Hillforts
Royal Wootton Bassett has an average elevation of 111 metres above sea level, ranging between 66-209 metres across the town. This is similar to the average elevation in Wiltshire (115 metres), but less than the nearby Marlborough Downs, whose highest point Milk Hill in Pewsey Downs reaches 295 metres elevation.
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A key feature of the Coronation Country Park is the high plateau towards the north at the top of the hill. It has been suggested isn't a natural formation, and was instead created artificially many years ago, possibly during the Iron Age.
RWB During the Iron Age
Royal Wootton Bassett has likely been settled since the Iron Age.
AC Archaeology carried out an archaeological excavation in Summer 2014 which revealed evidence of structures and field delineations likely established during the Iron Age and used during the period of Roman Britain; click the button below to see the full report:
RWB 2014 Archaeological Dig Report →
Fun Fact:​
Running was a popular competitive pastime during the Iron Age and competitors would often be given something heavy to carry, like a suit of armour or an animal, to make it more challenging.
During the Iron Age, defence from attacking tribes was crucial, meaning settlement location was key. For this reason, Royal Wootton Bassett was a safer choice than nearby Dauntsey or Great Somerford, which have elevations below 70m, and why the old town area of Swindon was developed first.
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Settlements known as ‘forts’ were built on hills for protection, allowing those living there to spot incomers from a distance. To make it even more difficult for attackers, tribes surrounded their forts with a mixture of walls, ditches and mounds of earth, to create more distance between them and outsiders. These are known as ‘hillforts’ and are still around today.
It has not been confirmed this point is a hill fort, so an archaeological dig has been scheduled for the last weekend in May (30th-31st). The dig is being carried out by Wiltshire Museum Archaeology Field Group volunteers, lead by a specialist from Wessex Archaeology.
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Please see the Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council website for more details and findings.
Further Reading & Links
If you want to find more out on this topic:​
Read The Making of Prehistoric Wiltshire by David Field and David McOmish (2017)​
Read Hill-Forts of the Cotswolds by Sean Campbell (2016)
