53 



CASTERLEY CAMP. 



Being an account of Excavations carried out by 

 Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Cunnington. 1 



Introductory. 



The large earthwork known as Casterley Camp, is situated on 

 the north-east corner of the War Office land, west of the river 

 Avon, on Salisbury Plain. It is on high ground about two miles 

 south-west of the village of Upavon, and can be reached by a rough 

 track that leaves the main road opposite the turning into Upavon 

 village. 2 



Permission was obtained from the War Office authorities, and 

 from their tenant, Mr. J. C. Chisman, of Widdington, in September, 

 1909, to cut a few sections in the outer entrenchment of the camp. 

 During excavations at Knap Hill Camp, it had been found that 

 numerous causeways of undisturbed chalk, had been left in the 

 ditch of that entrenchment, 3 and certain appearances in the ditch 

 and rampart suggested the possibility of finding similar causeways 

 at Casterley. To test this, sections were cut lengthways with the 

 ditch on the outer side of several gaps in the rampart, but it was 

 proved that the appearances were deceptive, and no causeways 

 were found, with the exception of that forming the northern en- 

 trance. The discovery, however, was made of a sunken way leading 

 to the western entrance, and this was examined. 



1 The work was carried out under their personal supervision, and they 

 were present during the whole time, motoring to and fro from Devizes 

 morning and evening. Several of the men employed, who came from Rowde 

 and camped out on the spot, had had previous experience of similar digging 

 at Oliver's Camp and at Knap Hill Camp. The excavations have all been 

 filled in, partly by these men, and partly by men kindly lent for the purpose 

 by Mr. Chisman, the tenant of Widdington Farm, to which Casterley is 

 attached. Thanks are due to Mr. Chisman, as tenant, for his ready 

 permission, subject to that of H.M. War Department, to dig, and for kind 

 help and assistance in many ways. 



2 The camp is also spoken of locally as Catterley Banks, or Calley Banks. 



3 Wilts Arch. Mag., xxxvii., 42. 



