Page:VCH Herefordshire 1.djvu/272

 A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE have failed to find any record of discoveries that would determine the date of its origin. CoxALL. See Brampton Bryan. Brockhampton : Woldbury or Capler Camp. — Capler Hill, a w^ooded, camp-crowned height, rising about 400 ft. above the River Wye, which flows at its western base, is situated a little more than 6 miles south-east of Here- ford. The position of the fortress which occupies the summit is remarkable, commanding in clear weather a view extending 30 miles around, forming in fact an ideal site for an early defensive work for refuge, or for more perma- nent occupation. Though held by some writers to have been constructed late in the Roman period, we see nothing to render it unlikely that this fortress appertains to earlier days. The position is naturally defended by the steep fall of the hill south-west, west, and north, and against the west generally by the River Wye. The entrenchments vary according to the actual needs of the part to be defended ; that on the north and west, being naturally strong, ^s sjSiisSSSiSSSSS^ r ~T iB iiT iii m 7iii n Woldbury or Capler Camp, Brockhampton was defended by one fosse on the hill-side only, while the south, the weaker side, where the high land continues to some extent, is protected by a fosse with the ballast thrown both sides to form two ramparts of some considerable power. Towards the south-west a third rampart and second fosse are found ; the fosse running from the east does not unite with that coming from the west. The extreme east is not now in its original condition. Entrances appear to have been both at the east and towards the south-west. The water-supply was obtained from the fosse on the south, a portion thereof being deepened into a pool 138 ft. long, the approaches to which are guarded by a high bastion close to the opening, or passage, through the main rampart. A small stream flowed into the pool from the camp above. ^ » Dr. W. G. Bull in Trani. Woolhope Field Club (1883-5), +6. 204