Whitesheet Hill
Encyclopedia
Whitesheet Hill is a 136.1 hectare
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire
, notified in 1965. As one of the most westerly areas of downland
in Britain the area is noted for its chalky farmland which contains a rich variety of rare and protected fauna and flora. The hill is also the site of a neolithic
causeway camp
and barrows
; and an Iron Age
hill fort
. The Roman road which runs along the hill was at one time the main route through the Selwood Forest
. The hill is part of the Stourhead
estate and has been in the ownership of the National Trust
since 1946.
Whitesheet hill is located at White Sheet Down, in the parish of Kilmington
near the small town of Mere
on the A303
in West Wiltshire, England. It is situated within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and has extensive views over Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. It is home to White Sheet Radio Flying Club who use it as a slope soaring site for fun and competition flying.
The site was excavated by Sir Richard Hoare, 2nd Baronet in the early 19th century:
p42, "Ancient History of Wiltshire" v2, 1812 http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/gettextimage.php?book_no=056&chapter_no=03&page_no=0012
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, notified in 1965. As one of the most westerly areas of downland
Downland
A downland is an area of open chalk hills. This term is especially used to describe the chalk countryside in southern England. Areas of downland are often referred to as Downs....
in Britain the area is noted for its chalky farmland which contains a rich variety of rare and protected fauna and flora. The hill is also the site of a neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
causeway camp
Causewayed enclosure
A causewayed enclosure is a type of large prehistoric earthwork common to the early Neolithic in Europe. More than 100 examples are recorded in France and 70 in England, while further sites are known in Scandinavia, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Ireland and Slovakia.The term "causewayed enclosure" is...
and barrows
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
; and 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...
. The Roman road which runs along the hill was at one time the main route through the Selwood Forest
Selwood Forest
Selwood Forest is an area of woodland on the borders between Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire in south west England. In Anglo-Saxon times it was far more substantial and covered a much greater area forming a natural barrier between the Anglo-Saxons of Wessex and the Britons of Dumnonia and the Severn...
. The hill is part of the Stourhead
Stourhead
Stourhead is a 2,650 acre estate at the source of the River Stour near Mere, Wiltshire, England. The estate includes a Palladian mansion, the village of Stourton, gardens, farmland, and woodland...
estate and has been in the ownership of the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
since 1946.
Whitesheet hill is located at White Sheet Down, in the parish of Kilmington
Kilmington, Wiltshire
Kilmington is a village and civil parish in the extreme west of Wiltshire, England. The parish includes the hamlet of Norton Ferris. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 292.It lies on the northern edge of the ancient Selwood Forest...
near the small town of Mere
Mere, Wiltshire
Mere is a small town in Wiltshire, England. It lies at the extreme southwestern tip of Salisbury Plain close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset....
on the A303
A303 road
The A303 is a 92-mile long trunk road in England. It is the main road between Basingstoke in Hampshire and Honiton in Devon. The M3, the A303 and the A30 together make up one of the main routes from London to South West England, running from London to Land's End in Cornwall...
in West Wiltshire, England. It is situated within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs
Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs
The Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers of Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset and Wiltshire. It is the sixth largest AONB in the country....
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and has extensive views over Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. It is home to White Sheet Radio Flying Club who use it as a slope soaring site for fun and competition flying.
Prehistoric archaeology
There are some 12 ancient burial mounds (barrows) on the hill dating from 1800 BC. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-stourhead/w-stourhead-estate.htmThe site was excavated by Sir Richard Hoare, 2nd Baronet in the early 19th century:
Immediately on ascending the hill called Whitesheet, we find ourselves surrounded by British antiquities. The road intersects an ancient earthen work, of a circular form, and which, from the slightness of its vallum, appears to have been of high antiquity. Adjoining it is a large barrow, which we opened in October 1807, and found it had contained a skeleton, and had been investigated before.
On a point of land near this barrow are three others, all of which, by the defaced appearance of their summits, seemed to have attracted the notice of former antiquaries. No 1, the nearest to the edge of the hill, had certainly been opened, and appears to have contained a double interment. The primary one was an interment of burned bones deposited within a shallow cist, in an urn rudely formed, and badly baked. Above it was a skeleton with its head laid towards the south, and which from its position and perfect preservation appears not to have been disturbed. Its mouth was wide open, and it "grinn'd horribly a ghastly smile," a singularity we have never before met with.
p42, "Ancient History of Wiltshire" v2, 1812 http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/gettextimage.php?book_no=056&chapter_no=03&page_no=0012
See also
- Long KnollLong KnollLong Knoll is a 34.2 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, notified in 1971.Long Knoll is a ridge of chalk grassland some 1.5 km long. It forms the parish boundary between Kilmington to the south and Maiden Bradley to the north.The...
- Robin Hood's BallRobin Hood's BallRobin Hood’s Ball is a Neolithic causewayed enclosure located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. It is approximately 5 miles from the town of Amesbury, and 2.5 miles from Stonehenge.-Etymology:...
- Cadbury Castle, SomersetCadbury Castle, SomersetCadbury Castle is an Iron Age hill fort in the civil parish of South Cadbury in the English county of Somerset. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and associated with King Arthur.-Background:...
- King Alfred's TowerKing Alfred's TowerKing Alfred's Tower or The Folly of King Alfred the Great is in the parish of Brewham, Somerset, and was built as part of the celebrated Stourhead estate and landscape. The tower stands on Kingsettle Hill and nowadays belongs to the National Trust...
- Brimsdown HillBrimsdown HillBrimsdown Hill is a 193.7 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire, notified in 1951. It is situated within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-Source:*...
- Heath Hill FarmHeath Hill FarmHeath Hill Farm is a 20.73 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Stourton in Wiltshire, notified in 1997. Part of the Stourhead estate, it is also situated within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.The site is mainly grass meadows...
- List of hill forts in England
Source
- English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 11 August 2006)