23T 



ment and ditch still to be cleai-ly traced on three sides, north, west 

 and 80uth. On the east the quarries have destroyed the line of the 

 ramparts, but probably as the hill on that side seems to have been 

 scarped and is very precipitous', its ramparts may not have had so much 

 attention. It is most likely that a wall stood on the top of the hiink, 

 stone being plentiful and near the surface. The old road which passed 

 through the settlement from south to north and which was part of the 

 ancient Fosse Road from Seaton to Lincoln is still distinctly traceable. 



The interior area of the camp is about 74 acres, and it is divided 

 into a number of parcels of land of unequal size by low longitudinal 

 ridges or banks. These are the remains of substantial walls or high 

 banks, that served to separate the hut dwellings, and the homesteads 

 or yards of the cattle, belonging to the inhabitants ; and also perhaps 

 enclosed gardens and fields of arable. The number and size of these 

 enclosures show that this was a permanent settlement or town, and 

 not merely a military post, or refuge for the neighbouring villages in 

 time of war. The cattle would be stabled or yarded at night by 

 their owners to protect them from wild beasts, or robbers ; and would 

 be led out to pasture by day in the woods and on the adjacent 

 downs, under the charge of their herdsmen. 



Sir Richard Colt Hoare says that he has repeatedly met with 

 similar foundations of enclosiires on and near the Wiltshire Downs, and 

 that lie had invariably founJ they were indications of a British village. 

 The situation of Hampton Down also corresponds with the description 

 by Caisar of an " oppidum " of the Britons. He says " the Britons 

 call a town a place with a tangled wood round it and fortified with a 

 rampart and ditch." Inside this, as Strabo tells us, they would build 

 their huts and collect their cattle, but not with a view to remaining 

 there long. As, however, Hampton Down was on the frontier, it was 

 no doubt always occupied by a garrison, and was a permanent settle- 

 ment. I am indebted to Mr. Spackman for the assistance of a map 

 of the camp which he made by direction of Mr. Scarth, more than 

 30 years ago, and which I have had reduced. It gives all or nearly 

 all the enclosures within the camp, some 34 in number, and some outside; 

 and a recent measurement directed by m3'self has verified the lines as 

 on the whole very accurate. No excavation has been made of these 

 lines ; but some hut circles have been explored by Mi-. Scarth. And 1 

 R 



