During lock down I was able to travel for "legitimate reasons". Granted sometimes it was a stretch, but in reality the travel was "essential" so concerns over being stopped weren't really there. I had already been pulled over and checked for crossing zones or "tier areas" while house hunting, so I thought... meh. I'll talk my way out of it.
While out with my partner and her son, hours away from home, we were driving by the Fovant Badges in Wiltshire when her son piped up and asked me what those things up on the hill were. At this point many hours had been spent in the vehicle and the kid is 17. A young 17. Most responses are non committal grunts and he has a tendency to be lazy. So I said lets go see, and I began to turn around and hunt the small lane turn in for the track that leads to the badges. My partner and I had travelled here before... But the idea was to get his lazy ass some exercise.
the walk up
The lane turn off is a small one. When I was asked if there was a way to drive in/up I returned a non committal grunt which was a language he understood being fluent, but wasn't fond of. I parked on a pull in by a foot path that lead straight up and over to the badges. As we walked he began to ask why the shapes carved into the hill were there so I explained it was a warriors hill. Had been for over two thousand years. Like most 17 year old males with Alpha aspirations he asked what I meant so I explained the badges were originally started by regiments in World War One. Men with no access to heavy machines hauled over 50 tons a piece of chalk up the hill to create their regimental badges as a sign that they had been here. When he asked why I explained that people during World War One knew that survival was unlikely. Their regiment would be the last home they knew, that the start of the tradition of leaving badges on these hills was a gift to that home, and their battle buddies who would most likely be the last brothers they would spend time with. That these badges were a way to be remembered, a statement from some man who has lived before that he was here. A plea for those who came after to see that. My explanation got the desired result which was thought.
The enjoyment of watching him ponder this was great, so I pushed on. I explained that it had long been a warriors hill. That under the Roman general Vespasian the Augustus Legion would have marched up hills like these laden down with armour, gladius, spear, and shield. That often the native tribes would be hucking shit at them like arrows, spears, rolling logs, etc. Yet when the Romans confronted these things they just rolled through them. At this point in climbing he looked out/down and asked how in the hell did they do that on such a steep incline? I said one word, discipline. Again I got meaningful silence and what was clearly thought as we climbed up and looked at the badges.
After walking around the fences we started going up higher again. There was a hidden gem at the top I wanted the kid to see. On our way we said hello to the livestock out grazing. I actually managed to find one of our Prime Ministers many suspected illegitimate children. For those who don't know much about Boris Johnson he's an indiscriminate breeder. He prefers young women, but like most Oxford guys with Etonite backgrounds it wouldn't be surprising to find him tupping live stock. Personally I thought the hair on the cow was a dead give away that it was one of old BJ's progeny.
As we crested the hill we came upon the hill fort know as Chiselbury Camp. The why behind building this defensive refuge as a pre-Roman inhabitant of Britain was clear. It gave a full commanding view of the valley below. The walls of raised earth would have once been much higher (around 12 foot) and there would have been high wooden walls built on top of that. Up until Rome came to Britain it would have been effective to shelter and defend from. But an army that had sacked far more complex cities would have just steamed right through fortifications like this. But it brought thought and a chance to push the kid into thinking about something other than his damn phone.
Like a dog with a bone I kept at gnawing at him. I explained the people who defended these now small hills of dirt had lived the way they lived for centuries. That one day a group of heavily armoured men in shiny brass hats and red cloaks showed up and said bow down. Many didn't. They ran to places like where we were standing. It had always protected them before, so why wouldn't it now? Those who weren't quick enough to make the ascent up the hill from the valley beneath us were killed, or captured, raped, and made slaves. I invited him to imagine this, to sense the panic they felt, then to imagine being that person. Once these invaders were done, the people looking out over the walls that would have sat on top of these hills of dirt would have seen large squares comprised of men marching over up the hill we just walked. The bravest would have sped out on wicker horse drawn chariots and shot arrows, flung spears, the square of men would have been indifferent. Just kept moving forward. In the end they would make it inside the walls we were standing in. What happened in the valley below would happen here. When he asked if that happened here I shrugged and said I don't know. They haven't fully excavated the site. But that was the scene across Britain at the time. It's the tragedy part of our recurring story.
sunset approaching with the moon visible
As we descended the hill back to the car my partner and I were enjoying watching his brain work out the ground in front of him with a different view of it. It wasn't just a hill with shapes carved and shaped into it anymore. It had a history and a story that may or may not have played out on it. It had a life to it, and the men who had toiled on it were being thought about. On the drive home we noticed he didn't have his head buried in the phone playing games, nor did he sleep. He either silently stared out the window, or would pipe up with a question about a particular land mark we would pass. What was a boring drive was changed into an outing that felt.. relevant? Or at the very least memorable.
Well guys that's it for this post. If ever you travel past the Fovant badges, take the walk up to them. It's worth it for the view, and the contemplation that's provoked by just walking around the area. If you feel industrious walk a little higher to the hill fort. It's not far up the hill past the badges. It's a beautiful spot for sure. If you made it this far thanks for reading and looking forward to checking out all your posts and projects.
image credits:
my ipad
google earth