Anyone who has travelled through Westbury in Wiltshire cannot fail to have noticed the magnificent white horse carved into the side of Bratton Camp hillfort, visible from the approach to the railway station three miles away. It is believed to have been carved in the late 17th century to commemorate the Battle of Ethandun, which possibly took place at the site. White Horses will be the subject of a later Essential Wessex post. so this post will concentrate on Bratton Camp itself.
The hillfort dates back to the Iron Age, though three Neolithic barrows have been found on the site. It was excavated in 1775 by Jeffrey Whittaker, who found Roman and Saxon coins on the site. Nearby Bratton Down is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and home to the rare Adonis Blue Butterfly and Forester Moth.
Bratton Camp is reachable by public footpath, and the modern Port Way passes through the site. The satnav postcode is BA13 3EP and the what3words code is buggy.protrude.reboot