Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/253

 AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY OF ROMAN REMAINS IN THE BRITISH HILL-FORTRESS CALLED "CADBURY CASTLE," NEAR TIVERTON, DEVON. An excavation of an interesting nature took ])lace in the spring of the present year at Cadbury Camp, (or Castle, as it is popularly called,) in Devonshire, by the direction of George Fursdon, Esq., of Fursdon, the owner, and under his inspec- tion. This ancient encampment, which has been generally con- sidered a British earth-Avork, is oval in form, its largest dia- meter being from east to west about COO yards, and its smallest, from north to south, about 400 yards ; the inner vallum is nearly perfect for more than two-thirds of the whole circumference, the outer vallum remains only at intervals ; there are the evidences of two openings or entrances, one from the north and the other from the south, both being: somewhat to the eastward of the centre of either side ; the superficial extent enclosed is about two acres. The camp crowns the summit of the most lofty of a group of isolated hills, rising on the right bank, in the valley of the river Exe, and about two miles distant from the stream, eight miles to the north of Exeter, near the high road from Crediton to Tiverton, and equidistant from those towns. It is a com- manding eminence, that in early times must have been a place of considerable strength. The views from it are of great ex- tent in every direction : looking to the south, the prospect extends over the vale and estuary of the Exe to the sea, with Woodbury Castle and downs to the left, and Sidmouth Gap twenty miles distant ; whilst to the right is the chain of the Haldon hills, beyond which are seen the heights of Dartmoor ; to the north the view is bounded by Exemoor ; to the west it extends beyond the limits of Devon to the Cornish moors ; and to the east the whole range of the Black Down hills may be 'traced, even as far as Castle NerocJte, and including the Wellington column in Somersetshire. Within the scope of these prospects are the earth-work called Dane's Castle, on the north side of Exeter, the ancient camps of Dolbury, AVoodbmy, Sidbury, Hembury, Dumdon, jMembury, and Cas- tle Neroche, and the hne of the old Roman road at Straight-