At the southern end of the town, where the Fosse Way passes out, may be seen in an almost perfect state of preservation one of the most important of the town's defensive earthworks during the Civil Wars. This, the "Queen's Sconce," is locally known as the "Sconce Hills." Square, with very bold bastions at each angle, and immense depth of ditch, the visitor should not fail to inspect what is probably the most perfect specimen of seventeenth century field fortification now remaining in England.
