. 1997. Archaeological Recording at Cholesbury Village Hall, Cholesbury.
<16>SBC19096 Unpublished document: Michael Farley Archaeology. 1999. A Watching Brief at Cholesbury Hillfort, Bucks..
<17>SBC19697 Unpublished document: John Gover. 2001. A Geophysical Survey of Cholesbury Camp.
<18>SBC20249 Article in serial: Chess Valley Archaeological and Historical Society. 2002. Journal of the Chess Valley Archaeological and Historical Society 2002. pp8-10.
<19>SBC22121 Unpublished document: Archaeological Services & Consultancy Ltd. 2004. Enhanced Watching Brief: Moat House, Cholesbury.
<20>SBC22221 Unpublished document: Archaeological Services & Consultancy Ltd. 2004. Watching Brief on Land to the Rear of Overburnts, Cholesbury.
<21>SBC22868 Unpublished document: Thames Valley Archaeological Services. 2007. Cholesbury New House, Parrots Lane, Cholesbury: An Archaeological Watching Brief.
<22>SBC19721 Unpublished document: Archaeological Services & Consultancy Ltd. 2002. An Archaeological Evaluation at The Old Vicarage, Cholesbury.
<23>SBC24756 Unpublished document: MOLA Northampton. 2016. Archaeological Observation, Investigation and Recording of Land at The Old Manor House, Cholesbury Lane, Cholesbury.
<24>SBC25485 Unpublished document: Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. 2016. Beside the Boundary of Cholesbury Camp: Geophysical Survey Report.
<25>SBC25511 Digital archive: Historic England. 2021. Heritage at Risk Register 2021.
<26>SBC25896 Digital archive: Historic England. 2022. Heritage at Risk Register 2022.
<27>SBC27454 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1960. Ordnance Survey Map (6" /1960). Map.
<28>SBC1853 Article in serial: Keith Branigan. 1967. 'DISTRIBUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF Romano British OCCUPATION IN THE CHESS VALLEY', IN Records of Buckinghamshire 18, Part 2, pages 136-149. Vol 18. p141.
<29>SBC29314 Index: Buckinghamshire County Museum. Bucinghamshires County Museum Card Index No 0016.
<30>SBC29315 Verbal communication: N K Blood. 1972. Field Investigators Comments - F1 NKB 27-NOV-72.
<31>SBC27783 Serial: A H A Hogg. 1979. British Hillforts: an index.
<32>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE). Insert 1998.

Location

Grid reference	SP 93000 07200 (point)
Civil Parish	CHOLESBURY-CUM-ST. LEONARDS, Chiltern, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (4)

Related Events/Activities (11)

Event - Intervention: (EBC12265)
Event - Intervention: Evaluation trial trenching: LAND AT THE OLD VICARAGE, CHOLESBURY (Ref: OVC 02) (EBC16076)
Event - Intervention: Excavation: CHOLESBURY CAMP (EBC12303)
Event - Survey: Geophysical survey: CHOLESBURY CAMP (EBC16064)
Event - Intervention: Trial trench and watching brief: CHOLESBURY VILLAGE HALL (EBC15954)
: Watching brief (EBC17835)
Event - Intervention: Watching brief (EBC11605)
Event - Intervention: Watching brief (Ref: COB) (EBC16523)
Event - Intervention: Watching brief (Ref: PLC 06/135) (EBC16797)
Event - Intervention: Watching brief: CHOLESBURY HILLFORT (EBC15955)
Event - Intervention: Watching brief: THE MOAT HOUSE, CHOLESBURY (Ref: CMH 04) (EBC16458)

Record last edited

Mar 6 2026 11:45AM