Loddiswell Blackdown Rings

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; The Rings; Blackdown Camp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).

The earthwork remains of a medieval ringwork and bailey castle situated within the north western part of Blackdown Rings prehistoric hillfort (SX 75 SW 4). 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 35 metres in external diameter at the base, flat topped, and with sides that slope steeply both externally and internally to form a rampart up to 4 metres in height on its highest, northern, side. The bank would have originally supported a wooden palisade. The interior of the ringwork consists of a relatively small level area of some 7 metres in diameter, and is offset to the south east of the centre of the ringwork towards a narrow entrance through the bank. The bailey lies adjacent to the south east of the ringwork and occupies a level area of 0.2 hectares, measuring about 53 metres by 20 metres, enclosed by an earthwork rampart with an external ditch and counterscarp bank. The rampart consists of a steep-sided bank up to 8 metres wide and 2 metres in height. On its northern side the bailey rampart overlies the hillfort rampart and at this point is at its highest. The external face of the rampart slopes directly into a steep-sided ditch, about 6 metres wide and 1.2 metres to 2 metres deep. On the outer edge of the ditch there is a low counterscarp bank of about 4 metres width, which is up to 0.6 metres high were the bailey rampart joins the hillfort rampart. (PastScape)

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX71945208

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 444695
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

• 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 http://www.archive.org/details/earthworkofengla00allc
    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