Details
The monument includes Road Castle, an earthwork enclosure of Iron Age date located immediately south of Lyncombe Wood. The enclosure is situated below the summit of a broad spur which forms the northern end of Road Hill, and which overlooks the Exe Valley on the north and east sides. The enclosure is near square in plan, with rounded corners, and occupies a well defended position which, on the north side and north eastern corner, falls steeply away to the River Exe below. An area of approximately 0.3ha is enclosed. The south, west and south east sides are defined by a steeply scarped rampart bank, up to 4m high, and an external ditch up to 1.4m deep. The bank and ditch together have an overall width of 14m. An external, low counterscarp bank, which extends from the south western corner to the south eastern corner, is visible along the south side of the enclosure. This is located some 6m from the edge of the outer ditch and is 3m wide. The profile of the bank on the east side of the enclosure has been modified by the later addition of a hedgebank along most of its course, although it is probable that the majority of the prehistoric bank has been incorporated into the later hedgebank. The outer ditch along this eastern section of bank is less substantial than in other areas and is visible as a shallow depression about 0.3m deep, but will survive as a buried feature. On the north side of the enclosure the rampart bank is formed by a steep outward-facing scarp which has a 4m wide berm on its outer, north-facing side. There is no evidence for a ditch along this section of the enclosure. The rampart banks throughout the circuit of the enclosure are generally earthen built, but the existence of a length of laid stone exposed on the west bank suggests that there was an external stone revetment wall along at least part of its course. The original entrance into the enclosure is believed to be on the east side where a 3m wide opening is defined to the south by a rounded terminal bank, and on the north by the outward curving hedgebank which may conceal the original bank terminal. This entrance provides modern gated access into the enclosure. There are no recorded features within the enclosure. The earliest known recording of the name `Road' occurs around 1219 when it is referred to as `la Rode' in a document known as the Perambulations of Exmoor Forest. All gates, gateposts, fencing and fenceposts are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath these features is included.
Selected Sources
Book Reference - Title: National Monument Record - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 83 NE 5
Book Reference - Author: Macdermot, E T - Title: A History of the Forest of Exmoor - Date: 1973 - Page References: 117 - Type: DESC TEXT