Gallox Hill

Just south west of Dunster is Black Ball Camp on Gallox Hill (also known as British Camp). It was an iron age hill fort - a prehistoric Iron Age defended settlement. There was a similar earthwork on Grabbist Hill Black Ball Camp is a circular camp about 120 yards in diameter SSW of Dunster. Surrounded by a bank of stones and earth with an outer ditch and also, for about a third of the circumference on the W side, a low bank on the counterscarp of the ditch Entrance is on the SW and on the left hand side the bank turns inwards with indications of a circular breastwork or tower showing in foundations.

Moderately strong Iron age earthwork situated on a western slope. Univallate with a counterscarp bank which is strongest on the downhill side and continues for some 50m on the NE. Modern disturbance of the W side of the inturned entrance and no original circular structure can be seen.Ditch generally 2m deep and bank 3m high. Counterscarp bank on the NW side The entrance is on the SW side, opening towards the steepest approach. The area around the entrance gap is disturbed. Regarded as being an outwork of Bats Castle, 600m to the SE

Bank most impressive on the W side. There are trees and shrubs on the banks and in the ditches. Stone is exposed in several places. The entrance area disturbed but forms a definite inturn. The interior is also disturbed by vegetation, rabbits and ant hills. No real earthwork evidence for ridge and furrow but the vegetation may be hiding it. Good vegetation cover of grass, heather and bracken with some small trees. There is a possible hut circle in the SE corner near the entrance.

Contributed by: Jim Ellingham