Coney's Castle
Encyclopedia
Coney's Castle is an Iron Age
hill fort
in Dorset
, England
. The name Coney is from the Old English for rabbit (Latin cuniculus), suggesting medieval use as a domestic warren, as at nearby Pilsdon Pen
.
The fort is on a narrow north-south ridge reaching a height of 210 m,
with linear ramparts across the ridge, steep natural slopes to the west,
and a high artificial rampart with ditch to the east.
A small lane runs along the ridge, bisecting the fort.
The lane is also part of the Wessex Ridgeway
long distance trail.
There is a convenient car park next to the north rampart.
Lambert's Castle
is about 1.5 km to the north.
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The name Coney is from the Old English for rabbit (Latin cuniculus), suggesting medieval use as a domestic warren, as at nearby Pilsdon Pen
Pilsdon Pen
Pilsdon Pen is a 277 metre hill in West Dorset, England, situated five miles west of Beaminster at the north end of the Marshwood Vale. It is Dorset's second highest point and has panoramic views extending for many miles...
.
The fort is on a narrow north-south ridge reaching a height of 210 m,
with linear ramparts across the ridge, steep natural slopes to the west,
and a high artificial rampart with ditch to the east.
A small lane runs along the ridge, bisecting the fort.
The lane is also part of the Wessex Ridgeway
Wessex Ridgeway
The Wessex Ridgeway is a long distance footpath in England. It runs from Marlborough in Wiltshire to Lyme Regis in Dorset via the edge of Salisbury Plain and Cranborne Chase. The footpath was opened in 1994...
long distance trail.
There is a convenient car park next to the north rampart.
Lambert's Castle
Lambert's Castle
Lambert's Castle is an Iron Age hill fort in the county of Dorset in southwest England. Since 1981 it has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest on account of its geology, archaeology and ecology....
is about 1.5 km to the north.
See also
- Lambert's CastleLambert's CastleLambert's Castle is an Iron Age hill fort in the county of Dorset in southwest England. Since 1981 it has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest on account of its geology, archaeology and ecology....
- Pilsdon PenPilsdon PenPilsdon Pen is a 277 metre hill in West Dorset, England, situated five miles west of Beaminster at the north end of the Marshwood Vale. It is Dorset's second highest point and has panoramic views extending for many miles...