At the base of the hill, there is a car park, toilets, public gardens, cafe, hotel and restaurant.
Early history
hill fort composed of a single rampart and ditch. An Anglo-Saxon cemetery was created on the site around 450 AD which has produced an unusual number of glass objects, which can now be seen in Worthing Museum. This cemetery was discovered by accident in the 1890s when local landowner Edwin Henty
undertook tree planting inside the hillfort. His workmen had discarded or stolen much material before a full excavation could begin.
Excavations continued for the next two seasons under guidance from Charles Hercules Read, the Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries at the time. 86 Anglo-Saxon graves were uncovered between 1893 and 1894 and the contents of all of these grave cuts were listed and several of them drawn. A plan of the cemetery was never drawn up. At the time, several skeletons were left in their graves whilst others were uncovered. A large number of bones and artefacts were passed around various local museums and many of these have since been lost.[3]
18th century
In the 18th century, the miller
Roundstone for the farm at the foot of the hill, which was subsequently used for the nearby pub and garden centre.[citation needed
]
20th century
During
Great Storm of 1987 leading to a rescue dig in 1988.[citation needed
]
Highdown Hill today
chalk pit
below the hill. Highdown Vineyard is a working vineyard producing English Wines on the southern slope of the hill. Roundstone is the name associated with a farm, pub and several local businesses below Highdown Hill. Based on local legend, the name derives from a runaway millstone from the mill on the hill.
References
^Alec Hamilton-Barr. In Saxon Sussex. The Arundel Press, Bognor Regis. p 21
