More information : (SV 87601605) A promontory fort at the north of
Bryher was defended by a massive wall of selected granite
blocks running from Boat Carn (SV 87611608) to the steep sea
cliff at west. Shown but not described on OS 25" 1908 see
illustration.
It originally had a narrow entrance with guard chamber but no
ditches.
The facing stones of footings with the entrance and guard
chambers are still visible.
The length of wall at west and the area of the fort have been
reduced by erosion but within, on one or two level areas,
possible hut platforms are visible.
No evidence of dating has been obtained from the site. (1-2)
A scatter of large boulders is visible on air photographs
across the peninsula at the indicated position. There are no
obvious signs of hut circles. (3)
The 'neck' of the rocky peninsula of Shipman Head is traversed
by a wall which utilises the rock outcrop on the east side,
terminating at the sheer rock face, and runs to the present low
cliff edge on the west side, a distance of about 50 metres, in a
sinuous course to utilise numerous massive slabs of rock.
Although the wall is completely tumbled the facing stones can be
recognised for a considerable distance on the south side, and
intermittently on the north side. The width of the original wall
appears to be approximately 4.0m; but tumbling has spread the
thickness to between 5.0 and 6.0m. The wall consisted of roughly
piled boulders of uniform size - between 0.5m and 0.3m square,
rising to a maximum of 0.7m, though this is exceeded by the
large slabs ofrock. It can be seen within the outcrop rock on
the eastern side right up to the point where the sheer cliff
face begins. Nowhere along the line is there clear evidence of a
break in the walling and the suggestion that an entrance and
guard chamber are visible could not be confirmed. It may be
significant that all references to a guard house and entrance
are omitted from the current DOE guide.
Surveyed at 1:10 000 on PFD and at 1:500 for AO Records.
(4) |