Powerstock and Eggardon Hill

Rising to the east of this area and towering over it is Eggardon Hill, its summit encircled by the ramparts of an Iron Age hillfort. On the north side of the hill there is a narrow lane from which one can look out over an enchanted landscape of pastures, woodlands and overgrown hedges.

The ramparts of the hillfort were constructed in about 50 BC, and they are much larger and more impressive than those of the older hillforts on Lambert's Castle Hill and Pilsdon Pen. On a clear day you can see all the way to Dartmoor 60 miles away in the west and to the Isle of Wight 60 miles in the east. In Thomas Hardy's novel "The Trumpet-Major", Eggardon Hill is called 'Haggerdon'.

From Eggardon Hill, the route descends to a later earthwork, the Norman motte and bailey known officially as Powerstock Castle and unofficially as 'Humpy Castle'.

There is a tradition that King Athelstan had a palace on the site of Powerstock Castle, and that King John had a hunting lodge here. The motte was built on the oolitic limestone and consequently it has been considerably disturbed by quarrying. This is a small price to pay however, for the beautiful cottages built of stone that are found throughout this area.

Back in Powerstock, you will find an interesting church. Its oldest feature is the Norman chancel arch, which is decorated with chevron, diaper — or repeated diamond shapes — and cable moulding.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.