NT 932502. Aerial reconnaissance has revealed at Horncliffe a rectangular enclosure defended by three ditches. At the gate in the south-east side the two outermost ditches curve outwards in the manner of claviculae. However, the plan of the claviculae is contrary to normal Roman usage, so that this site, superficially resembling a small Roman fort, appears to be an example of a native work, copying Roman models. (1)

This site may be described as a Roman fortlet or an Iron Age fort. It is visible as a cropmark on air photographs and is centred at NT 9313 5015. It is formed by three ditches with two interstitial ramparts. The middle ditch exhibits a clavicula that is echoed by the outer rampart and ditch. The entrance is centrally positioned in the south-east side. The ramparts are between 7m and 9m in width, and the outermost ditch, on the west side, measures 5m. To the north the fort defences are defined by a steep slope, and to the east (if they existed) are hidden by plantation. In total the defences are 27m wide and enclose an area of approximately 0.41ha. (2)

NT 932 502. Horncliffe Fort. Scheduled No ND/556. (3)

Test pitting in 2022 revealed a potential cobbled surface with possible post pads within the fortlet, while another identified U-shaped profile double ditches within the area to the south-west. A futher test pit revealed part of the large inner ditch of the double defensive ditches which enclosed the fortlet. A geophysical survey demonstrated that the fortlet measures approximately 100 m x 100 m, inclusive of the two defensive ditches, with an enclosed area of 60 x 60 m. (4)