Caesars camp, Sandy. Contour fort.
Mowsbury Hillfort > Beds Hillforts
Iron Age hillfort on a spur above the River Ivel. Much damaged. Original extent uncertain.
Caesar's Camp is an Iron Age contour fort occupying a steep-sided narrow spur overlooking the River Ivel. It is much damaged and its original extent is uncertain; the area of the existing portion is about 7 acres.The fort is surrounded by a single bank and ditch, strongest at the southern angle where the rampart is 8feet high on the inside and 20 feet outside, with a broad terrace on the outside. The eastern side of the fort has disappeared but the western side is traceable as far as the Cambridge road, which probably represents the northern extremity of the fort. The date of construction of Caesar's Camp is uncertain Undecorated handmade pottery dug up in the interior in 1505 was of the 1st century BC. Hawkes and Fox suggest an Early Iron Age 'C' date, but Hawkes and Dunning state that evidence of Belgic occupation has been found. Ralegh-Radford suggests that Sandy was a city of the Catuvellanni and may refer to this site. Univallate hill-fort: well preserved on south and east, less well preserved on west and almost completely lost on the north and north-west where the Old Cambridge road probably follows the course of the ditch. The single entrance entrance is placed at the southern end of the west side in a well-defined enclave.
Caesar's Camp is the most obvious Iron Age site in Sandy [HER 442]. The Historic Environment Record describes it as: "An irregular promontory enclosure defined by a partial rampart and ditch. Mesolithic flints and late Iron Age pottery have been found in the enclosed area; the remains of a contour fort following the outlines of a spur overlooking the Ivel valley. Ramparts are visible surrounding the top of the spur, but there is no trace of defences on the northern side. The interior has had some landscaping during the 20th century, but archaeological observations have not uncovered any significant remains. An apparent entrance through the ramparts has been noted on the south eastern side. Mesolithic flakes, late Iron Age pottery and small Roman coins have been found inside the enclosed area. Thought to be a late Iron Age defensive site, with possible reuse in the Roman period".