More information : SE 05009848. Earthwork (NR). (1)
Enclosure type earthworks, both single and double, with, in the
West, a mound, are visible on air photographs. (2)
Set on top of the east end of a glacial ridge on the south side
of the River Swale and centred at SE 05059846 is a level
platform 'A' measuring approximately 50.0m square and about 1.6m high.
The centre is featureless apart from a small uneven area to
the north east. Surrounding this platform is a 'berm' or possibly
a shallow infilled ditch? about 6.0m wide with traces of an
outer bank in the south and west sides.
This 'berm' has been mutilated by a circular excavation in the
south west corner. Remains of a Medieval field system encroach on the 'berm' at the south east slopes of the glacial ridge as
a field bank and lynchet. (See illustration card).
About 150.0m to the west, the summit of the same glacial ridge has been levelled to form a roughly pear shaped area 'B', at
SE 04909849. The interior of this area is occupied by the
footings of a brick built building and a modern Royal Observer
Corps post which have probably destroyed any earlier remains.The base of the ridge has been surrounded in the east and south by an earth and stone bank about 3.0m wide varying in height.
In the north it follows the edge of the ridge up to the summit
then cuts down the slope towards the south west corner to complete the enclosure which measures about 80.0m north to south by 70.0m.
An entrance central to this bank in the east gives access to the
interior and slight remains of a low bank can be seen going
north west up the slope to the summit. There may possibly have been an approach up the slopes in the west. The two summits of 'A' and 'B' are separated by a natural hollow which has been
artificially steepened in parts by scarping (the debris going to level platform 'A' to the east and contains a probable contemporary
pond.
The exact purpose of these earthworks is problematical and it
is uncertain if A and B are contemporary or not. Both have
probably been selected for habitation (though there are no
definite traces of any now) but are only slightly "protected"
rather than well defended as might have been expected. The
remains (which could possibly be uncompleted and mutilated by later use) are suggestive of Medieval period. (See SE 09 NW 5).
Published survey (25") revised. (3)
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