More information : NZ 283 417. Maiden Castle (NAT) Promontory Fort (NR). (1)
Maiden Castle classified as an Iron Age promontory fort, covering 2 acres, and protected on all but the west side, by steep natural slopes. The west rampart is 18 ft wide and 7 ft high, with an external ditch, still 4 ft deep, and the remains of a slight inner bank at the south end. The original entrance may have been at the north end of this side, where there is a break in the outer ditch (2). Limited excavation in 1946 on the west rampart revealed three phases of construction:
1. The original clay rampart was revetted with cobbles, externally and at the top where a wooden palisade was also provided.
2. The inside of the rampart was cut away and a stone revetting wall built; at least one of the stones bearing a Medieval mason's mark.
3. Wooden stakes were added to the retaining wall for strengthening. When the rampart was finally abandoned these stakes were burnt. `Clearly the last two of the three phases .... must belong to the Middle Ages; it is possible, though not likely, that the original construction was prehistoric'. The only finds came from the topsoil; the earliest being 15th or 16th century pottery fragments. The nearest parallels to this site are the defended (rather than fortified) farm or manor sites of Medieval date, in Roxburghshire (See Lintalee - NT 61 NW 12). (3)
The interior of the earthwork is entirely wooded with no surface indications of occupation. Surveyed. (4)
Listed by Challis and Harding as a `typical promontory site' (Iron Age). (5)
As described above. There can be little doubt that this was originally an Iron Age Fort and with possibly later Medieval occupation as suggested by Authority 3. Published Survey (1:1250) Revised. (6)
Existing survey revised by RCHME during a project on scheduled monuments in County Durham.
Maiden Castle occupies a fine defensive position on a promontory about 30 m above the flood-plain of the River Wear, protected on all sides except the west by steep natural slopes, now wooded. There is a level approach to the promontory from the west, and here a bank and outer ditch have been constructed thereby enclosing a wedge-shaped area 145 m east-west by 50 m transveresly at the east end and 120 m at the west (1.23 hectares). The whole of the interior has been planted with mixed conifers and deciduous trees; deep ploughing associated with this has cut across the west bank reducing it to an outward facing scarp, up to 3 m high, with only minimal traces of a counter scarp towards the south end. The ditch is 2 m maximum depth. The position of the entrance is probably marked by a gap in the ditch towards its north end; an alternative is at the extreme south end of the west defences, but here the landscaped path has confused the work. The portrayal of the site by Authority 6 is accurate. The low banks bordering the landscaped path circumventing the interior are associated with the path. (7)
NZ 2829 4169. Maiden Castle promontory fort. Scheduled RSM No 25011. (8)
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