More information : [NU 06080971] Castle Hill [NAT] Camp [NR] (1)
Traces of a Md tower built within a prehistoric camp on the top of
the steeply wooded Castle Hill. (2)
The main earthwork on Castle Hill is irregularly-shaped and defended
by a scarped bank to the N and a strong ditch with counterscarp banks
on the other sides. There is also an inner rampart with traces of
walling in places. Interior features are two rectangular steadings
to the NW, presumably the remains of the Md tower mentioned by Auth
2.
To the W of the main earthwork are two outer annexes. The continuity
of shape between the N and SE sides of the main earthwork and the
bank forming the inner annexe suggests that this combination may
have formed the original earthwork. It seems probable that at some later date, possibly for defensive reasons in Md times, the perimeter was shortened by constructing a rock-cut ditch, roughly bisecting the original area. See sketch survey. (3)
Listed as IA univallate fort. The annexe may have served as a fold
or corral for stock. (4)
Earthwork as described by Authy 3. The bank forming the annexe on
the W side is weaker than the main work and does not appear to have
been a continuous feature.
Resurveyed at 1:2500 (5)
As described.
Surveyed at 1:10 000. (6)
NU 0602 0971. Univallate hillfort and medieval tower, 750m E of
Callaly Castle. Scheduled RSM No 20973. The irregularly shaped
hillfort measures a total of 225m E-W by 115m N-S and exhibits
several phases of activity. The main enclosure on the hilltop
is roughly sub-rectangular in shape and is 80m E-W by 50m N-S;
it is surrounded on three sides by a rock cut ditch 12m-17m wide
and 3m-7m deeper than the internal ground level. There is a
counterscarp bank 4m wide which rises 2m-3m above the external
ground level and an internal bank 3m wide and 0.8m high. The N
side of the enclosure is defended by a strongly scarped bank.
Two opposing entrances in the E and W sides are carried on
causway across the ditch. Within the enclosure there are the
remains of two rectangular buildings in the NW corner. They
measure 15m x 13m and 15m x 8m. These are interpreted as the
remains of Old Callaly Castle known from documentary sources
to have been held by Sir John Clavering in 1415. The use of the
term Old Callaly suggests that the later tower, around which the
present castle (NU 00 NE 2) was built, was already standing in
1415 and that this earlier tower on Castle Hill was retained as
a place of defence or a lookout. West of the main enclosure there
are two contiguous annexes, the inner one defended by a bank 7m
wide giving access to the second, defended by a bank 4m wide.
More than one period may be represented by the remains on Castle
Hill, and the strong ditch may be a later medieval feature
associated with the medieval tower, this being constructed within
the earlier defensive system. In the late 19th century several
Bronze Age stone coffins were discovered during quarrying on the
N side of Castle Hill. (7)
|