Wapley Hill is 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...

 located in Herefordshire

Herefordshire

Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...

, 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...

, 3km south-east of Presteigne

Presteigne

Presteigne is a town and community in Powys, Wales. It was the county town of the historic county of Radnorshire, and is in the Diocese of Hereford...

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Location

Wapley Hill stands in mixed woodland on a west-facing escarpment

Escarpment

An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...

 to the south of the B4362 road from Presteigne

Presteigne

Presteigne is a town and community in Powys, Wales. It was the county town of the historic county of Radnorshire, and is in the Diocese of Hereford...

 to Mortimer's Cross

Mortimer's Cross

Mortimer's Cross can refer to:*Battle of Mortimer's Cross*The title of a children's book by Joan Aiken...

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The Herefordshire Trail

Herefordshire Trail

The Herefordshire Trail is a long distance footpath forming a circular walk in the English county of Herefordshire.- Route & Distance :The Herefordshire Trail runs for 154 miles and forms a circular tour of the county of Herefordshire....

 way-marked long distance footpath passes through the site.

Description

The defences stand at a height of 5.6m and occupy 6 hectares. The entrance is situated on the southern side and comprises a 90m passage.

A 'ritual shaft' dating from the late 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...

is sunk to a depth of 33m.

Further reading

• Children, G; Nash, G (1994) Prehistoric Sites of Herefordshire Logaston Press ISBN 1873827091

External Links

• Wapley Hill Monument Detail