More information : (NT 9256 0784) Camp (O E) (1)
Clennell Hill, Hill fort enclosing approx 2 acres. (2)
Type A1 (Forts on the edges of precipices defended in part only by
artificial works) (3)
Remains of an earthwork are situated, at approx, 850 feet above
sea-level, upon the highest part of a south-west projecting spur of
Clennel Hill, from which it is separated by a saddle. The site is
naturally defended upon the north-west side by precipitous slopes
which fall to the valley of the River Alwin. It overlooks falling
slopes to the east and south and is overlooked
by Clennell Hill beyond the saddle from the north-east.
The earthwork has consisted of double ramparts of earth and stone
encircling the hill top except along the top of the precipitous slopes on the north-west side, where there has been a single very slight rampart, of which little now remains. Of the double ramparts, the inner is much the stronger. On the south-east side, the outer rampart has been destroyed by rig and furrow ploughing, and the inner rampart has been robbed of material to construct an old field bank which runs off the rampart, towards the south side, and passes down the hillside in a south-westerly direction. The principal entrance is in the south-east side. There is another entrance in the south side. From both entrances, a bank runs a little way towards the centre of the site. North of the south-east entrance is a small enclosure, with a hut-circle of 3.0m diameter, raised upon a mound, on its north-west side. There is a second hut circle of 7.0 m diameter near the centre
of the earthwork. Both circles have entrances in their south-east
sides. Most of the interior of the earthwork is covered with outcrops
of living rock.
It has been a Hill Fort of some strength and occupies a
commanding situation, overlooking the Alwin Valley to the north-west,
and its confluence with the River Coquet to the south. Low lying
ground stretches for some distance to the south-east and east, and
the site overlooks the lower slopes of Clennell Hill to the
north-east.
The Alwin River is the nearest present fresh water supply. (4)
In view of the very strong natural defences to the NW and the
classification given by authority (3) this earthwork is better
described as a Cliff Fort. (5)
Listed as IA univallate (forts, settlements and en-closures.
Included as 'univallate' are all enclosures consisting of an internal
mound, a distinctive ditch, and perhaps the remains of a less
prominent counterscarp bank. In this case a berm rather than a ditch
separates the two features). (6)
In fair condition. The scooped enclosure north of the
entrance, traces of internal dividing walls, and the possible sites
of three stone-founded huts all suggest some secondary occupation.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. See photographs. (7)
No change since reports of 10 5 57, 30 5 57 and 30 6 70. Surveyed at
1:10 000. (8)
NT 925 078. Clennell Hill. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 0.48ha. (9)
NT 9256 0782. Camp Knowe univallate hillfort 700m NW of Clennell.
Scheduled RSM No 25022. A roughly oval univallate hillfort measuring
96m NE-SW by 80m NW-SE within a substantial rampart of earth and
stone measuring 4m across and varying in height from 1m to 2m.
the site is naturally defended on the NW side by steep precipitous
slopes and thus the rampart here is slighter and 2m-3m wide with a
maximum height of 0.3m. The rampart is separated from a counterscarp
bank by a broad berm which measures 5m across; the counterscarp bank,
which is not carried around the NW side, is up to 4m wide and 1m
high. The SE defences have been overlain by a later field wall.
Original entrances lie in the S and SE sides of the fort. A low bank
runs from both entrances towards the centre of the site, where the
stone foundations of up to three circular houses 7m in diameter are
visible, all with entrances in their SE sides. Within the enclosure,
N of the SE entrance there is an unusual structure consisting of an
enclosure containing a small circular building 3m in diameter
situated on a mound in its NW corner. The latter enclosure, the stone
houses and internal dividing walls are consistent with Romano-British
reuse of the Iron Age fort. (10)
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