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Helsby hill fort is an Iron Age hillfort overlooking the village of Helsby in Cheshire, northwest England. Helsby Hill has steep cliffs on the northern and western sides, providing a natural semicircular defence. Double rampart earthworks extend to the south and east to provide protection to those flanks. Two additional banks have been discovered enclosing a rock ledge on the cliff to the north side. Excavations last century revealed a wall composed of sand and rubble, revetted with stone to the back and front.[1][2][3] The hill has a summit of 141 m AOD, and is a prominent landmark rising above the Cheshire Plain, with fine views overlooking the Mersey Estuary and into Wales. Much of the hill is owned and managed by the National Trust.[4] The surrounding areas are well wooded to the southwest, northwest and northeast with farmland to the southeast. The hill fort is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[5]
Location
[edit]The site is to the east of the large village and civil parish of Helsby, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire.
- Map sources for Helsby hill fort
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Helsby Hill – Hillfort in England in Cheshire, The Megalithic Portal, retrieved 27 December 2012
- ^ D. M. Longley “Prehistory” in C. R. Elrington (ed) “The Victoria History of the County of Chester, volume 1, Oxford University Press (1987)
- ^ J. D. Bu’Lock “Hillfort at Helsby” TLCAS Volume 64.
- ^ http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-green-space-june.pdf Directory of National Trust Green spaces
- ^ Historic England, "Promontory fort on Helsby Hill 250m north west of Harmers Lake Farm (1013292)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 1 December 2012