A HISTORY OF DEVONSHIRE 



having been thrown up from the interior, thereby leaving a shallow^ depression. Around the other 

 sides the vallum has been formed from the outside by which a shallow ditch has been left on 

 the exterior 8 ft. below the agger at the south end, and lo ft. on the west side. One entrance 

 is at the south-west, but the feature of Membury is the intricately defended entrance on the east 

 side towards the north. The main gateway is above a very steep incline, and is entered by an 

 oblique path formed by the northern agger taking an outward curve ; on the southern side the agger 

 rises to a great height, curving in sickle-form into the main vallum, making a chamber from which 

 missiles could be poured upon a foe at the gate. In the spot where the point of the sickle blade 

 would be the agger widens, so that warriors upon it could not only rake the enemy, but, in case of 

 necessity, cover the retreat of their fellows through the narrow path to the chamber, and hold the 

 pursuers at bay whilst they climbed the agger into the main camp. 



N. 



A 









C&2>Tte 







MUSBURY CaSTLB. 



Camden calls Membury a Roman camp, afterwards occupied by the Danes ; but without 

 denying either of those people the hospitality of this stronghold, the origin must be attributed to 

 earlier days. If the conjecture that the battle of Brunanburgh was fought in this locality be correct, 

 Membury most probably played its part in weaving the laurel crown of victory for the brow of 

 King Athelstan. 



In 1809 some British pottery of a rud^ description was found here, and a cinerary urn with 

 charcoal and bones ; while in 18 14 a jar of Roman coins was unearthed. 



MusBURY (O.S. Ixxxiv, i). — Musbury Castle, 3 miles south of Axminster, and the same distance 

 from Hawksdown, is an irregular elliptical entrenchment following the formation of the ground on 

 the extreme ridge of a lofty hill, surrounded by a single agger and fosse, except on the north-east, 

 the most vulnerable spot, where the defences gradually increase in strength until they form a triple 

 vallum at the northern termination. This portion of the fortifications may have misled Lysons, who 



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