Stockland Great Castle. 



A HISTORY OF DEVONSHIRE 



The camp is encircled by a double vallum and fosse. The inner rampart, 4 ft. high, has an 

 escarpment of 22 ft. perpendicular measurement, the fosse, 8 ft. greatest depth, divides the two 



aggers, while the 

 outer one falls off on a 

 natural escarpment. 

 Almost in the 

 middle of each of 

 the long sides is a 

 small semi-circular 

 platform projecting 

 from the outer val- 

 lum ; that on the 

 south-west was evi- 

 dently constructed 

 to defend a path 

 which enters the 

 entrenchments a t 

 this point ; probably 

 the platform on the 

 north-east was for 

 the same purpose, 

 but the path is not 

 apparent. Another 

 path at the east is 

 modern, but evi- 

 dently on an ancient 

 track. 

 The entrance is at the narrow north-west point, where a sunk road 200 feet long passes 

 between an extension of the two ramparts, on a steep decline ; at the outer extremity a triangular 

 area formed by the northern agger creates an opportunity for a cross-fire against an invading force ; 

 at the same time the defenders would be supported from the terminals of the outer aggers. 



The interior area is larger than that of any other camp in this neighbourhood ; it measures 

 1,300 ft. long, exclusive of the sunk road, and 400 ft. at its greatest width. 



In the southern corner the higher ground of the hill-top has caused the formation of another 

 fosse over 600 feet in 

 length. Within the 

 ramparts are two ponds 

 or water-basins, one at 

 each side, fed by per- 

 ennial springs. 



A field at the east- 

 ern base of the hill on 

 which this camp stands 

 contains signs of en- 

 trenching. 



Near the eastern 

 footpath are the re- 

 mains of a cairn of 

 flints, to which a tradi- 

 tion is attached that 

 some great treasure is 

 there buried, and it is 

 locally known as the 

 ' Treasure Heap ' and 

 the ' Money Heap.' 



Stockland (O.S. 

 lix, 10 and 14). — Stock- 

 land Great Castle is 

 situated on the height 

 ofStockland Hill, 667 ft, 

 above the sea, to the 



north of Widworthy. The high road to Cotleigh, at this spot running east and west, has cut this 

 camp in halves. The diameter at this destructive axis is 810 ft., and the longer axis from the 



588 



m^^i^^f''l)£ 



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Slapton Castle, Stokenham. 



