Coxall Knoll
{{Short description|Hill in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name =
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|image = Ramparts, Coxall Knoll (geograph 3151337).jpg
|image_size = 240px
|alt =
|caption = Ramparts of Coxall Knoll
|map_type = Shropshire
|map_alt =
|map_size = 200px
|altitude_m = 262
|location = near Bucknell, Shropshire
|region =
|coordinates = {{coord|52.3553|-2.9334|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:GB}}
|gbgridref = SO 366 734
|type = Hillfort
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|epochs = Iron Age
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|notes =
| designation1 = Scheduled monument
| designation1_number = 1014107
| designation1_date = 3 September 1935
}}
Coxall Knoll is a hill lying on the boundary of Shropshire and Herefordshire, England; it is near Bucknell in Shropshire and Buckton and Coxall in Herefordshire. On the summit is an Iron Age hillfort, a scheduled monument.{{NHLE|num=1014107 |desc=Multiple enclosure hillfort on Coxall Knoll|access-date= 13 April 2022}}{{cite web|author=The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map |url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=4743 |title=Coxall Knoll Hillfort : The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map: |publisher=Megalithic.co.uk |access-date=13 April 2022}}
Description
The height of the hill is {{convert|262|m}} and it has a prominence of {{convert|120|m}}.[https://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=5359 "Coxall Knoll"] Hill Bagging. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
The hillfort Brandon Camp lies about {{convert|3|km}} to the east-south-east, across the River Teme, and there are buried remains of Roman camps in between, including Buckton Roman Fort; so it is supposed that there was activity in the area into the Roman period.
The hillfort on the summit is roughly oval in shape, measuring about {{convert|570|m}} west to east and {{convert|200|m}} north to south. There are earthen banks following the contours of the hill; the slopes below have been made steeper by the builders of the fort. The main enclosure, with three banks and ditches to the north, has an area of about {{convert|3|ha}}. Adjoining is a roughly triangular eastern enclosure with an area of about {{convert|1.8|ha}}, and an enclosure to the north of this with an area of about {{convert|0.7|ha}}. These two seem to be additions to the main enclosure.[http://www.roman-britain.co.uk/places/coxall_knoll/ "Coxall Knoll"] Roman Britain. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
The main entrance to the fort, on the west side, is defined by inturned banks. The south entrance is at the junction of the east and west enclosures. In the north there are two breaks in the banks.
In the northern enclosure there is a recumbent stone, perhaps dating from the Bronze Age. It is known, because of its shape, as the Frog Stone. There is no trace of a hollow where it might have once stood upright; it may have been placed here by the builders of the fort, or by earlier inhabitants.{{PastScape|num=106821 |desc=Coxall Knoll Camp|access-date= 13 April 2022|fewer-links=y}}
Tradition
According to Arthur Mee, Coxall Knoll was a site believed "by local tradition" and "with the support of instructed opinion" to be that of Caratacus' last stand against the Roman invaders.{{cite book|last=Mee|first=Arthur|title=The King's England, Shropshire|year=1939|publisher=Hodder and Stoughton, London|pages=45-46}}Mentioned under Bucknell. Caratacus is spelled "Caractacus" in Mee's work.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Iron Age hillforts in England}}
Category:Scheduled monuments in Shropshire