The Modern Antiquarian. Ancient Sites, Stone Circles, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic Mysteries

Wales   South Wales   Cardiff & Newport  

Lodge Wood Camp

Hillfort

<b>Lodge Wood Camp</b>Posted by sttomasImage © sttomas
Nearest Town:Caerleon (1km ESE)
OS Ref (GB):   ST323913 / Sheet: 171
Latitude:51° 36' 57.34" N
Longitude:   2° 58' 40.49" W

Added by Rhiannon


Discussion Topics0 discussions
Start a topic



Show map   (inline Google Map)

Images (click to view fullsize)

Add an image Add an image
<b>Lodge Wood Camp</b>Posted by sttomas <b>Lodge Wood Camp</b>Posted by sttomas <b>Lodge Wood Camp</b>Posted by sttomas

Fieldnotes

Add fieldnotes Add fieldnotes
I spent a day at this site last year helping a volunteer group clear the banks of bushes, new trees etc as part of a CADW initiative. It was fantastic to be able to spend a day at a site ans know that you are helping preserve it for future generations. To avoid a long walk I would suggest you park by the church hall? (white building) and follow the path to the left of the house. It is only a 10 minute walk from here. Posted by CARL
10th March 2010ce

This is actually quite an interesting site. Not exactly what I thought I would find but a nice surprise all the same.

As I was blessed with a whole morning without rain I thought I'd get up to see this site and see what was there (if anything).

The site itself has recently been cleared and you can see clearly the reason why the site is situated where it is. It's located at the top of Lodge hill and within a reasonable distance to the river Usk, although it's a bit of a steep climb!

Although much of the site is still uncovered it's incredible (using a bit of imagination) to see the whole scope of the site. The camp itself appears to be built on 3 tiers, which I did find interesting as as I've only scoured some of the South wales sites this is the first fort I've seen with this style of build.

I'm not sure if there are any excavations planned or even further clearance of the site, but I do think it'll be interesting to see if/when it does get cleared properly.
Posted by sttomas
16th September 2008ce

Folklore

Add folklore Add folklore
It's been suggested over the years that it's the Roman settlement in Caerleon that's being referred to as King Arthur's court (see for example, http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/archaeology/caerleon.html ).

But frankly, I think the following story rather hints that King Arthur's men are under a hillside. And near a wood. And that sounds more like the vicinity of Lodge Wood Camp to me than the flat land down by the river. Of course there's only one way to find out - you'll have to go and look for the secret entrance yourself.
[This story] relates how a Monmouthshire farmer, whose house was grievously troubled by [a] bogie, set out one morning to call on a wizard who lived near Caerleon, and how he on his way came up with a very strange and odd man who wore a three-cornered hat. They fell into conversation, and the strange man asked the farmer if he should like to see something of a wonder. He answered he would. 'Come with me then,' said the wearer of the cocked hat, 'and you shall see what nobody else alive to-day has seen.'

When they had reached the middle of a wood this spiritual guide sprang from horseback and kicked a big stone near the road. It instantly moved aside to disclose the mouth of a large cave; and now said he to the farmer, 'Dismount and bring your horse in here: tie him up alongside of mine, and follow me so that you may see something which the eyes of man have not beheld for centuries!'

The farmer, having done as he was ordered, followed his guide for a long distance: they came at length to the top of a flight of stairs, where two huge bells were hanging. 'Now mind,' said the warning voice of the strange guide, 'not to touch either of those bells!'

At the bottom of the stairs there was a vast chamber with hundreds of men lying at full length on the floor, each with his head reposing on the stock of his gun.

'Have you any notion who these men are?'
'No,' replied the farmer, 'I have not, nor have I any idea what they want in such a place as this!
' Well,' said the guide, 'these are Arthur's thousand soldiers reposing and sleeping till the Kymry have need of them. Now let us get out as fast as our feet can carry us!'

When they reached the top of the stairs, the farmer somehow struck his elbow against one of the bells so that it rang, and in the twinkling of an eye all the sleeping host rose to their feet shouting together, 'Are the Kymry in straits?'
'Not yet: sleep you on,' replied the wearer of the cocked hat, whereupon they all dropped down on their guns to resume their slumbers at once.

'These are the valiant men,' he went on to say, 'who are to turn the scale in favour of the Kymry when the time comes for them to cast the Saxon yoke off their necks and to recover possession of their country!'

When the two had returned to their horses at the mouth of the cave, his guide said to the farmer, 'Now go in peace, and let me warn you on the pain of death not to utter a syllable about what you have seen for the space of a year and a day: if you do, woe awaits you.' After he had moved the stone back to its place the farmer lost sight of him.

When the year had lapsed the farmer happened to pass again that way, but, though he made a long and careful search, he failed completely to find the stone at the mouth of the cave.
From John Rhys's informant, retold in 'Celtic Folklore - Welsh And Manx' [1901], online at
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/cfwm/cf202.htm
It's a story that is told about various locations in Britain. I like the way they've got guns in this version and kept up with Progress.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
18th August 2006ce
Edited 19th August 2006ce

Lodge Wood Camp is above Caerllion / Caerleon, and arguably the setting for the start of the Mabinogion story 'The Lady of the Fountain' - effectively King Arthur's Camelot:
King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his chamber; and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son of Clydno, and Kai the son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens at needlework by the window.
[..]
In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of green rushes, over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured satin, and a cushion of red satin was under his elbow.
Online at the Sacred Texts Archive.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/mab/mab05.htm

Caerlleon is also described as the location of Arthur's court in 'Geraint the son of Erbin':
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/mab/mab13.htm
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
18th August 2006ce
Edited 18th August 2006ce

Links

Add a link Add a link

Caerleon.net


Coflein says that this is a strongly built fort that was occupied in the Iron Age, but was also used in the late Roman period. It encloses about 7 acres and has a small earlier univallate structure inside.
This webpage gives details of the excavations in 2000.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
18th August 2006ce
Edited 18th August 2006ce