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Blackdown Rings, Loddiswell
Also known as, or recorded in historical
documents as; The Rings; Blackdown Camp
In the civil parish of Loddiswell.
In the historic county of Devon (Modern Authority of Devon, 1974 county of Devon).
Ringwork and bailey situated within the north western part of Blackdown Rings prehistoric hillfort. The ringwork, which occupies the highest ground available within the hillfort, is represented by a substantial penannular earthen bank surrounded by a ditch. The bank is about 35m in external diameter at the base, flat topped, and with sides that slope steeply both externally and internally to form a rampart up to 4m in height on its highest, northern, side. Bailey lies adjacent to the south east of the ringwork and occupies a level area of 0.2 hectares, measuring about 53m by 20m, enclosed by an earthwork rampart with an external ditch and counterscarp bank. The rampart consists of a steep-sided bank up to 8m wide and 2m in height.
This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
The confidence
that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Earthworks remains.
This site is a scheduled
monument protected by law.
The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX71945208
PastScape number;
444695
Books
- Higham, Robert A., 1999, 'Castles, Fortified Houses and Fortified Towns in the Middle Ages' in Kain, R. and Ravenhill, W., Historical Atlas of South-West England (University of Exeter Press) p136-43
Salter, Mike, 1999, The Castles of Devon and Cornwall (Malvern) p87 [slight]
Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford) p25, 220
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p117
Allcroft, A. Hadrian, 1908, Earthwork of England (London) p407-8, 410
Wall, C., 1906, in Page, Wm (ed), 'Ancient Earthworks' VCH Devon Vol1 p617-9
Journal Articles
- Wilson-North, R. and Dunn, C., 1990, '‘The Rings' Loddiswell: a new survey by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, England' Devon Archaeological Society proceedings Vol48 p87-101
Higham, R.A., 1988, 'Devon Castles: an annotated list' Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society Vol46 p142-9
Higham, R.A., 1982, 'Early Castles in Devon' Château Gaillard Vol9-10 p101-116
King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
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