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Beacon Hill, near Heddington

This is a view to the north-east from about halfway up the escarpment that defines Beacon Hill. It is characterised by a number of deep cuttings into the chalk. On 13th July 1643 during the English Civil War it was the scene of a defeat of Parliamentary forces by Royalists following the Battle of Roundway Down. At the end of the battle, had you been stood here, you would have seen the Roundheads and their horses came tumbling down the scarp towards you to end in a pile of broken bodies at the foot of the hill. Not surprisingly the area became known as 'Bloody Ditch' following the rout by the Cavaliers. There are related images here SU0065 : Access land west of the Mid Wilts Way near Heddington and here ST9964 : 'Bloody Ditch', Beacon Hill, near Heddington