H AM DON HILL. 83 



ment was constantly quadrangular. But this waillke 

 people in many instances availed tliemselves of the reacly 

 formed ramparts of tlieir predecessors, as on the K.W. 

 part of Hamdon Hill. On that eastern ])art of tliis hill 

 called "Butcher Hill," was found, a few years slnce, a con- 

 eiderable number of iron weapons, long enough for swords, 

 with a socket for a handle, or shaft rudely formed, ap- 

 parently for spear-heads. These were probably Belgo- 

 British ; and here it was Sir R. Hoare's opinion that a 

 considerable town had existed, and at the tinie the survey 

 was made, the ground was, as I recoUect, very irregulär, 

 with various excavations, now levelled by the plough. No 

 Roman remains, that I have heard of, have been found in 

 that quarter. 



To this period may be attributed the formation of the 

 ■\ arious British roads and trackways through the country. 

 One of which, afterwards the Roman fosse, and now the 

 ivell-known turnpike, led from Bath, passing near Shepton 

 ^.lallet, and through Ilchester to Petherton-bridge (then a 

 ford), from whence it appears to have branched off in two 

 directions ; one through Stratton, to Dennington, White- 

 down, Street, and Axminster ; another to the right, 

 through Watergore, Hurcott, Atherston, Broadway, and 

 over the common to Neroche. This country Avas at that 

 period in a state of hostility between the various tribes. 

 The Morini being divided from the Damnonli by the vale 

 of Honiton, appear to have defended themselves by a chain 

 of forts, of which we may reckon Hawkesdown, ^lusbury, 

 Membury, Lambart's Castle, Pillesdon, and Hamdon : 

 and the frontier forts of the Damnonii appear to have been 

 Woodbury, Sidbury, Hembury, and Neroche, from their 

 strong entrenchments facing eastward — these being the 

 opposing hills on each side of the Axe and the Yarty rivers. 



