French
DeutschWoodbury Hill, Dorset
 The field where the fair was held. This is the view NNE along the ramparts of the hillfort. | |
  Shown within Dorset | |
| Location | near Bere Regis, Dorset |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°45′9″N 2°12′17″W / 50.75250°N 2.20472°W |
| OS grid reference | SY 856 948 |
| Type | Hillfort |
| Area | 5 hectares (12 acres) |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age Medieval |
| Designated | 6 October 1959 |
| Reference no. | 1016042 |
Woodbury Hill is a hill near Bere Regis in Dorset, England. It is the site of an Iron Age hillfort (a scheduled monument[1]), and the location of an annual fair from medieval times until the mid 20th century.
The hillfort[edit]
The hill overlooks the Winterbourne Valley to the north and the Piddle Valley to the south; immediately to the west is Bere Stream. The irregularly-shaped hillfort has an area of about 5 hectares (12 acres). It is about 272 metres (892 ft) west to east and 410 metres (1,350 ft) north to south, and is enclosed by a single rampart of width 6 to 12 metres (20 to 39 ft); outside this is a ditch of width 9 metres (30 ft) and a counterscarp. The ground outside the defences falls steeply to the east, south and south-west. To the north, where there is a gently sloping strip of land leading to a northern ridge, a second rampart about 60 metres (200 ft) north of the main rampart provides additional defence.[1][2]
There is an original entrance on the south-west, through which a track leads into the fort, and an original entrance on the north-east; other breaks in the defences are more recent. There is a farmhouse within the fort. Many other structures, shown on the tithe map of 1844, were demolished in the 19th century.[1][2]
The medieval chapel and Woodbury Hill Fair[edit]
On the south-west side within the fort there is the site of a medieval chapel, still standing in the 15th century, but demolished by the 18th century. It was known as the Anchoret's Chapel. A holy well, the Anchoret's Well, is situated 25 metres (82 ft) south-east of the chapel.[1][3] During the medieval period, the well was thought to have healing properties; there were pilgrimages to drink the water on 21 September, the day of its dedication.[3]
Woodbury Hill Fair, held from 18 to 22 September, probably originated from these annual gatherings. It was already taking place before 1200; charters for the fair were granted by Henry III in 1231, 1235 and 1266, and confirmed in 1325 by Edward II. Merchandise traded included cheese, cloth, cattle, sheep and horses; people came from great distances.[3]
The fair began to decline in the 18th century. In the 1930s it became a fair of entertainment, lasting two days. After suspension during the war it was revived, but the last fair took place in 1951.[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Historic England. "Hillfort, ridge and furrow, holy well and medieval chapel on Woodbury Hill (1016042)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ a b 'Hill-Forts', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 2, South east (London, 1970) pp483-501 British History Online. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d "The History of Woodbury Hill Fair" Bere Regis Village Website. Retrieved 2 May 2021.