Iron Age hillfort, Wallbury Camp, Little Hallingbury (EHER 16)

The earthwork remains of an Iron Age bivallate hillfort covering an area of approximately 16 hectares. On the north, east, and south sides the defences consist of a double rampart with central ditch, there being no trace of an outer ditch which almost certainly existed. A low-lying road skirting the southern boundary is probably built on the ditch line. On the east side natural steep scarps, form the defence, and a terraceway along the scarp is probably the remains of an original ditch, the spoil being used to heighten and bank the scarp. Apart from the several mutilation gaps in the ramparts, mostly formed by track cuttings, there is one recognisable original entrance, this being on the east side. As there were marshlands to the north and south and steep natural scarps on the west, it is possible that this was the only entrance. The ramparts are still thickly planted, and the central area is occupied by private dwellings and pastured farmland. No internal earthworks or indication of settlement was found.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Prehistoric camp, 'Wallbury' Cliff Camp, known as Wallbury Camp, occupies the end of a spur on the 200ft contour-line, overlooking the valley of the Stort on the west and formerly flanked by marshlands on the north and south. The work consists of a roughly pear-shaped area of about 31 acres surrounded by a double rampart, the outer member of which is intermittent on the west slope and may never have been strongly marked on that side. The inner rampart now reaches a height of 7ft above the interior surface, and from 12 ft to 20ft above the bottom of the ditch, which is from 50ft to 70ft wide. At the north-east and south-east bends are traces of a second shallow ditch beyond the outer rampart. There are now five gaps in the defences, but the two original entrances appear to have been on the east and west sides. The work has not been properly excavated, but urns of the late Celtic cordoned type have been found in the vicinity, three being preserved in Little Hallingbury Church. Condition - fairly good, the banks and ditches are thickly planted. <1> - <3> Cremation cemetery of Aylesford-Swarling type to the south. "The fortification is of great strength and it must have lain on the Trinovantian-Catuvellaunian border". From the cemetery "it is best seen as a minor 'oppidum' of the Trinovantes, at least in the post-Caesarian period". With Wheathampstead it is a candidate for the site of Cassivellaunus' oppidum. <4> March 1950. Field survey. Wallbury Camp: The earthwork is situated on the western end of a spur overlooking the valley of the River Stort. The work consists of a well-defined double rampart and ditches on all sides except the west where, in places, the scarping is practically indistinguishable from the natural slope. The long slopes shown on the north-west and south-west corners of the camp are natural, although they are shown on the plan in RCHM Vol II, p. 95. Of the existing gaps in the defences, it is difficult to determine, with certainty, which were the original entrances. The earthwork has not been excavated but is characteristic of late Iron Age construction. An Iron Age 'C' urnfield was discovered in 1876 in a gravel pit three quarters of a mile south of Wallbury Camp. The remains of the defences are correct as delineated on the Field Sheet for cross section see 1/1. <5> 1959-1960. Excavation. Excavations started in 1959 across the bivallate defences revealed constructional periods of Early Iron Age A and B. Iron Age C pottery was found and the ditch silting between the ramparts revealed the greater part of the two RB pots and the base of a Romano-British glass bowl. Survey has established the whereabouts of several pits. Two periods of construction were indicated, with both early iron age and Belgic occupation internally. <6> - <8> It was found that the inner rampart had been reconstructed at least once and evidence for timber lacing was found. The outer defences were slighter. Glass and pottery were found in the ditch. <9> June 1973. Field survey. Wallbury Camp: name verified. An Iron Age bivallate fort covering an area of approximately 16 hectares. On the north, east, and south sides the defences consist of a double rampart with central ditch, there being no trace of an outer ditch which almost certainly existed. A low-lying road skirting the southern boundary is probably built on the ditch line. On the east side natural steep scarps, form the defence, and a terraceway along the scarp is probably the remains of an original ditch, the spoil being used to heighten and bank the scarp. Apart from the several mutilation gaps in the ramparts, mostly formed by track cuttings, there is one recognisable original entrance, this being on the east side. As there were marshlands to the north and south and steep natural scarps on the west, it is possible that this was the only entrance. The ramparts are still thickly planted, and the central area is occupied by private dwellings and pastured farmland. No internal earthworks or indication of settlement was found. An old excavation trench, presumably part of the 1959 trials, was found. Published survey (25") revised. <10> April 1976. Field survey. No change. <11> October 1980. Field survey. Occupies end of a spur of the 200ft contour. Roughly pear shaped, has an area of 31 acres, with a double rampart. An old excavation trench, presumably part of the 1959 trial trenches, remains. Site Assessment = Plans for access road across monument, no permission given, concrete dumped, and line marked. <12> 1986. Excavation. No further information known. 2016. Heritage impact assessment. The assessment concludes that there will be no harm to the setting of the monument, and that minor opportunities to enhance the appreciation of the monument may be incorporated. <13> Area = 12.4 Further references: <14> - <17> Aerial photographs and photos in EHER: <18> - <28> See also: <29> - <32>