Badbury Rings

Badbury Rings is an iron age hill fort in east Dorset, England, dating from 800 BCE and in use until the Roman occupation of 43 CE. The 330 ft (100 m) high, 7 hectare fort is encircled by three 40 ft (15 m) ramparts and four Bronze Age round barrows indicating an earlier occupation. The fort is situated at the cross of two Roman roads, between Dorchester, Old Sarum (Salisbury), Bath and Hamworthy (Poole). Image File history File linksMetadata Dorset_brings_01. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Dorset_brings_01. ... Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ... The term hill fort is commonly used by archaeologists to describe fortified enclosures located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. ... For other uses, see Dorset (disambiguation). ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... The Common Era (CE or C.E.), sometimes known as the Current Era or Christian Era, is the period of measured time beginning with the year 1 (the traditional birthdate of Jesus) to the present. ... Principal sites in Roman Britain Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ... The Common Era (CE or C.E.), sometimes known as the Current Era or Christian Era, is the period of measured time beginning with the year 1 (the traditional birthdate of Jesus) to the present. ... A foot (plural: feet) is any of several old units of distance or length, measuring around a quarter to a third of a meter. ... A hectare (symbol ha) is a unit of area, equal to 10,000 square metres, commonly used for measuring land area. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Separation barrier. ... The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... Burial of Oleg of Novgorod in a tumulus in 912. ... A Roman road in Pompeii The Romans, as a military, commercial and political expedient, became adept at constructing roads; many long sections of them are ruler-straight, but it should not be thought that all of them were. ... The main road through Dorchester Dorchester is a market town in south west Dorset, England, situated on the River Frome and A35 road 20 miles west of Poole and five miles north of Weymouth. ... Woodcut of Old Sarum as it was during its height Old Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, England, with evidence of human habitation as early as 3000 BC. It sits on a hill about two miles (3km) north of modern Salisbury on the west side of... Salisbury Cathedral by Constable. ... For other uses, see Bath (disambiguation). ... Map sources for Hamworthy at grid reference SY992912 Hamworthy is a parish and inner suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. ... Poole is a coastal town, port and tourist destination, situated on the shores of the English Channel, in the ceremonial county of Dorset in southern England. ...

Dorset fell to the Saxons late in the Saxon invasion of England, being held up by Bokerley Dyke on the Roman Road from Old Sarum. Local historian Roy Carr (2001) has suggested that the Saxons were held off by the threat of an army in the west, perhaps stationed at Badbury Rings. Carr has suggested that such a force could be one of the sources of the legends of King Arthur, and that Badbury could be the "Badon" of the legend of the Battle of Mons Badonicus. Map showing the Saxons homeland in traditional region bounded by the three rivers: Weser, Eider, and Elbe Src: Freemans Historical Geographys. The Saxons or Saxon people are (nowadays) part of the German people with its main areas of settlements in the German States of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Saxony... Bokerley Dyke ia a Romano-British defensive ditch in north east Dorset, England, near the village Pentridge. ... A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15c). ... Britain, c. ...

The site, on the dip slope of Cranborne Chase, is now part of the Kingston Lacy estate owned by the National Trust, with free access. Ashmore pond Cranborne Chase is a Chalk plateau in central southern England, straddling the counties Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. ... Kingston Lacy Kingston Lacy is a stately home and estate near Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England, now owned by the National Trust. ... The standard of the National Trust The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is a British preservation organization. ...

The site is also used for the popular point to point racing by the Portman hunt. Point to Point racing is a form of amateur racing for hunting horses. ... The title of Viscount Portman was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1873. ... A fox hunt Fox hunting is a form of hunting for foxes using a pack of scent hounds. ...

External links

• swuklink.com: Badbury Rings
• The Dorset Page: Badbury Rings
• The Heritage Trail

References

• Carr, R., 2001. "Badbury or Badon" in Dorset life no 267 p5-7.
• Pitt-Rivers, Michael, 1970. Dorset. London: Faber & Faber.