Page:VCH Herefordshire 1.djvu/278

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A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE east of Hereford, standing about 700 ft. above sea level," and from 500 to 600 ft. above the valley of the Wye on the south-west. The position is naturally defended, except on the north-west, by the slopes of the hill, though the ridge of high ground continues on the north-east and south- west. The slope being gentle on the north-west of the camp, rendering attack more easy there, we find that the strong protection of double ramparts and fosses was provided on that side. The east shows no artificial rampart ; perhaps it was not necessary owing to the abruptness of the natural scarp, or possibly one existed and has slidden down the slope. A landslip has at some period carried down much of the south-east side, rendering that point picturesque and rugged but chaotic as to the line of the defensive works." The arrangements of entrenchment at the entrance, on the north-east point, have apparently been at some period altered from the original plan." While it is generally assumed that this is a hill-fort of early times, it is not unlikely that, as is reputed, it was occupied in Saxon days and, may be, we owe the alteration of the north-east point to that period ; indeed, we know of no discoveries to prove that the whole camp is not of the time when Saxon was contending with Briton. Ganarew : Little Doward Camp. — Seven miles south-west of Ross, on the summit of a hill rising some 600 ft. above the River Wye, is situated this interesting early fortified inclosure. ^"' ■■■■■.. ■^. N. /'i Pi^' sS!% '""""^'^ /V-i Tumuli ? 1?.? fr.-^ HP /■

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jlax. or rScT 1 00 £00 300 Little Doward Camp, Ganarew " The highest portion, that on the south, is 738-6 ft. above sea level. " The landslip, though caused by well-known geologic agency, is traditionally credited to the great earth- quake which accompanied the Crucifixion ! " It is doubtful whether the gap in the rampart, &c. on the west, was an entrance. 210