47 



There is a deep hollow within the camp, surrounded by an embankment, 

 opposite the sally-port to the pool. It suggests the site of buildings for protection 

 against weather ; but it must also be confessed it may have been made in a search 

 for stone. 



The chief entrance to the camp is at its narrow south-eastern end. It is well 

 protected b5' the entrenchments which extend along the southern side. There are 

 also two pits in front of the eastern bastion, which might be very useful in defence. 

 A hollow extends down the field approaching the camp, and there is a drop in the 

 ground of from three to four feet, for above a hundred yards at the fence, which 

 suggests also the position of a stockade. 



The altitude of the hill is not very great, the barometers to-day, as compared 

 by arrangement with the Free Library, Hereford, made it 622'5 feet above sea- 

 level, which is fairly approximate.* It is not nearly so high as Aconbury hill 

 (which has been ascertained by careful measurement to be 915 feet above sea-level) 

 but has a far w ider range of sight. From the position Caplar hill occupies in the 

 valley of the Wye, the views from it are most varied and extensive. To the west 

 are seen the Black mountains, the Sugar-loaf, and the Skirrids ; and towards the 

 north, the Radnorshire hills ; the Clee hills in Shropshire ; the Malvern hills to 

 the east ; and May hill and the Forest of Dean to the south ; with so rich an array 

 of intervening hills, woodlands, and valleys, as to make the scenery extremely fine 

 and interesting. It is the only place from which the spires of Hereford and Ross 

 may be seen from the same spot. 



From a military point of view, the advantages it might afiford would be very 

 great. It n^t only commands the river from a considerable distance, but is in full 

 view of the neighbouring camps of Fownhope, St. Ethelberfs cami) on Backbury 

 hill, Oldbury, Caradoc, Aconbury, and Dinedor, which surround it ; but it is in 

 sight of Credenhill, Sutton Walls, and the more distant Herefordshire Beacon ; 

 besides numerous other hills and places that circumstances might render important. 



Horseley considered this camp to possess all the characteristics of a true 

 British camp, and the leading authorities agree with him. It is supposed to have 

 been formed by Caractacus in his march across the county from Little Doward to- 

 wards the Grand Camp on the Herefordshire Beacon. As Shenstone wrote, with 

 reference to a similarly fortified hill, it may be said here — 



" 'Twas on those heights, by Roman hosts annoy'd. 

 Fought our bold forefathers: rustic; unrefined; 

 Freedom's plain sons : in martial cares eniploy'd, 

 They tinged their bodies, but unmasked their minds." 



It is conjectured also, with great probability, that this camp was occupied by 

 the Romans ; and it certainly may be stated with still higher probability, that in 

 the long period of unrecorded English history, Saxons and Anglo-Saxons occupied 

 the camp, settled the district, and have left their traces in the names of the people 

 and places. 



• The nearest Ordnance Survey Bench Mark is upon the building north of Caplar Lodge, at 

 which Bench Mark the altitude is given as 449*7 feet. 



