Reasons for Designation
Rounds are small embanked enclosures, one of a range of settlement types dating to between the later Iron Age and the early post-Roman period. Usually circular or oval, they have a single earth and rubble bank and an outer ditch, with one entrance breaking the circuit. Excavations have produced drystone supporting walls within the bank, paved or cobbled entrance ways, post built gate structures, and remains of timber, turf or stone built houses of oval or rectangular plan, often set around the inner edge of the enclosing bank. Other evidence includes hearths, drains, gullies, pits and rubbish middens. Evidence for industrial activities has been recovered from some sites, including small scale metal working and, among the domestic debris, items traded from distant sources. Some rounds are associated with secondary enclosures, either abutting the round as an annexe or forming an additional enclosure. Rounds are viewed primarily as agricultural settlements, the equivalents of farming hamlets. They were replaced by unenclosed settlement types by the 7th century AD. Over 750 rounds are recorded in the British Isles, occurring in areas bordering the Irish Seas, but confined in England to south west Devon and especially Cornwall. Most recorded examples are sited on hillslopes and spurs. Rounds are important as one of the major sources of information on settlement and social organisation of the Iron Age and Roman periods in south west England. The round 300m south east of Browhill survives well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, trade, agricultural practices, social organisation, territorial significance, domestic arrangements and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument includes a round, situated on the upper south-facing slopes of a prominent spur, overlooking the steep valley of the River Neet. The round survives as an oval enclosure measuring approximately 100m long by 70m wide. It is defined by a rampart bank of up to 2.3m high and 13m wide to the north and up to 1.8m high and 6.5m wide to the south. The outer ditch measures up to 9m wide and 1.8m deep. The outer edge of the ditch is partially enclosed by later field boundaries and to the south west it has been partly cut by a quarry.
The round was first recorded by Maclauchlan in 1852. It is known locally as 'Herdbury Camp'.
Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-31873
