Information for record number MWA755:
Nadbury Camp, 305m northwest of Camp Barn Farm

Summary Nadbury Camp is a slight univallate Iron Age hillfort located 305m northwest of Camp Barn Farm.
What Is It?  
Type: Hillfort, Hollow Way, Rampart, Ditch
Period: Iron Age (800 BC - 42 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Ratley and Upton
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 38 48
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Remains of an extensive earthwork located on a jutting promontory of Edge Hill at about 230m. It has a very commanding position on top of a steep escarpment. Land falls steeply to the South and West, where a little stream runs in the bottom of a valley. The stronghold is pear-shaped with pointed end to the West. Encloses seven hectares. The earthworks are very denuded. A plan of 1822 shows a double rampart with intervening ditch. The single entrance, at the West end, is approached by a hollow way. This was crossed at a later date by the modern road which runs along the North ditch.
2 Still in good condition although ploughed for many years. The counterscarp shown on the 1822 plan has been almost completely ploughed out. APs reveal an extension (annex or earlier phase) to the southeast. This cannot be traced on the ground. A 'beehive' quern was found circa 1960 at SP3848.
6 Interior is divided into two arable fields. ramparts are marked by breaks of slope on all sides. On the North the road appears to be cut into the defensive ditch. To the northeast there are slight traces of an outer bank. A survey produced seventy fragments of Iron Age pot and also other finds.
7 Small excavation in 1983 in advance of road widening on North of camp. rampart appears to be of dump construction with a rear revetment of large stones. The front face was damaged by a large quarry pit. An earlier phase was represented by a pit sealed by the rampart and a later phase by a pit containing a currency bar cut into the back of the rampart. The trench produced bone, pottery and slag from all phases. A resistivity survey of part of the interior indicated considerable activity.
12 Archaeological observations took place in 1997 and 1998 in connection with water mains work. In 1997 seven launch/ reception pits did not reveal any Iron Age or Romano-British archaeological remains, although a small amount of modern material was recovered. In 1998 the digging of a pipe trench and test pits within the Scheduled area was archaeologically monitored. Again, no significant remains were encountered. All the works took place within the roadway of Camp Lane, and a considerable depth of resurfacing material was encountered in places.
13 field walking by Edgehill Group in 1999 recovered an assemblage of predominantly Early Iron Age Pottery together with flint from several different time periods.
27 Undated map with key. Probably from soon after the Public Enquiry of 1954.
33 A hillfort, probably Iron Age, is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs, and is also known from field visits and finds. It is best seen on aerial photographs taken in 1947, though the site had been virtually levelled by the time aerial photographs were taken in 2007. The site is centred on SP 39025 48203 and comprises a probably multivallate hillfort. The hillfort appears to be defined by a ditch with both and internal and an external bank, though the site has been much ploughed and the banks are absent in several places. There appears to be an entrance at the western end, which is defined by out turned ditch terminals. There are a series of parallel crescent shaped banks and an additional ditch, suggesting a probable annexe or addition to the hillfort. The crescent shaped banks may indicate a possible elaborate entranceway. This site has been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South East Warwickshire and Cotswolds HLS Target Areas National Mapping Programme.
34 HER monument polygon re-drawn to include full area mapped by NMP. Include odd terraces in southeast corner that don't really seem man-made.
35 This monument includes a slight univallate hillfort situated on the summit of a narrow prominent spur which forms part of Edge Hill overlooking the valley of a tributary to the Sor Brook. The hillfort survives as a ‘pear-shaped’ enclosure with a complex western entrance complete with a hollow way which is elsewhere defined by a single rampart bank and largely buried ditch with a partial counterscarp bank. The defences are preserved differentially as earthworks and buried structures, layers and deposits throughout the circuit. The ramparts are in part fossilised within the current field boundaries and these tend to have scarps beneath them of up to 2m high. The interior is up to 360m long by 243m wide and the hillfort covers a total area of approximately 7 hectares. In 1983 a trial excavation revealed the dump construction rampart had internal or rear stone revetting. Beneath the rampart was a large pit from an earlier phase and to the rear a second pit cut through the rampart. This second pit indicated subsequent re-modelling and also contained a currency bar. Other finds included bone, pottery and slag and the limited exploration of the interior indicated considerable occupation activity. A further watching brief in 1997-8 provided no significant finds but another in 1999 produced an assemblage of Early Iron Age pottery and worked flints of various dates. A bee hive quern was also found at the hillfort in the 1960s. aerial photographs have suggested there is a possible annexe to the south east. The northern side has been re-used to form a parish boundary.
 
Sources
Source No: 6
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Nadbury
Author/originator: French A H
Date: 1981
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 1, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Doubleday H A & Page W (eds)
Date: 1904
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 1
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Antiquities of Warwickshire
Author/originator: Dugdale W
Date: 1730
Page Number: 1056
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp Field Survey
Author/originator:
Date: 2003
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 16
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 17
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: Various
Date: 1954-6
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 18
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: Hingley R
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 19
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1972
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 20
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1974
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 21
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: Alan French
Date: 1981
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 22
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: WM
Date: 1982
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 23
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 29
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp Iron Age Pot Report
Author/originator: Hingley R
Date: 1987
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 31
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: WM
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 33
Source Type: Desk Top Study
Title: SE Warwickshire and Cotswolds NMP Project
Author/originator: Russell Priest
Date: 2010-2012
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: McArthur C A
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 24
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 35
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 25
Source Type: Map
Title: Ratley and Upton 25"
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1922
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 27
Source Type: Map
Title: Ratley and Upton
Author/originator: OS
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 30
Source Type: Note
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator:
Date: 1989
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Observation at Nadbury Camp 1998, Ratley and Upton, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Coutts C
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Plan
Title: OS Card, 34NE4
Author/originator: Pretty E
Date: 1822
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 34NE4
   
Source No: 26
Source Type: Plan
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: County Surveyor's Office
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 28
Source Type: Plan
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: Severn Trent
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 25NE6
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Serial
Title: Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society (TBAS) Vol 95
Author/originator: Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeology Society
Date: 1990
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 95
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 86
Author/originator: Thomas N
Date: 1974
Page Number: 32
Volume/Sheet: 86
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 26 (1983)
Author/originator: Carver, M O H (ed)
Date: 1984
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 26
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM List 1983
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Beacon Tower, Burton Dassett
Author/originator: Ministry of Works/DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 15
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: Ministry of Works
Date: 1930s
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Nadbury Camp, Warwickshire: Report on Field Survey in 1999
Author/originator: Dr Sarah J Wager
Date: 2002
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 32
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Nadbury Camp
Author/originator: Severn Trent et al
Date: 1996-8
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 34
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm.
Author/originator: B Gethin
Date: 2013 onwards
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
Iron Age hillfort, Nadbury
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1996
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Scheduled Monument Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) are those archaeological sites which are legally recognised as being of national importance. They can range in date from prehistoric times to the Cold War period. They can take many different forms, including disused buildings or sites surviving as earthworks or cropmarks.

SAMs are protected by law from unlicensed disturbance and metal detecting. Written consent from the Secretary of State must be obtained before any sort of work can begin, including archaeological work such as geophysical survey or archaeological excavation. There are nearly 200 SAMs in Warwickshire.
 		back
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
source SAM List Scheduled Ancient Monument List. A list or schedule of archaelogical and historic monuments that are considered to be of national importance. The list contains a detailed description of each Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) and a map showing their location and extent. By being placed on the schedule, SAMs are protected by law from any unauthorised distrubance. The list has been compiled and is maintained by English Heritage. It is updated periodically. back
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique Field Survey The term ‘field survey’ is used to describe all work that does not disturb archaeological deposits below the ground through an excavation. Field survey techniques involve recording measurements that help archaeologists draw plans or diagrams of archaeological features. There are a variety of different field survey techniques, including geophysical survey, building recording survey, field walking survey, landscape survey and earthwork survey. back
technique Resistivity Survey A resistivity survey measures the electrical resistance of the soil and any buried features within it. Where there are buried pits and ditches, there is less resistance to the flow of electricity. Where there are archaeological remains made from stone, for example a wall, the resistance is greater. These differences in resistance are measured and recorded by archaeologists using a resistivity meter. The measurements can then be used to plot features that exist below the ground. See also geophysical survey. back
technique Earthwork Earthworks can take the form of banks, ditches and mounds. They are usually created for a specific purpose. A bank, for example, might be the remains of a boundary between two or more fields. Some earthworks may be all that remains of a collapsed building, for example, the grassed-over remains of building foundations.

In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky than during the other seasons, earthworks have larger shadows. From the air, archaeologists are able to see the patterns of the earthworks more easily. Earthworks can sometimes be confusing when viewed at ground level, but from above, the general plan is much clearer.

Archaeologists often carry out an aerial survey or an earthwork survey to help them understand the lumps and bumps they can see on the ground.
 		back
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
more -> 		back
technique Test Pit A small, exploratory excavation that helps archaeologists to find out how deep below the ground surface the archaeological layers extend. They are also dug to discover whether the topsoil contains particular concentrations of artefacts. Test pits are dug before a large excavation to determine a site's depth and contents. back
technique Aerial Photograph Aerial photographs are taken during an aerial survey, which involves looking at the ground from above. It is usually easier to see cropmarks and earthworks when they are viewed from above. Aerial photographs help archaeologists to record what they see and to identify new sites. There are two kinds of aerial photographs; oblique and vertical. back
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
more -> 		back
period Iron Age About 800 BC to 43 AD

The Iron Age comes after the Bronze Age and before the Roman period. It is a time when people developed the skills and knowledge to work and use iron, hence the name ‘Iron Age’ which is given to this period. Iron is a much tougher and more durable metal than bronze but it also requires more skill to make objects from it. People continued to use bronze during this period.
more -> 		back
period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
more -> 		back
monument ROADWAY * The central part of a road between the pavements or the verges. back
monument LAYER * An archaeological unit of soil in a horizontal plane which may seal features or be cut through by other features. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument BEACON * A site or structure on which a signal, especially a fire, could be placed as a warning or means of communication. Use for beacon sites or surviving beacon structures. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument TOWER * A tall building, either round, square or polygonal in plan, used for a variety of purposes, including defence, as a landmark, for the hanging of bells, industrial functions, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument UNIVALLATE HILLFORT * A hilltop enclosure bounded by a single rampart, usually accompanied by a ditch. back
monument RAMPART * A protective earthen mound, often the main defence of a fortification. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument PARISH BOUNDARY * The limit line of a parish. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument DEFENCE * This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms. back
monument ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument BEEHIVE * A receptacle used as a home for bees, traditionally made of thick straw-work in the shape of a dome, but sometimes made of wood. back
monument MULTIVALLATE HILLFORT * A hillfort enclosure with defences composed of more than one bank and ditch. back
monument REVETMENT * A wall or masonry construction built for the purpose of retaining or supporting a bank of earth, wall, rampart etc. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument CRESCENT * A row of houses whose facade in plan follows the concave arc of a circle or ellipse, eg. The Royal Crescent, Bath. back
monument BARN * A building for the storage and processing of grain crops and for housing straw, farm equipment and occasionally livestock and their fodder. Use more specific type where known. back
monument HILLFORT * A hilltop enclosure bounded by one or more substantial banks, ramparts and ditches. Use more specific type where known. back
monument QUARRY * An excavation from which stone for building and other functions, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc. back
monument STREAM * A natural flow or current of water issuing from a source. back
monument FARM * A tract of land, often including a farmhouse and ancillary buildings, used for the purpose of cultivation and the rearing of livestock, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument TARGET * Any structure or object, used for the purpose of practice shooting by aerial, seaborne or land mounted weapons. back
monument EARTHWORK * A bank or mound of earth used as a rampart or fortification. back
monument WORKS * Usually a complex of buildings for the processing of raw materials. Use specific type where known. back
monument SCARP * A steep bank or slope. In fortifications, the bank or wall immediately in front of and below the rampart. back
monument HOLLOW WAY * A way, path or road through a cutting. back
monument TERRACE * A row of houses attached to and adjoining one another and planned and built as one unit. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record