A HISTORY OF DEVONSHIRE 



a square with rounded angles, as the camp in Charles parish ; rectangular, of 

 which a perfect but small example is in Chittlehampton parish, and one 

 of beautiful construction in Shaugh Prior parish ; circular, such as Castle 

 Dyke near Dawlish ; elliptical, as Stanborough in Halwell parish ; or of 

 irregular form, such as ' The Castle,' near Chulmleigh. 



The defences of the foregoing classes were probably augmented by 

 palisades ; we know timber was used by both Britons and Romans, and one 

 instance remains in Devonshire of such use by the former — in Bantham 

 Camp, where the ends of the stakes, sharpened by fire, have been found. 



Classes D and E are abundant in this county, where the mounts are at 

 times found supporting mediaeval castles of later date than the earthworks. 

 As freshly piled-up earth could not support the weight of stone buildings for 

 a long period, timber structures alone were possible.^ 



Of the simple mounts of Class D six examples remain, one of them, 

 Kenwith Castle, is on the site of a battle, a description of which has 

 been handed down to us. 



Of the mount and bailey type (Class E) Devonshire has fifteen 

 examples, the most noteworthy being Loddiswell Rings, and Hembury Castle, 

 Buckfastleigh. 



In most instances we find artificial mounts ; but some are of nature's 

 building, among them that at Bampton. 



The mount in this type of fortification has in some cases a flat top, and 

 in others a saucer-shaped summit. 



Of Class F Devonshire has no complete examples and very few fragments. 



Class G is represented by a solitary example in the parish of Hemyock. 



Class H is not prolific in this county ; but one great example at 

 Grimspound is ample compensation for lack in numbers. It is situated on 

 Dartmoor, which has justly been described as a place of surprises, for there 

 the domestic, pastoral, industrial, or religious life is mapped out with 

 marvellous distinctness. 



In Class X are those series of segmental lines of parallel entrenchments 

 found on headlands and elsewhere. The examples in Devonshire are not 

 extensive ; they are to be found at Braunton in the north, opposite Salcombe 

 Harbour and elsewhere. In this class may also be included the curious 

 work at Dartmouth known as Gallants' Bower. 



The space at our disposal is insufEcient to permit us to dwell on the 

 story told or suggested by the series of earthworks of Devonshire, but we 

 cannot close this introduction without a brief reference to the scheme of 

 defence adopted by the Britons. 



Devonshire was the main part of the possessions of the Dumnonii ; they 

 had for neighbours the Carnabii of Western Cornwall on one side, and the 

 Durotriges of Dorset on the east. The River Tamar formed a natural defence 

 for a considerable part of the western boundary ; here and there, however, are 

 remains of strong fortresses ; one at a bend of the river, placed to command 

 the reaches of water, and others well situated for guarding against the 

 incursions of the Carnabii. 



On the east the ancient line of demarcation between the Dumnonii and 

 the Durotriges, or Morini, of Dorsetshire was the river Axe — Stockland 



' Note illustrations of the fort at Dinan and other places, in the Bayeux tapestry. 



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