Loughton Camp

Loughton Camp is an Iron Age (~500 BC) Hill fort in Epping Forest, one mile northwest of the town of Loughton [1]. The camp's earthworks cover an area of approximately 10 acres and are visible today as a low bank and ditch encircling the main camp [1]. The banks were most probably once a single high rampart, used for defence and the appearance of the ditch suggests it was once very wide and deep in places [1]. The camp lies on one of the highest points in the surrounding area, on a ridge of high ground, likely to have once been strategic [1]. A stone Iron Age grain millstone was found close by [1]. The camp was 'discovered' by Mr Benjamin Harris Cowper in 1872 [1]. The first archaeology carried out was by General Pitt-Rivers in 1881 [1]. In 1882 the Essex Field Club further excavated the banks [1].