More information : [Centred at SE 43511047] Camp [OE] (1)
The earthwork on Brierley Common, South Kirby, is classed a hillfort. It covers 4 1/2 acres. "Its north and south sides are partly protected by two slight ravines, which die out towards the west side of the camp. The ramparts and ditches are for the most part slight and much broken, the best preserved portions being at the south-west and north-east corners." [See AO/59/401/7] (2)
"...South Kirby... remains of an irregular oval work, ...ramparts are from 8 to 10 feet high, with traces of an outer ditch, enclosing 4 1/2 acres." (3)
Small excavation by Wakefield Museum in August, 1949, shed no light on its origin. Site had been much disturbed by? farm working. (4)
Brief description in chapter on "Hill Forts of the Peak." (5) The excavation of 1949 was directed by Mr F Atkinson B.Sc., F.M.A. F.R.G.S. now curator of Bowes Museum, Co. Durham. He gave as his opinion, that the earthwork was a Brigantes hillfort, though no conclusive evidence was found. The only finds during his excavation were fragments of decayed burnt sandstone and Md. pottery sherds. His excavation report remains unpublished. Authy 4 was contacted, but could offer no further information. See 25" Am for survey and comments. (6)
Survey of 28.7.60 Unchanged. (7)
Listed by Challis and Harding as a hillslope curvilinear oval enclosure of 4.5 acres with strong rampart and outer ditch (Iron Age). (8)
Air photograph evidence from E Houlder suggest that traces of an interrupted ditch system are visible around the hill fort, but Palmer who lists the interrupted ditch system under 'suspect or uncharacteristic interrupted ditched enclosures' could see nothing on Houlder's air photographs of 1974. (9)
Univallate, irregular, oval enclosure with no visible entrance in a defensively poor topographic position, with the ground rising slightly to West and South. Internally the site falls into a natural gulley to the N. The site is currently fenced on the south and west sides, causing mutilation to the earthwork; and other hedge features (now removed) have caused extensive alteration and redefining of the ditch especially. Fragmentary banking on the rampart at its SW corner implies the existance of a hedge phyically upon the crest of the rampart, and it seems likely that this feature would have enclosed the entire interior to enable it to be treated as a distinct unit. North-South ridge and rurrow in the interior further supports this (see Ordnance Survey photography: 1st August 1984; Hemsworth Target Area, 047 84 198). Ridge and furrow in the interior has also spread and flattened the rampart along its N and S sides. Indeed, to the N it could not be traced for some 130m. The best preserved sections of rampart lie to the West and East when the whole arrangement attains a maximum plan width of 16m with the rampart standing to 1.5m and the ditch having a maximum depth of 0.7m. In form the ditch tends to be narrow with sharp sides (probably redefined) and the rampart has a sharp outer scarp with a long and spread tail towards the interior. (10)
SE 435105 Camp N of Kirkby Common Farm. Scheduled. (11)
SE 435 104. Brierley Common, South Kirkby. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 1.8ha. (12)
In December 1997, RCHME carried out a Level 1 field investigation of the site as part of the project to record Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic period (see Event 923509) (13). The 'hillfort', which remains as described by previous sources, lies on sloping ground and is closely associated with a spring in the small natural valley along the northern side of the fort. Other than this passing similarity to the locations of many causewayed enclosures, no evidence was found on the ground to support the existence of any Neolithic causewayed enclosure. (13)
An Iron Age hillfort, centred at SE 4351 1047, is visible as an earthwork on air photographs. This site is as described by previous authorities. (15) |