H.E.R. record

.kmz file

Overview map

Approximately circular enclosure with 2 banks of stone and a ditch between, situated on a hilltop. Hill is steep on the S and N and level on the E and W. One entrance is on the W where the bank turns inwards to flank the passage. On either side there are the remains of masonry but the mortar is modern in character. Other entrance on the E with a pathway continuing E for c25 yards as a raised platform with a ditch along each side and an outer bank. On each side of this entrance are indications of shallow pits, very like rifle pits which have been dug in the outer surface of the bank. {1}

Small hillslope enclosure. VCH description is inaccurate - W entrance is slightly clubbed with some modern disturbance. No mortared masonry evident. E entrance is inturned and "rifle pits" are insignificant. Probable that the earthwork to the E (PRN 33443) is associated. {2}

Interior featureless with traces of ?C19 ploughing seen from the air. {3}

W entrance inturned with very deep ditch. E entrance is astride the ridge and does not appear to be original. Inner banks slightly inturned but the terminals of the ditch turn E for about 45m, flanking a causeway 6m wide (max). Ramparts damaged slightly in places and partly pushed into ditch. {4}

Savage describes the bank as "terraced-like steps". {5}

Internal diameter 300ft. Ramparts rise 1.65m above interior, ditch c1.8m deep. Patches of loose stone exposed in ditch and on ramparts. Track crosses site from NW to SE using causeway to entrance on W side and crossing banks where lowest on SE and ditch infilled. Track has stony base. {6}

Also two lengths of banks with ditches to the NE which may be an outwork. {7}

Some coins were discovered at the end of 1983 by two schoolboys playing on the ramparts who then dug to find the remainder of a coin hoard. The hoard was spread over an area of 2 sqm and comprised eight coins with a large date span from 102 BC to 350AD. Three of the coins which were silver plated were declared treasure trove at an inquest on 09.09.86. {18}

Substantial bank and ditch on the W side with some infilling and holes in the bank. Some areas of stone exposed with evidence of both human and animal disturbance. The causeway on the NE side is c9m across. There is a recent hole in the SE entrance. There is some horse damage along the track which passes through the centre of the site, otherwise it has a good vegetation cover of heather, bracken and grass. No evidence of any ridge and furrow or hut circles. {21}

A small multivallate hillfort with an associated cross-ridge outwork (PRN 33443) Roughly circular, enclosing 1.2ha., at one end of the summit of a gently-sloping hilltop, with steep drop on SW side. Intervisible with smaller contemporary enclosures in the area. Defences consist of inner and outer rampart, of rubble, surviving up to 2m high, separated by a ditch up to 2m deep. Two entrances: on W is a simple gap and causeway; on E inner rampart is inturned and ditch and outer bank turn out to flank a 45m approachway. This approachway appears to be a later alteration. Slight ridges and furrows in the interior may be recent as the fort was used to grow potatoes in WWII. Suffering very seriously from visitor erosion. Possibly contemporary settlement and fields to SE (PRN 34264). {24}

Re-scheduled 25.2.94 with new national number (old number was Somerset 245a). {25}

The defences enclose a sub-rectangular area 140x100m. They consist of a rampart and ditch with a strong counterscarp bank. The overall width of the defences is some 20-25m. The ramparts are very stony, with much loose material on the surface, and it would appear that stone extraction has taken place in the past. This would account for the rifle pits and "tourelles" described by Allcroft and Bothamley. There are two original entrances. The western entrance is a simple passage through the defences, with an inturn to the south. The eastern entrance is more complex. The inner ramparts thicken and inturn. The ditch and counterscarp turn sharply away from the hillfort to forn a causeway 50m long and 6m wide. There is no reason to suppose that this entrance is later than the main defensive work, as suggested by Burrow and Rainbird-Clarke. A third breach of the defensive circuit is caused by the well established track which runs between the two enclosures to Withycombe Hill Gate. {28}

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