Castle Knowe Camp (Ingram)
(NU 03131468) Castle Knowe Camp. (1)
The camp called Castle Hill, on a rocky knoll has three ramparts of an irregular oval shape, with internal diameters of about 80 and 65 yards. The entrance is on the north-east and has been constructed obliquely. Another opening to the east is not considered to be original work. (2)
Clinch Castle. Type B1 (Fort on hill tops with artificial defences following the natural line of the hill). (3)
Situated on the summit of a knoll, just above the 600ft contour, the earthwork has steep natural slopes to the west and south, and not quite so steep to the east and north. From the former directions the site is overlooked by higher ground, but only at some considerable distance. The triple ramparts of this earthwork have been formed by scarping the natural slopes into steps, the spoil being used to form a slight bank on the tops of the scarps. To the west two inner banks merge into one, but this may be due to mutilation by quarrying. Only two lines of defence are apparent to the south-east, although the natural slopes in this direction are slight. There are entrances in the north-east and south sides, each cutting through the ramparts at an angle. No traces of internal habitation exist.
A stream to the east would have been a convenient source of water. Although the natural features provide good protection only on two sides, the strength of the banks show that this was a defensive earthwork; it can be classified as a small fort. (4)
Clinch Castle. Listed as pre-Roman Iron Age multivallate (forts, settlements and enclosures). (5)
In fair condition. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (6)
No conditional change to previous reports. Internal area measures about 60m north-south by 7m transversely. From limited local enquiry no satisfactory confirmation of the name Clinch Castle was obtained. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. (7)
NU 032 147. Clinch Castle. Listed in gazetteer as a multivallate hillfort covering 0.28ha. (8a)
NU 031 146. A multivallate hillfort with mutilated ramparts containing a number of possible hut circles is situated on the summit of a knoll at 212m OD. Steep natural slopes fall to the W and N, the approach from S and E being very gentle. The fort is overlooked by Gibbs Hill (NU 01 SW 5) (250m OD) and the E knoll of West Hill (265m OD).The ramparts are best preserved on the W side where the outer
rampart survives to a height of 2.8m externally and 0.9m internally. The middle and inner ramparts are in poor condition and rarely show more than the faintest sign of a backscarp, though externally they
measure more than 2m in height at some points. The inner rampart exhibits a slight ledge around the W side (not surveyable at 1:2500 scale) as if stone has been robbed from it. On the W side the middle and inner ramparts merge and there is a quarry at this point with an exposed face 2.1m high undercut by 0.8m and a distinct talus of debris, though this is partly turf-covered. Another possible quarry is situated 30m to the S in the face of the middle rampart. There are three entrances through the ramparts. That on the E would appear to be original (pace Authority 2), facing the flattest approach and having some indication of deliberate inturns to the rampart terminals. The breaches on the N and S sides are later; in both cases the ramparts show signs of having been broken through. Both these entrances are oblique. The interior of the fort contains a number of scarps, some of them natural, and at least seven possible hut circles. Four of these hut circles are near the top of the knoll and are at least partly rock-cut. The largest [A], which occupies a relatively central position, has a maximum diameter of 8.4 m, but its scarps are indistinct and only c 0.2m high. Its entrance can be assumed to be towards the E or NE. The other three in this group [B, C and D] range in diameter from 3.8m to 5.6m and have scarps c 0.4m high. The three remaining hut circles [E, F and G] lie to the E and range
in diameter from 5.4m to 6.5m with scarps up to 0.4m high. [E and F] are intercutting and therefore afford evidence for two phases of activity. None of the hut circles have visible entrances or internal features. (8b)
The camp called Castle Hill, on a rocky knoll has three ramparts of an irregular oval shape, with internal diameters of about 80 and 65 yards. The entrance is on the north-east and has been constructed obliquely. Another opening to the east is not considered to be original work. (2)
Clinch Castle. Type B1 (Fort on hill tops with artificial defences following the natural line of the hill). (3)
Situated on the summit of a knoll, just above the 600ft contour, the earthwork has steep natural slopes to the west and south, and not quite so steep to the east and north. From the former directions the site is overlooked by higher ground, but only at some considerable distance. The triple ramparts of this earthwork have been formed by scarping the natural slopes into steps, the spoil being used to form a slight bank on the tops of the scarps. To the west two inner banks merge into one, but this may be due to mutilation by quarrying. Only two lines of defence are apparent to the south-east, although the natural slopes in this direction are slight. There are entrances in the north-east and south sides, each cutting through the ramparts at an angle. No traces of internal habitation exist.
A stream to the east would have been a convenient source of water. Although the natural features provide good protection only on two sides, the strength of the banks show that this was a defensive earthwork; it can be classified as a small fort. (4)
Clinch Castle. Listed as pre-Roman Iron Age multivallate (forts, settlements and enclosures). (5)
In fair condition. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (6)
No conditional change to previous reports. Internal area measures about 60m north-south by 7m transversely. From limited local enquiry no satisfactory confirmation of the name Clinch Castle was obtained. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. (7)
NU 032 147. Clinch Castle. Listed in gazetteer as a multivallate hillfort covering 0.28ha. (8a)
NU 031 146. A multivallate hillfort with mutilated ramparts containing a number of possible hut circles is situated on the summit of a knoll at 212m OD. Steep natural slopes fall to the W and N, the approach from S and E being very gentle. The fort is overlooked by Gibbs Hill (NU 01 SW 5) (250m OD) and the E knoll of West Hill (265m OD).The ramparts are best preserved on the W side where the outer
rampart survives to a height of 2.8m externally and 0.9m internally. The middle and inner ramparts are in poor condition and rarely show more than the faintest sign of a backscarp, though externally they
measure more than 2m in height at some points. The inner rampart exhibits a slight ledge around the W side (not surveyable at 1:2500 scale) as if stone has been robbed from it. On the W side the middle and inner ramparts merge and there is a quarry at this point with an exposed face 2.1m high undercut by 0.8m and a distinct talus of debris, though this is partly turf-covered. Another possible quarry is situated 30m to the S in the face of the middle rampart. There are three entrances through the ramparts. That on the E would appear to be original (pace Authority 2), facing the flattest approach and having some indication of deliberate inturns to the rampart terminals. The breaches on the N and S sides are later; in both cases the ramparts show signs of having been broken through. Both these entrances are oblique. The interior of the fort contains a number of scarps, some of them natural, and at least seven possible hut circles. Four of these hut circles are near the top of the knoll and are at least partly rock-cut. The largest [A], which occupies a relatively central position, has a maximum diameter of 8.4 m, but its scarps are indistinct and only c 0.2m high. Its entrance can be assumed to be towards the E or NE. The other three in this group [B, C and D] range in diameter from 3.8m to 5.6m and have scarps c 0.4m high. The three remaining hut circles [E, F and G] lie to the E and range
in diameter from 5.4m to 6.5m with scarps up to 0.4m high. [E and F] are intercutting and therefore afford evidence for two phases of activity. None of the hut circles have visible entrances or internal features. (8b)
N3193
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; D A Davies
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: SE Cheviots Project ; RCHME
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: SE Cheviots Project ; RCHME
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
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