Cadbury Castle, Devon
Encyclopedia
Cadbury Castle is an Iron Age Hillfort close to Bickleigh
, Devon
, England
. It was later encamped by the Parliamentarian
forces during the English Civil War
under Thomas Fairfax
when he laid siege to Bickleigh Castle
.
The site is situated some 250 metres above sea level overlooking a series of valleys and down to the Exe Valley
. Clear views are afforded of other hill forts including Cranmore Castle
, Huntsham castle
, Dolbury
, Stoke Hill
, Raddon Top
, Posbury
and Cotley Castle
. Access is via a public footpath signposted from Cadbury village.
Bickleigh, Mid Devon
Bickleigh is a village and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon, England, about four miles south of Tiverton. It is in the former hundred of Hayridge. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 239...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, 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...
. It was later encamped by the Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
forces during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
under Thomas Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron was a general and parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War...
when he laid siege to Bickleigh Castle
Bickleigh Castle
Bickleigh Castle is a fortified manor house that stands on the banks of the River Exe at Bickleigh in Devon, England .Once considerably larger, Bickleigh now comprises a group of buildings from various periods. A Norman motte castle of the late 11th or early 12th century was dismantled in the mid...
.
The site is situated some 250 metres above sea level overlooking a series of valleys and down to the Exe Valley
River Exe
The River Exe in England rises near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, near the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south coast of Devon...
. Clear views are afforded of other hill forts including Cranmore Castle
Cranmore Castle
Cranmore Castle is an Iron Age earthwork situated on a hillside above the Devon town of Tiverton in south-west England. Its National Grid reference is SS958118...
, Huntsham castle
Huntsham castle
Huntsham Castle, Devon, England is an Iron Age Hill fort enclosure, located 260M above sea level on the edge of the former Parish of Tiverton....
, Dolbury
Dolbury
Dolbury is another local name for the Iron Age Hill fort or enclosure at Killerton Park in Devon it is referred to as such in several Books and websites on Iron Age sites. The Hill Fort is situated on a hilltop some 128 Metres above Sea Level, the hilltop has a flat promontory jutting out...
, Stoke Hill
Stoke Hill
Stoke Hill is a large hill rising to the north of Exeter in Devon, England. It is significant as the site of both an Iron Age hill fort and a later Roman signal station....
, Raddon Top
Raddon Top
Raddon Top is the highest point of the Raddon Hills, a small ridge of hills in the Shobrooke area of Mid Devon. The summit is at some 235 Metres above Sea Level, making it a significant feature in the surrounding countryside....
, Posbury
Posbury
Posbury Hill Fort is an unexcavated Iron Age Hill fort, located three miles from Crediton, Devon. It consists today of an incomplete earthwork partly enclosing a hilltop 180 metres above sea level...
and Cotley Castle
Cotley Castle
Cotley Castle is a large Iron Age Hill fort near Dunchideock in Devon and close to Exeter. It occupies a significant hilltop at 220 metres above sea level, just to the north of Great Haldon, part of the same ridge of the Haldon Hills....
. Access is via a public footpath signposted from Cadbury village.