ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



MOUNTS 



(CLASS D) 



BELVOIR (vii, 4). Belvoir Castle, four miles south of Bottesford, upon 

 an isolated hill a towering height at the north-eastern extremity of a 

 spur of the Leicestershire Wolds, is the site of the castle of Robert de 

 Todeni. It was a position of exceptional military value in ancient times, 

 overlooking a vast stretch of country, including the valley of the Trent, by 

 which this district was open to an invading force. 



Much diversity of opinion exists as to whether this mound is natural or 

 artificial, a doubt which the frequent alterations and rebuilding, together 



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BELVOIR CASTLE, NEAR BOTTESFORD 



with continuous residence, do not tend to dispel. Traditionally it is 

 said to be artificial ; that it is wholly so need not be considered, the 

 stupendous nature of the work forbids such a conjecture, and the surround- 

 ing features of the country suggest a natural height as a foundation for 

 the art of man. 



Original spade work may possibly be seen in the four terraces which 

 rise one above another, with escarpments of 25 ft. and 40 ft. on the north- 

 east side. 



In the early part of the nineteenth century another work of great 

 magnitude altered the earlier formation of the mound, when a raised road 

 A A a vast earthwork was made to span the valley between Castle Hill 

 and the hill on which stands the mausoleum. 



255 



