Wandlebury Hill
Encyclopedia
Wandlebury Hill is a hill in the Gog Magog Downs
, a ridge of low chalk hills extending for several miles to the southeast of Cambridge
, England. The underlying rock is present in a number of places on the hill. At 74 m/243 ft it is the same height as the nearby Little Trees Hill
, although the latter is a more notable landmark.
The top stands in Wandlebury Country Park, a nature reserve
owned by the Cambridge Preservation Society. Wandlebury was already inhabited in the Bronze Age
and 2500 years ago there was an Iron Age
hill fort
here known as Wandlebury Ring. This hill fort once had concentric ditches and earthen walls which were kept in place by wooden palisades
. Although the fort has vanished, the ditch (the Ring) dug around the edge can clearly be seen and walked along, being 5 metres deep in places and offering an adventurous route along its edge. Wandlebury House, home of among others, Francis Godolphin
, stood within the Ring. The house has been demolished but the monumental stable block remains and is used as the headquarters of the Cambridge Preservation Society. The grave of the Godolphin Barb
horse can be seen. The tail of a crashed World War II
Wellington Bomber was visible wedged high in a Beech tree within the estate, until it was dislodged by strong winds in the early 1990s.
The reserve is an excellent place for birdwatching
and is a beautiful place for an early morning stroll. Like Little Trees Hill, the summit is on public land and is accessible when sheep are not in the field, as there is an electric fence, in which the trig point
stands. It can be reached by walking across the field from post 3 of the nature trail. Virtually no climb is involved in the ascent, just a pleasant stroll through woodland.
Gog Magog Downs
The Gog Magog Downs are a range of low chalk hills, extending for several miles to the southeast of Cambridge in England. The highest points are marked on Ordnance Survey 1:25000 maps as "Telegraph Clump"Telegraph Clump, at , Little Trees HillLittle Trees Hill, and Wandlebury Hill,Wandlebury...
, a ridge of low chalk hills extending for several miles to the southeast of Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England. The underlying rock is present in a number of places on the hill. At 74 m/243 ft it is the same height as the nearby Little Trees Hill
Little Trees Hill
Little Trees Hill is the highest point of the Gog Magog Downs, a ridge of low chalk hills extending for several miles to the south-east of Cambridge in England. Unusually for a Cambridgeshire hill, its summit is reachable by a public footpath. A footpath runs from the Magog Down car park on...
, although the latter is a more notable landmark.
The top stands in Wandlebury Country Park, a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
owned by the Cambridge Preservation Society. Wandlebury was already inhabited in the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and 2500 years ago there was an Iron Age
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...
here known as Wandlebury Ring. This hill fort once had concentric ditches and earthen walls which were kept in place by wooden palisades
Palisades
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.Palisade or Palisades also may refer to:-Geology:United States...
. Although the fort has vanished, the ditch (the Ring) dug around the edge can clearly be seen and walked along, being 5 metres deep in places and offering an adventurous route along its edge. Wandlebury House, home of among others, Francis Godolphin
Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin
Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, PC was a British politician, styled Viscount Rialton between 1706 and 1712.-Biography:...
, stood within the Ring. The house has been demolished but the monumental stable block remains and is used as the headquarters of the Cambridge Preservation Society. The grave of the Godolphin Barb
Godolphin Arabian
The Godolphin Arabian , also known as the Godolphin Barb, was an Arabian horse who was one of three stallions that were the founders of the modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock...
horse can be seen. The tail of a crashed World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Wellington Bomber was visible wedged high in a Beech tree within the estate, until it was dislodged by strong winds in the early 1990s.
The reserve is an excellent place for birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
and is a beautiful place for an early morning stroll. Like Little Trees Hill, the summit is on public land and is accessible when sheep are not in the field, as there is an electric fence, in which the trig point
Trig point
A triangulation station, also known as a triangulation pillar, trigonometrical station, trigonometrical point, trig station, trig beacon or trig point, and sometimes informally as a trig, is a fixed surveying station, used in geodetic surveying and other surveying projects in its vicinity...
stands. It can be reached by walking across the field from post 3 of the nature trail. Virtually no climb is involved in the ascent, just a pleasant stroll through woodland.
External links
- The Prehistoric Society on Bronze Age ritual activity
- Cambridge Past and Present (formerly the Cambridge Preservation Society)'s page about Wandlebury