Antiquities

Castle Killibury - a putative Arthurian site

Killibury - a putative Arthurian site

Although Castle Killibury is only a couple of miles from our home in Wadebridge, I only got round to taking a look in January 2007, using it as the destination of a walk up the Allen Valley. The interest in Castle Killibury (also known as Kelly Rounds) stems from its putative Arthurian connection. The Welsh Mabinogion refers to Arthur as "chief prince in Celliwig in Cerniw". Cerniw (or Kernow) is Cornwall and Killibury (an anglicisation) is one of several camdidates for Celliwig. The site was occupied during both bronze age and iron age and there is some evidence of occupation (but not re-fortification) in Arthur's time. Sadly, half the site is now farm buildings and banks and ditches are overgrown by thorn bushes. In form it is bivallate, 200 yards in diameter and had a square annexe on its west side, now ploughed out. So, unless you are a convinced Arthurian, it is scarcely worth seeing. Which brings me to one of my pet gripes about a certain type of Cornish nationalist. Elsewhere I have suggested that, instead of defacing English Heriitage signs, they should join Cornwall Heritage Trust to help them care for our historic sites. It would be great if their nationalism should encourage them to do something about caring for sites like Castle Killibury and Helsbury Castle, sadly neglected compared with similar English sites.

Outer bank to left, inner bank, ditch, entrance to right

OS Explorer sheet 106 at 018/736, due E of Three Hole Cross

I revisited Killibury in February 2008. To my delight, some of the site had been cleared and banks (but not ditches) were much more visible. The low-profiled site is very difficult to photograph but I hope the image above is better than last year's. While there I chatted to Gordon, member of Tamar Dowsers, doing a recce prior to a group visit.

This review was written by Oliver Howes and is reproduced here in his own words. All text and photographs remain his work, preserved in his memory.

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