Perborough Castle

Perborough Castle stands on Cow Down between the villages of Compton and Hampstead Norreys in Berkshire. It is the remains of an Iron Age hillfort covering about 14 acres on chalky downland. The site once had light defences and seasonal occupation, with grain and slag pits found in excavations long ago. Nearby Bronze Age field systems show a larger community lived in the area long before the hillfort. Today the earthworks are faint, partly because the land has been ploughed for farming. The hillfort lies between 135 and 145 metres above sea level, with the unnamed summit just to the northwest at 160 metres. The surrounding downs still show banks and lynchets from ancient field divisions. Archaeologists in the 19th century recorded pits that suggest limited storage and small-scale metalworking. The site’s defences were never strong, hinting at a community that moved with the seasons rather than stayed all year. Visitors walk over gently rolling downland where the old ramparts and ditches are hard to see. The views stretch across open fields and distant villages on clear days. The land is privately farmed, so the site itself is quiet and undisturbed. It offers a quiet place to imagine Iron Age life on the Berkshire downs. The nearest villages provide simple pubs and lanes for a short stop after visiting.