Loughton Camp
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Loughton Camp is an Iron Age (~500BC) Hill Fort in Epping Forest[1] , one mile North West of the town of Loughton.
The camp's earthworks cover an area of aproximately 10 acres (4 hectares) and are visible today as a low bank and ditch encircling the main camp. The banks were most probably once a single high rampart, used for defence and the appearance of the ditch suggests it was once very wide and deep in places.
The camp lies on one of the highest points in the surrounding area, on a ridge of high ground, likely to have once been strategic. It is speculated that it was used by the Trinovantes in defence against the Catuvellauni [2]. Its elevation suggests that the camp was possibly once a lookout post, however it may have simply been used as fortification for protection of cattle. An stone Iron Age grain millstone (quern) was found close by. More colourfully, local legend has it that Boudica used the Camp, and that Ambresbury Banks was the site of her defeat in AD61 however there is no evidence to corroborate this[3].
The South Western edge of the camp falls away sharply to an area known as Kate's Cellar (a hermit who reputedly once lived in this area of the forest). An early 19th Century map shows Dick Turpin's hideout here (there are a number of locations which within Epping Forest's 6000 acres which claim the same).
The camp was 'discovered' by Mr Benjamin Harris Cowper in 1872. The first archaeology carried out was by General Pitt-Rivers in 1881. In 1882 the Essex Field Club further excavated the banks.
A corresponding camp Ambresbury Banks exists closer to the town of Epping. Both are Scheduled Ancient Earthworks and as such must only be explored on foot. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ City of London - Epping Forest
- ^ Epping Forest District Council - Museum
- ^ [1] City of London - Ancient Forst / Iron Age Camps
- ^ City of London Protect Ancient Trees
