A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE 



Local antiquaries, including Bloxam, Burgess and Hannett, have 

 called these works Roman, but they gave no evidence to support the 

 assertion, and it is quite an improbable one. 1 The low ground chosen 

 for the camp by its makers differentiates it from the earlier camps of 

 refuge on the hill-tops ; in this respect it is similar to the smaller-sized 

 entrenchments at Tachbrook and at Ipsley ; the camp also somewhat 

 resembles these two strongholds in design, both in having some of its 

 sides straight lines and at least some of its corners angular. One is 

 induced to think that it may be of similar origin. 



Rather over 2 miles to the south-west of Harborough Banks 

 there are some further fragmentary remains of earthworks in this parish ; 

 they are on the top of an elevation bearing the name of Camp Hill, 

 which lies on the left-hand side of the road leading from Lapworth to 

 Henley in Arden, just after passing Liveridge Hill. The existing mound, 

 from the summit of which there is a most commanding view, has been 

 called a 'Roman outpost' by various writers 2 ; but there does not appear 

 to be any foundation for the statement, and its origin and connection 

 remain obscure. 



LIVERIDGE HILL. See Lapworth. 



LOXLEY (3! miles west-south-west of Stratford-on-Avon). There is 

 a remarkable line of double and sometimes triple entrenchments running 

 through this parish, traceable for a total length of over 3 miles. The 

 earthworks extend along the northern face of the hill overlooking the 

 valley of the Avon, in a direction roughly north-east and south-west ; they 

 commence near Walton, pass through the wood round the summit of 

 Redhill and by Loxley, until they reach Goldicote just over the county 

 boundary in Worcestershire. The entrenchments are very formidable 

 in places, consisting of three ramparts one above the other, with two 

 intervening ditches; in other parts they are not so imposing, being 

 worn away through natural agencies or levelled down by the agriculturist. 

 The plan and section here shown are reproduced from drawings, represent- 

 ing the best preserved portions of the earthworks, made by Mr. Burgess 

 in 1875. 



These remains have been attributed to a prehistoric age, and certain 

 bronze celts similar to some found at Tadmarton Camp in Oxfordshire 

 were unearthed on the hill above Loxley ; but in the absence of exca- 

 vation it is wiser not to hazard a conjecture as to the date of their origin. 

 They would certainly appear to have been constructed for defensive pur- 

 poses, as they are too formidable for a mere boundary line. 3 



MANCETTER (4 miles north-west of Nuneaton). On the line of 

 the Watling Street, at a distance of 700 yards east-north-east of the 



' Hannett, Forest of Arden (1863), pp. 10, 12 and 144 ; Bloxam in B'ham. Mid. Inst. Arch. 

 Tram. (1875), p. 32 ; Burgess in ditto (1872), p. 87. 



2 Burgess in B'ham. and Mid. Inst. Arch. Trans. (1872), p. 86 ; Hannett's Forest of Arden, pp. 

 10, 13, 150 ; Turner, Sbaks. Land, p. 191. 



Bloxam in B'ham. and Mid. Inst. Arch. Trans. (1875), p. 31 ; Burgess in ditto (1872), p. 83, 

 in Brit. Arch. Assoc. Journ. (1873), pp. 38, 44, and in Arch. Journ. vol. xxxiii. (1876), pp. 374-76 ; 

 Timmins's Warn. p. 66. 



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