Norton Camp (Somerset)

Nearest town:
Bishops Lydeard (4km WNW)
OS reference:
ST196262
OS sheets:
181, 193
Latitude:
51° 1' 44.24 N
Longitude:
3° 8' 47.89 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Norton Camp (Somerset) (Hillfort) by juamei

Open Source Environment agency LIDAR

Image credit: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015.
juamei
juamei Jan 20, 2016

Articles

Norton Camp (Somerset)

C
CARL Jan 21, 2014

Visited 18.1.14

Directions:
The Hillfort is in the village of Norton Fitzwarren, which is on the outskirts of Taunton. Although Norton Fitzwarren is only a small place the Hillfort is a little tricky to find as it is not sign posted and is almost hidden in a residential area. Best advice I can give is to look for the church and take the roads to the north of it. There is a dedicated small car park for the Hillfort / nature reserve – which is signposted at this point.

Once you have found the car park, it is only a two minute walk up some steps and along a path (through trees) to the Hillfort. A muddy path follows the circumference of the site but a fence prevents you from entering the centre of the Hillfort which appears as though it is now used for crop?

The entire bank of the rampart is covered in trees. From the inside, the bank is about 1m in height, from the outside 2-3m in height. The houses to the south back right up to the southern defences. The garden fence is literally up against the rampart.

I am sure the house builders wouldn’t be allowed to get away with that in this day and age? Oh I forgot about Old Oswestry……………..!

Although there isn’t a huge amount to see this is an easy Hillfort to access and is worth seeking out if you happen to be in the area.

Folklore

Norton Camp (Somerset)
Hillfort
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Jan 21, 2014

Norton Fitzwarren Church.
The Rev. T. Hugo pointed out the screen, which he said was as fine a one as would be found anywhere. It contained a carved representation of two dragons and a plough in the centre. According to the legend the dragon who lived on the hill seemed to have infested the fields where the ploughmen were, and here he was in pursuit of the men. The plough was of a medieval character. One circumstance might lead to the discovery of the date of its construction – the name of the churchwarden for the time being was carved upon it. Its age was not very far before the year 1500. It ought to be coloured, as was no doubt the intention of the builder. Mr. Jones and Mr. Parker thought the representation was merely as usual allegorical of the results of sloth and industry, or virtue and vice. [...] The Rev. J. P. Hewett (rector) mentioned that in the year 1825 the screen, which until then had been in its original state, was covered with a coat of oak paint over the colouring.

[...] Ascending a hill in the rear of the church the party found themselves in Norton Camp.

From the Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Society 1872. The Proceedings for 1898 mention the somewhat grisly detail that “Even in our own day the inhabitants will tell you of the pestiferous reptile that once upon a time lived on the hill, bred from the corruption of human bodies, breathing disease and death around.”.

Folklore

Norton Camp (Somerset)
Hillfort
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Jun 9, 2004

It is said that
“Norton was a market town
When Taunton was a vuzzy down.”

For you city dwellers out there, vuzzy means furzey, which means covered in gorse.

(mentioned in Grinsell’s ‘Folklore of Prehistoric Sites in Britain’)

Folklore

Norton Camp (Somerset)
Hillfort
pure joy
pure joy Mar 21, 2003

Following a battle at this hillfort a dragon was said to have been formed by ‘spontaneous generation’ from the pile of dead bodies. It terrorised the neighbourhood until it was killed by a local hero known as Fulk Fitzwarine. The events are commemorated on a carved and painted rood-screen (circa 1500) in the church (or did the rood screen inspire the dragon tale?).

Sites within 20km of Norton Camp (Somerset)

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.