Ham Hill, west of Yeovil in Somerset, is a hill from which the famous honey-coloured building stone has been quarried for over 2,000 years. It has been used to build Roman villas, Saxon and Medieval churches, such as Sherborne Abbey and great houses, such as Montacute House. In the 1880s, over two hundred men worked in the hill’s quarries, but now only two quarries are left supplying stone, mostly for local use.
The name, Ham, is derived from the Old English for a settlement. From the top of the hill at 400 feet, there are spectacular views over the Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills and Dorset countryside. There is a memorial to those who died from the village of Stoke under Ham (also known as Stoke sub Hamdon) in two world wars and later conflicts. It is visible for miles around from the countryside below.
Ham Hill is probably the largest Iron Age hill fort in Britain. These earthworks around the hill enclose an area of 210 acres and extend for three miles. The hill is a country park of 400 acres and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Where in England is Ham Hill Country Park, Somerset
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