EBK Home
Kingdoms
Royalty
Saints
Pedigrees
Archaeology
King Arthur
Mail David
|
|
John Leland
Extract from his
"Itinerary" (1540)
At the very south ende of the chirch
of South-Cadbyri standith Camallate, sumtyme a famose toun or castelle,
upon a very torre or hill, wunderfully enstrengtheid of nature, to the
which be 2. enteringes up by very stepe way: one by north est and another
by south west.
The very roote of the hille wheron this forteres stode is more then a mile
in cumpace. In the upper parte of the coppe of the hille be 4. diches or
trenches, and a balky waulle or yerth betwixt every one of them. In the
very toppe of the hille above al the trenchis is magna area or campus of
20. acres or more by estimation,.wher yn dyverse places men may se
fundations and rudera of walles. There was much dusky blew stone that
people of the villages therby hath caryid away.
This top withyn the upper waulle is xx. acres of ground and more, and hath
bene often plowid and borne very good corne. Much gold, sylver and coper
of the Romaine coynes hath be found ther yn plouing : and lykewise in the
feldes in the rootes of this hille, with many other antique thinges, and
especial by este. Ther was found in hominum memoria a horse shoe of sylver
at Camallate. The people can telle nothing ther but that they have hard
say that Arture much restorid to Camalat.
The old Lord Hungreford was owner of this Camallat. Now Hastinges the Erle
of Huntendune by his mother. Diverse villages there about bere the name of
Camalat by an addition, as Quene-Camallat [Queen's Camel], and other.
The hylle and the diches depe well now viij. shepe. Al the ground by south
west and west of Camalat lyith in a vale, so that one of 2. wayes it may
be sene far of.
|