More information : (SX 49548754) Camp (NR) (1)
A large oval camp to the south-west of Burley Wood. (2)
Burley Wood fort, is one of the best and most elaborate of the
"wide-spread defence" type and is of two periods; a small
promontory fort, consisting of two lines of intrenchments, and
a hill-slope fort, resembling Wooston (SX 78 NE 2), with
four enclosures. (3)
The Burley Wood earthworks occupy the north end of a ridge,
where it is particularly constricted. The most southerly
rampart up to 3.5m high has a ditch 2.2m. deep and cuts across
the ridge, not at its narrowest point, but where the natural
slopes are steepest. Two breaks in the rampart are probably
original entrances.
The second, inner rampart is up to 1.2m. high with an outer
ditch, but cannot be traced right across the ridge. Its
condition suggests that is has been slighted, possibly in
antiquity, although a broad gap near the centre is probably
an original entrance. Behind these ramparts is a broad natural
cross-ridge, (it is not intermediate as described by Lady Fox)
which appears to have been scarped along the eastern half; its
purpose within the complex is uncertain.
The main settlement area comprises an irregular oval enclosure
of 1 1/2 hectares, univallate with a counter-scarp bank. The
south side appears to have been recut and incorporates an
inturned entrance. This entrance is approached through a bank
and ditch annex with an inturned entrance on its west side. The
annex, originally about 3/4 hectare, has a small pound of about
1/4 hectare constructed in the north east corner and the two
are linked by a simple entrance.
Some 30.0m. to the south of the annex is a shallow ditch
crossing the promontory from the west to east and turning
abruptly northwards, where it fades. This is evidently the
boundary of the fourth enclosure mentioned by Lady Fox but it
seems likely to be a hollow way associated with the Norman
motte and double bailey (SX 48 NE 3) rather than an enclosure
feature.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. (4)
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