3 
Wales, where we have Dolgellau, Dolwyddelan, Dolbadarn, and 
other like names, and we have also Dol in Brittany, a very 
ancient town. It is generally believed to signify a level tract of 
land watered by a river. This agrees with the prospect from 
Dolebury, a fertile tract between two ranges of hills, through 
which flows the Yeo, which at times floods the lower lands and 
gives the appearance of a lake, and this must have been more 
frequent in ancient times before the embankments were formed 
which now keep back the rise of the tides in the Severn. 
The town of Deal, in Kent, is supposed to owe its name to the 
same kind of position. 
The word “bury” attached to Dol only expresses the fortified 
point. The name is therefore the Entrenched Spot over the 
Valley, and certainly a most commanding position it is, and has 
been so for probably more than 2,000 years ! 
If its first foundation was British it was occupied in Roman 
and in Saxon times, as Collinson states that both Roman and 
Saxon coins have been found within it.* Let us now consider 
what reason we have for assigning this Camp to the British 
period. 
From the height in which it is placed may be seen the Bay of 
Weston, crowned by the Worle hill, under which nestles the 
modern town, gradually encroaching upon the slope of the hill. 
On this hill is a very ancient and perfect camp,t until within a 
recent period, when the outer works of the fortress have 
succumbed to modern improvements. Here walls of a very 
similar construction to those of Dolebury can be traced, only 
much larger and stronger, and the eastern portion is cut off from 
the level of the hill by five or six consecutive ramparts. Within 
the area, which is divided into two parts, are found numerous 
* See Collinson’s History of Somerset, vol. iii., p. 579, 
+ For an account of the camp over Weston-super-Mare see Journal of 
Arch. Association and Somerset Arch, and Nat, Hist. Society, also Proceedings 
of Bath Field Club. ; ) 
