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Arbury Hill
Arbury Hill, Northamptonshire 17th April 2008 (1).JPG
Arbury Hill from the west
Highest point
Elevation 225 m (738 ft)
Listing County top
Geography
Arbury Hill is located in Northamptonshire
Arbury Hill
Arbury Hill
Location in Northamptonshire
Location Northamptonshire, England
OS grid SP540587
Topo map OS Explorer 206

Arbury Hill, at 225 m (738 ft), is the joint highest point in the English county of Northamptonshire. It is 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of the town of Daventry.

The slopes of Arbury Hill are a drainage divide between three major river catchment areas, with the Nene to the north, east and south, the Cherwell (a tributary of the Thames) to the south-west and the Leam (a tributary of the Severn) to the west and north-west. There are fine views with Rugby and Coventry visible to the northwest and Northampton to the east. The River Nene rises in a swampy hollow on the northwestern flanks of the hill.

History

On the summit of Arbury Hill there are the vestiges of an Iron Age Fort , although its date and origin are disputed. The remains are in the form of a square ditch and embankment about 200 metres across. Although little trace remains of this fort, the outer bank encloses an area of about 12 acres (4.9 ha). It is mentioned as one of the in a land grant of Edmund the Elder, as being the place where the three parishes of Badby, Dodford and Everdon meet.

The summit of Arbury Hill was one in a series of points used for triangulation in 1784 to determine the exact diameter and magnitude of the Earth, in a sequence of measurements undertaken by the British Government. There is a Triangulation station on the summit.

There is a motor-cross track on the east side and top of the hill that is used for competitions about three times a year. The soil is clayey, the site is steeply sloping and there are plenty of elevation changes, some off camber turns and a few smallish jumps.

Gallery

  • Headwater of the River Nene near Arbury Hill 17th April 2008 (1)

    The headwater of the River Nene, on the north east slope of Arbury Hill in 2008

  • Arbury Hill from the south 17th April 2008 (1)

    The southern side of the hill in 2008

Images for kids

  • Arbury Hill Digital Terrain Model

    3D view of the digital terrain model

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