Bloodgate Hill Iron Age Fort
Encyclopedia
The Bloodgate Hill Iron Age Fort is an Iron age
hill fort
in Norfolk
, England
, situated on a hill above the village of South Creake
in the north of the county. The meaning of the name Bloodgate is unknown, but is taken from the road that runs from the fort to the village.
The circular fort has a diameter of 210 metres, making it the largest of the hill forts known in Norfolk. Much of the visible remains disappeared in 1827-8, when the ramparts were levelled during agricultural improvements. The land continued to be ploughed until 2003, when the land was acquired by the Norfolk Archaeological Trust. The site is now preserved and accessible. However little excavation has yet been undertaken.
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, situated on a hill above the village of South Creake
South Creake
South Creake is a village and civil parish in north west Norfolk, England. The village lies south of its twin village of North Creake, and some five miles north-west of the town of Fakenham....
in the north of the county. The meaning of the name Bloodgate is unknown, but is taken from the road that runs from the fort to the village.
The circular fort has a diameter of 210 metres, making it the largest of the hill forts known in Norfolk. Much of the visible remains disappeared in 1827-8, when the ramparts were levelled during agricultural improvements. The land continued to be ploughed until 2003, when the land was acquired by the Norfolk Archaeological Trust. The site is now preserved and accessible. However little excavation has yet been undertaken.