Chanctonbury Ring

[poliphilo]

Chanctonbury Ring is a hill fort on the South Downs near Steyning. In 1760 landowner Charles Goring planted beeches in a tight clump- and turned it into a local landmark. The hurricane of 1987 smashed the clump and left the ring looking ragged. The trees have since been been replanted and are approaching maturity.

Odd things happen: There are stories of hauntings and UFO sightings, witches and other occultists have used it as a ritual site, Doreen Valiente was here. According to legend if you run round the ring seven times widdershins the devil will appear and offer you a bowl of soup in exchange for your soul.

I climbed up and came down the hard way-  straight up the side of the hill, through the woods- and have the scratches to prove it. It's a very steep climb- and I did sections of the descent on my arse.



The Eastern gateway. Ditch and wall are well preserved. The beech trees have rather hampered archaeology but I understand there's the footings of a Roman temple in there somewhere.


The western approach to the Ring.  Give it a few more years and it'll be as though the hurricane never happened. The irregularity to the left of the path is a barrow.


Looking north

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ah yes. Sussex is such a very literary place. I suspect more writers have lived and worked here than in any other English county.