More information : [SE 22557735] Camp Hill Ancient Earthwork (1)
Camp Hill. On the eastern extremity of a spur is a nearly
rectangular enclosure of two acres defended on three sides by
an 8.9 ft. rampart with traces of an outer ditch. to the north is
a steep scarp, but here the original bank may have slipped or
been quarried away. Gaps on the east and west sides may be
original entrances. (2)
Sim. inf. An almost exactly rectangular camp, undoubtedly Roman.
The corners were originally boldly rounded but this has been
obscured by dry walls and trees. Entrances in E & W. ends. (3)
Castle Hill encampment, evidently Roman. The ruins of the
Praetorium show themselves in a heap of stones.
"Improvements" to the place were made by W. Aislaby about 1746. (4)
Not shown on O.S. Map of Roman Britain, 1956. (5)
The published survey of this earthwork (25" 1929) has been
revised.
The enclosure is complete on all sides but the north, where a
natural steep incline obviates the necessity for a bank or ditch.
It is probable that this side was never enclosed, as the western
rampart appears to terminate purposely at the N.W. corner though
quarrying at the N.E. prevents any comparison being made. The two
southern angles have been destroyed, but on the S.W., traces of a
rounded corner are still visible. There are no internal remains
and the enclosure is under level pasture. It is doubtful whether
the earthwork is Roman. It appears to have been ditched only on
the E. side which also carries the sole original entrance. The
gap within the western bank is too slight for such a purpose
and does not breach the bank at ground level. All three sides have
steeply sloped earthern banks with no form of spread at their
base. They are in good condition and now carry enclosure walls
of rubble. No dressed stone was seen.
Though the situation of the site favours a defensive aspect, the
earthwork would seem more likely to be a Md. enclosure, and is
comparable to a similar earthwork at Adel. (See SE 24 SE
Km. 2741) (6)
Survey of 24.5.62. correct. (7)
Scheduled as a Roman Camp. Schedule no. 273. (8)
SE 226 774. Roman camp. Scheduled No NY/273. (9)
Three sides of a possible rectilinear enclosure are visible as earthworks topped with low rubble field walls on recent air photos and on lidar imagery. The fourth side is marked by steep slope falling away to the north. It is not possible to say from the air photo evidence alone whether this feature is the remains of a Roman camp as suggested above and in the Scheduled Monument Description (UDS 1017874) or of medieval origin as indicated by authority 6 above. Only 2m resolution lidar imagery is available for this area at present but this suggests that the ‘banks’ are not significantly different or more pronounced than some of the other medieval lynchets that have been redefined with post medieval field boundaries in the area. The low earthwork remains of a post medieval field boundaries extends south-westward from the south-west corner of the enclosure. (11-13)
|