Uley Bury

The Bury is probably one of our finest landmarks but what did it actually look like in Roman times? John Henry Blunt, (1823-1884) Rector of Beverston tells us in his journals.

The Uley Bury Camp was probably a fortified city of the Britons long before it was occupied by the Romans and the grave mount adjacent (Hetty Pegler's tump) may be only one of many in which the more distinguished inhabitants were interred.

The Hill (Uley Bury) on which the camp is situated is 823ft in perpendicular altitude and has a deep slope on all four of its sides except at the northern corner where a narrow isthmus connects it with Crawley Hill. The top of the Hill is a level parallelogram from 560 to 600 yds long by about 250 yds wide. The camp occupied the whole of the level surface and thus about 32 acres in extent. It was defended by two banks and ditches which ran all around, large portions of which still remain today. The North entrance was accessed from Crawley Hill this being the main one, the 2nd entrance was in the S.W. corner and the 3rd was on the Eastern side.

Josephus the Jewish historian tells us that when the Romans first occupied Uley Bury Camp, the General's tent was evident, built like a temple. The whole camp looked like a city with its market place and a quarter set aside for handicraft trades and a place set aside for the superior officers.

The Romans dug trenches on the sides of the Hill and when there was a sign of attack these trenches were occupied by the garrisons who could effectively hurl their missiles down on their assailants.

Around the ramparts were placed engines for throwing darts & arrows and for slinging stones. Behind these engines there was a wide space of forty to fifty yards which was used as a parade ground and for the safe keeping of the cattle and other booty. Down the centre of the enclosure was a principal street a hundred feet wide and on either side there were many others.The huts of the soldiers and officers were built up on either side of these streets, the huts being so arranged that every company of a hundred soldiers were quartered together allowing them to fall into their ranks immediately without confusion and to march out to take their place on the battlefield.

The Roman camp on Uley Bury was probably used by later armies, taken & retaken by Dane, and Saxons (the name of Uley is Saxon) but I am happy to say that today it is a peaceful and beautiful place, enjoyed by walkers and also for grazing sheep & cattle. Take a walk around the ramparts and on the way imagine how it used to be in the archives of Uley history.