Feb 23 / Michael J. Curtis

Revisiting the Hillforts of Northamptonshire

In recent years, I have spoken extensively about the Iron Age hillforts of Northamptonshire (Borough Hill pictured to the left). Like many other counties, Northamptonshire has its share of these ancient monuments, which have attracted varying degrees of interest over time. Despite ongoing discussions and research, our understanding of these structures and their significance in the modern landscape continues to evolve, sparking fascinating conversations in course sessions.

Northamptonshire’s hillforts began appearing in the late Bronze Age and remained functional until the Middle Iron Age. They vary in size, shape, and complexity, though many share common characteristics—particularly the damage inflicted upon their enclosed areas by later agricultural use and quarrying. This is a familiar challenge in archaeological sites across the county. Additionally, artifacts recovered in past excavations have, in some cases, been lost to modern research, further complicating our understanding of these sites.

Nevertheless, these hillforts endure as striking features in the landscape, offering insight into a time when Northamptonshire’s terrain was vastly different from today. As a Landscape Archaeologist, I have been revisiting these sites, equipped with a camera and drone, to document them in their current state. When these forts were first constructed, the surrounding landscape was undergoing significant change, with woodland being cleared for agriculture—a transformation still visible today in crop marks and aerial photographs of ancient field systems and farmsteads.

New threats to these sites continue to emerge. For example, Hunsbury Hillfort, now almost enveloped by the urban spread of Northampton, faces challenges despite being a scheduled monument. Heavy foot traffic, walkers, and even pit bike riders place additional strain on its earthworks. This growing concern has fuelled my determination to document and preserve the visual record of these hillforts as they exist today.


View of Hunsbury
The distribution of Iron Age hillforts in Northamptonshire presents an intriguing pattern. From an archaeological perspective, two distinct clusters appear: one concentrated in the west of the county and another along parts of the Nene River Valley, with a few isolated examples such as Guilsborough and Hartwell (Eggrings, Salcey Forest). Their varied sizes suggest differing functions—some, like Crow Hill (Irthlingborough) and Thrapston, resemble the homesteads of tribal chiefs rather than large communal refuges. This observation may support the theory that the older, larger hillforts in the west were constructed during times of greater insecurity, while the smaller, later sites reflect a more settled, agrarian landscape. Interestingly, the defensive capability of many hillforts appears to be a secondary concern, reinforcing the modern re-evaluation of their purpose and function.

My effort to build an archive of present-day photographs is still in its early stages. However, initial filming has already produced compelling images and underscored the importance of capturing these monuments across different seasons. Early highlights include aerial shots of Hunsbury Hillfort—one of the county’s largest multivallate hillforts, recently documented in Northamptonshire Archaeology (Volume 42)—as well as Borough Hill in Daventry, another multivallate hillfort with evidence of Roman-period occupation, and it is still being used today. Drone photography for this project has been provided by Debbie Bailey. By revisiting and documenting these sites, I hope to contribute to a broader understanding of their historical and cultural significance, ensuring they remain visible and valued in the present day.
Hunsbury Interior
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