Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/538

 A HISTORY OF SUSSEX as an earthwork, when studied in connection with the neighbouring camp it presents many features of interest. At first sight it is impossible to avoid the impression that it is an outwork of Mount Caburn, because it cuts across the somewhat narrow ridge of land which stretches in a direction leading north-west from Mount Caburn. The difficulty which opposes itself to if% such an explanation of the purpose ^V'J of Ranscombe Camp is, of course, ^^Z"' the fact that the fosse is on the ^^,/ ' east. It is held by General Pitt- ^<<.^-~' Rivers that this in itself would not '^'•inT,T.'n'ii'ini...,.„„,,,^^_^^ ^ ^ „.,,„,,,.,.t-"^"'"' • ? '"''' °' "■" " ° be a sufficient objection to its hav- RanscombT Castle. i"g been an advanced work^ be- longing to Caburn. ' But,' he adds, ' the southern end of the trench bends round to the west as if to cover the right flank of a force forcing towards Caburn ; and this makes it hardly possible to doubt that this work must either have been a line of rampart thrown up during an attack on that place, or that it may be the eastern face of another camp, the remaining sides of which have entirely perished.' There is no necessity, of course, for supposing that the two works were erected at the same time, or that they were occupied by the same people. Neolithic flakes and implements occur in considerable numbers both inside and outside the Ranscombe Camp. From both Mount Caburn and Ranscombe the views over the sur- rounding country are remarkably fine and extensive. The range of South Downs which stretches from Lewes in a western direction furnishes several excellent examples of hill-top camps, the first being — DiTCHLiNG Beacon, a camp which stands between 800 and 900 feet above sea-level. It is one of the important view points of Sussex, commanding a wide expanse of Wealden scenery to the east, north and west. Ditchling Beacon is about one mile to the south-west of West- meston church, and slightly over two miles to the east of the main London and Brighton Railway. The earthworks, which are of irregular quadrilateral form, are not very prominently developed. The sides, like those of HoUingbury Castle, are slightly convex in shape. The north-eastern side of the camp has no earthen defence, the abrupt natural declivity of the hill down to the Weald having been considered sufficient protection. At the north-west corner of the camp and on the outside of the ramparts is a shallow dish-like depression to which the rainwater which falls on the adjacent surface is conducted by a trench constructed for the purpose. The depression, which is now dry, resembles a dew-pond in general form, but is apparently simply a rainwater dish. There is a regular dew-pond on the east of the camp. 460