[NU 00771388] Camp. (1)

West Cochrane Pike. Circular earthwork single rampart enclosing approximately 0.5 acre. (2)

Type B2 (Forts on high ground less dependent on natural slopes for protection). (3)

Situated in rough pasterland at 1050 feet above sea level on the south-east facing slopes of a hill and about 70m from its summit, this earthwork is not in a favourable defensive position. It is overlooked by higher ground from the immediate north-west and has fairly level ground to the north-east and south-west. To the south and south-east however, the ground falls sharply (gradient about 1 in 5), giving an excellent view in these directions.
The work consists of an irregularly shaped enclosure formed by a single bank of earth and stones, and apparently using a line of natural rock outcrop as part of its boundary. To the north and north west is an outer ditch, reduced to mere traces in places. The bank, too is badly mutilated and can be traced only with difficulty on the east and south-west sides - and where it merges with the rock outcrop. An opening to the north-west appears to be the only original entrance.
Two small banks of earth and stones within the enclosure may be the remains of a building foundation. Traces of another bank extend south-westwards from the north-east corner of this feature. There are also two 'scooped' areas within the enclosure and the surface area north of the western most one is very disturbed - but contains no recognisable indications of internal habitation.
Insufficient remains of this earthwork to give an indication its date or purpose.
A stream to the south east is the present nearest source of water. (4)

Listed as pre-Roman Iron Age univallate (forts, settlements and enclosures). (5)

The site is clearly non-defensive, but the work, although insignificant, is distinctively Iron Age in profile. Further, a number of internal scooped platforms for timber huts are distinguishable. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (6)

No change from reports of 9/5/57 and 17/4/70. Surveyed at 1:10,000. (7)

Additional bibliography. (8)

NU 008139 West Cochrane Pike cord rig in small plot cultivation. Contemporary with enclosed stone-built settlement. (9)

Part of Scheduled Monument 32782: Ingram Farm prehistoric to post-medieval settlement, agricultural and funerary remains. (10)

A partly enclosed later prehistoric settlement is situated at 325m OD on a S-facing slope below the summit of Cochrane Pike. The bank, which is up to 0.5m high internally and up to 10m thick (though averaging 6-7m), surrounds the W, N and part of the E sides of the sub-rectangular enclosed area. Around the NW corner are traces of an external ditch up to 0.5m deep and c 4m wide. A previous survey (Authority 4) suggests that there is an entrance in the W side close to the NW corner but, although the ditch fades here and the bank is mutilated, there is no sign that the bank is absent. The bank is low and flat-topped and has undoubtedly been robbed extensively. The S side of the enclosure is formed by a steep natural scarp with outcropping rock. The enclosure contains the remains of at least seven hut platforms with the possible remains of a (?)later ring-bank roundhouse and a sub-rectangular structure. The hut platforms are all abraded but most have both backscarps and aprons with heights of 0.4-0.8m. The internal diameters vary from c 4m to c 10m. There are no visible entrances or internal features. The possible ring-bank was surveyed by Jobey (Authority 5, 63, no. 93) who suggested that it was a later house. It is now visible only as an arc of bank up to 0.2m high. The rectangular structure consists of a series of scarps up to 0.3m high and a slight bank c 0.1m high. Its internal measurments are c 5 x 4m. No internal features or entrances are visible.

The site has extensive views to W, S and E. The view to the N is restricted by the ground rising to the summit of the Pike, which commands the enclosure, but Old Fawdon Hill and Wether Hill are both visible from the N perimeter bank. (11a)