Caer Caradoc Hillfort, Church Stretton

• 
  Larger Image

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• HER Number (PRN): 00226
• Site Name : Caer Caradoc Hillfort, Church Stretton
• Protected Status:

  Grade:
  Ref No.:	1010723
  Title:	Caer Caradoc large multivallate hillfort, associated causeway and Caractacus' Cave on the summit of Caer Caradoc Hill
  Type:	Scheduled Monument

• Monument Type:
  • Multivallate Hillfort (Iron Age)
  • Causeway (Iron Age)
• Civil Parish:
  • Church Stretton , South Shropshire, Shropshire
• Grid Reference: SO 4772 9528
• Related Interventions:
  • 2011-12 DBA and walkover survey of hillforts in Shropshire by Shropshire Council and Herefordshire Council, ESA6904
  • 1992-2000 Summary Condition Survey of SAMs in the Shropshire Hills Environmentally Sensitive Area by English Heritage, esa4785
  • 1985 field observation by English Heritage, ESA205
  • 1972 field observation by the Ordnance Survey, ESA204
• Brief Description: Scheduled Monument: One of Shropshire's most dramatic Iron Age hillforts, Caer Caradoc is a fine example of a hillfort type - large in size and with multiple ramparts - which is rare nationally. Named by tradition after the legendary Celtic warrior Caractacus or Caradoc, the monument forms part of a significant concentration of large hillforts in the Welsh Marches.
• Description: Precipitous slopes except on NE and SW. Inner rampart 12m wide, 1.7m high internal, enclosing area 375m NE/SW and 70m across. Outer rampart 10m plus below around northern part of the site, 10m wide, 0.5m high with internal ditch 5m wide and 0.5m deep. Reappears at SW end with third rampart to the SW. The entrance on the east side is inturned. From it an engineered terraceway 3.4m wide runs obliquely down slope to NE. Additional outer defences on the west side are probably sheep walks. OS FI 1972 <1>
  
  The area enclosed is 2.6 ha and the site lies at 450m OD <14>
  
  Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, High score as one of 18 Small multivallate hillforts <33>
  
  Scheduling revised in 1994. Scheduling description: ->
  
  ->The monument includes Caer Caradoc camp, a large multivallate hillfort with associated causeway and Caractacus' Cave. Both the hillfort and cave are named by tradition after the legendary first century AD Welsh chieftain Caractacus. The hillfort is situated on the strategically strong summit of Caer Caradoc Hill, a distinctive, steep-sided hill of volcanic origin rising to a height of 460m on the east side of Church Stretton valley. The hillfort lies orientated along the spine of the hill and has overall dimensions of 450m south west to north east by 160m transversely with a total enclosed area of 3ha. The defences of the hillfort are designed to enhance the natural strength of the hilltop position. They include inner and outer ramparts, separated by on average 28m of falling ground and are well defined around most of the hilltop, in places incorporating natural rock outcrops into the defensive circuit to encircle the hill summit. The inner rampart represents the earliest phase of the defences and is well defined around the north east, north and western flanks of the hill. It has been constructed by cutting back into the natural hillslope, so creating a steep outer face up to 8m high and a lower inner face some 1.5m high. A shallow linear ditch averaging 7m wide and 0.8m deep runs alongside the inner face of the bank, it is stepped along the line of the ditch as a series of hollows. It appears to be the remains of the quarry ditch for the inner bank, material being thrown downslope to form the bank. The stepping may indicate how work was organised during the construction of the rampart, each hollow being the work of a separate team. At its southern extent the bank turns to the south east to cut across the neck of the hill and join with a large basalt tor. From the north edge of this tor a short length of bank curves to the north to form the south side of a simple inturned entrance 2.5m wide. A shallow oval platform set into the inner side of the bank, south of the entrance, is believed to be the site of a guard chamber. The entrance is approached by a well engineered causeway, 300m long and averaging 4m wide, which climbs the hill from the north east. ->
  
  -> To the north of the entrance the defences continue for 120m as a series of well defined banks. These link the natural rock outcrops along the edge of the precipitous east face of the hill to form a strong defensive wall. The natural outcrops become less pronounced towards the north of the hill and a more continuous inner rampart is established. The outer rampart also commences here, running roughly parallel to the inner rampart around the north east, north, west and south of the hillfort. Where it exists the outer rampart is similar in form and construction to the inner; the natural hillslope has been cut back to create an outer slope averaging 5m high with an inner slope 1.5m high. A ditch averaging 6m wide and 0.8m deep runs along the inner face of the bank, once again this is stepped in a series of pronounced linear hollows. This would have served as a quarry ditch for the bank, the spoil being thrown outwards. The scooping, here more pronounced than in the inner rampart, is strongly indicative of a construction technique using a number of different work gangs. There is no outer defence around the south east quarter of the site where the natural topography makes it unnecessary. The southern end of the hillfort, where approach is possible along the more gentle southern end of the ridge, is strengthened by a third outer bank. It curves for 80m across the neck of the hill, joining the outcropping rock at the south east corner of the site with the precipitous hillslope to the west. The bank stands up to 1.7m high on its outer face and 1.5m high on its inner. The interior of the hillfort, which comprises the narrow rocky summit of the hill, offers limited scope for permanent occupation. However, a series of levelled platforms in the south east quarter of the hillfort, north of the entrance, may represent the site of buildings.->
  
  -> There is a clear emphasis on military considerations in the selection of the site. The hilltop has difficult access and limited space for occupation but does very effectively command the surrounding landscape. The construction of the substantial earthworks on the hill would have required a considerable effort of well organised labour. In the north west quarter of the hillfort, adjacent to the inner face of the inner rampart (annotated on OS maps as a well), is a small spring-fed pond. This water supply, within the defences of the hillfort, may have encouraged the occupation of the site. In the north western quarter of the monument, immediately adjacent to the outer rampart, is the entrance to Caractacus' Cave, named by tradition after the legendary Celtic warrior Caractacus or Caradoc. It has a keyhole-shaped entrance 1.6m high and lm wide and is 4.3m deep <34>
  
  Caer Caradoc is situated almost exactly opposite the smaller Bodbury Ring hillfort. Both appear to have been permanently occupied, though not necessarily in use at the same time. <35>
  
  Photographed during aerial photographic survey in 2009 and 2010 and again in 2012. <40>-<45>
  
  This site was visited during a survey of major later prehistoric enclosures in the region, in 2011-2012. Inturned entrance at SE corner, with guard chamber on S side. Interior division may mark zoning within the fort. ->
  
  -> Site largely under good management but not currently in any of the agri-environment schemes. <46><46a>
  
  Photographed from the air by Chris Musson in 1996. <47>
  
  Visited during a condition survey by the English Heritage Field Monument Warden, in 1998. Condition recorded as fair - although some localised erosion from a number of causes has been a longstanding problem. <48>
  
  Correspondance concerning metal detecorists operating on the site in 2004. <49>
• Record Type: Monument
• Sources:

  (00)	Card index: Shropshire County Council SMR. Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards. SMR record cards. SMR Card for PRN SA 00226.
  (01)	Card index: Ordnance Survey. 1972. Ordnance Survey Record Card SO49NE11 . Ordnance Survey record cards. SO49NE11 .
  (02)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1984-Dec-11. CPAT 84/38/0017 and 0019 - (2 photos).
  (03)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1984-Aug-06. CPAT 84/MB/0660 to 0661 (2 photos). Black and White. Medium.
  (04)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1984-Dec-10. CPAT 84/37/0011.
  (05)	Oblique aerial photograph: Livock G E. Oblique View, SO4795/4. Black and white.
  (06)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1987-Jan-03. CPAT 87/MB/0096 to 0098 (3 photos). Black and White. Medium.
  (07)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1987-Jan-03. CPAT 87/MB/0101 to 0105 (5 photos). Black and White. Medium.
  (08)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1987-Jan-03. CPAT 87/MB/0100. Black and White. Medium.
  (09)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1988-Mar-04. CPAT 88/04/0013.
  (10)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1988-Aug-02. CPAT 88/MB/0336 to 0337 (2 photos). Black and White. Medium.
  (11)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1989-Mar-17. CPAT 89/MB/0290. Black and White. Medium.
  (12)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1989-Mar-17. CPAT 89/MB/0368 to 0371 (4 photos). Black and White. Medium.
  (13)	Field Monument Warden Report: Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (HBMC). 1986. Scheduled Monument Report on SAM 25924.
  (13a)	Monograph: Cobbold E S. 1904. Church Stretton. Vol 3. p25-33.
  (13b)	Volume: Victoria County History. 1908. Victoria County History 1. Victoria County History of Shropshire. Vol 1. p381-382 inc plan.
  (13d)	Monograph: Forde-Johnson J. 1976. Hillforts of England and Wales. 141, Fig 71.
  (14)	Monograph: Hogg A H A. 1975. Hillforts of Britain. p153-154, plate 15.
  (15)	Scheduled Monument notification: English Heritage. Map of Scheduled area.
  (16)	Photograph: Anon. 1979. Slide. Colour.
  (17)	Photograph: Anon. Slides. Colour.
  (18)	Photograph: Anon. Slides. Colour.
  (19)	Oblique aerial photograph: Aerofilms Ltd. Oblique View, A230625.
  (20)	Oblique aerial photograph: Aerofilms Ltd. Oblique View, A230626.
  (21)	Oblique aerial photograph: Aerofilms Ltd. Oblique View, AC229377.
  (22)	Photograph: Anon. 1986. Plan of Caer Caradoc. Colour.
  (24)	Oblique aerial photograph: Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust. Oblique View of Caer Caradoc. Colour.
  (25)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1984-Dec-11. CPAT 84/C/0488 to 0489 (2 photos). Colour. 35mm.
  (26)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1992-May-05. CPAT 92/MC11/0005 to 0006 and 0008 to 0009 (4 photos). Colour. Medium.
  (27)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1992-May-05. CPAT 92/C/0799 to 0802 (4 photos). Colour. 35mm.
  (28)	Scheduled Monument notification: English Heritage. 1990. Map of Scheduled area, 1990.
  (29)	Oblique aerial photograph: Barret Gill. 1991. Barret Gill, Oblique View, 1991: 91/01/D/01-05 (Colour slide). Colour.
  (30)	Oblique aerial photograph: Barret Gill. 1991. Barret Gill, Oblique View, 1991: 91/01/D/10-15 (Colour slide). Colour.
  (31.1)	Oblique aerial photograph: Barret Gill. 1991. Barret Gill, Barret Gill, Barret Gill, Oblique View, 1991: 91/02/G/26-29 (Colour slide): 91/02/G/33-35 (Colour slide): 91/02/G/37 (Colour slide). Colour.
  (31.2)	Oblique aerial photograph: Barret Gill. 1991. Barret Gill, Oblique View, 1991: 91/02/G/31 (Colour slide). Colour.
  (32)	Correspondence: Shropshire County Council. 1987. Correspondence, 1987.
  (33)	TEXT: Horton Wendy B. 1990/ 1991. MPP Evaluation File.
  (34)	Scheduled Monument notification: English Heritage. 1994. Scheduling Papers (Revised Scheduling, 14/12/1994). 19158.
  (35)	Field survey report: Woodside R & Milln Jeremy. 1995. The National Trust Archaeological Survey: The Long Mynd, Shropshire. National Trust Archaeological Survey. p17.
  (36)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 2002-Jul-21. CPAT 02/MB/2014. Black and White. Medium.
  (37)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 2003-Sep-21. CPAT 03/MB/0083. Black and White. Medium.
  (38)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 2003-Sep-21. CPAT 03/MB/0084 to 0085 (2 photos). Black and White. Medium.
  (39)	Monograph: Watson Michael D. 2002. Shropshire An Archaeological Guide. p24-25.
  (40)	Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2009-Mar-5. SA0903_89 to SA0903_96 (8 photos) Flight: 09_SA_03. Colour. Digital.
  (41)	Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2009-Mar-20. SA0906_315 to SA0906_325 (11 photos) Flight: 09_SA_06. Colour. Digital.
  (42)	Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2010-Jan-30. SA1002_062 to SA1002_063 (2 photos) Flight: 10_SA_02. Colour. Digital.
  (43)	Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2009-Mar-5. SA0903_70 to SA0903_73 (4 photos) Flight: 09_SA_03. Colour. Digital.
  (44)	Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2010-Jan-30. SA1002_065 to SA1002_085 (21 photos) Flight: 10_SA_02. Colour. Digital.
  (45)	Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2012-Jul-27. SA1202_013 (1 photo) Flight: 12_SA_02. Colour. Digital.
  (46)	Archaeological fieldwork report: Dorling P & Wigley A. 2012. Assessment of the archaeological and conservation status of major later prehistoric enclosures in Herefordshire and Shropshire. p.183.
  (46a)	Photograph: Hannaford Hugh R and Wigley A. 2011-2012. Photographs taken on site visits 2011-2012 carried out as part of ESA6904: Assessment of the archaeological and conservation status of major later prehistoric enclosures in Shropshire. Colour. JPEG.
  (47)	Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1996-Jul-24. CPAT 96/C/1483 to 96/C/1485 (3 Photos). Colour. Medium.
  (48)	Field survey report: Leigh Judith. 2001. Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the Shropshire Hills ESA: Brief Condition Survey.
  (49)	Scheduled Monument documentation: English Heritage West Midlands Region. 2004-Jun-1. Caer Caradoc Hillfort, Church Stretton, Shropshire: Monument No. 19158 re: metal detectorists. Casework.

• Tags:
  • Multivallate Hillfort
  • Causeway
• Related Places:
  • Church Stretton, South Shropshire, Shropshire (Civil Parish)
• For more information contact: Shropshire Council HER
• Date Created: 04/01/1995
• Date Last Edited: 14/01/2019 16:25:11