The Stell (Rothley with Hollinghill)
NZ 043885 Rothley Crags. Listed under pre-Roman Iron Age multivallate forts, settlements and enclosures. (1)
On Beacon Hill, behind Rothley, is an elliptical earthwork, 71 by 63 paces internally, having a bank and ditch, with a second one extending half way round the east side. The beacon stood on a mound 9yds from the bank. (2)
NZ 04228850. A fort occupying a strong natural position with a precipitous cliff face on the west side. It consists of an inner enclosure (dimensions as given by Hodgson) which is also a sheep stell, the remains of a modern stone wall surmounting the original rampart. There is no apparent ditch to this part of the work. Outer defences of two stony banks and ditches flank the east side terminating at either end on rock outcrops. They have been breached by a modern track, and quarried away at the southern extremity, but elsewhere are in fair condition.
The possible remains of two stone-founded huts are visible in the main enclosure suggesting perhaps secondary occupation. The beacon platform is at NZ 04178846. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
NZ 043885. The Stell, Rothley, fort and Romano-British settlement. Two ditches with circular ruined wall inside - used to form a stell at a later date. Two round hut foundations visible inside - presumably secondary Romano-British settlement. Linear bank and ditch 60m to east is of doubtful context. Rothley Crag was once the site of a Border beacon. (4)
The Stell is is a prehistoric hilltop enclosure of a multivallate defence work of revetted banks and ditches in an excellent state of preservation. Though characteristic of the Later Prehistoric period this site may well have given refuge to local inhabitants in much more recent times and the inner area was certainly re-used as a defensible stone-walled nightfold for the protection of stock against reivers.
The beacon platform is built up on a sloping rock outcrop at the southern end of the crags. This was a fire beacon and one of a chain maintained under the Border Laws to give warning of approaching danger. (5)
On Beacon Hill, behind Rothley, is an elliptical earthwork, 71 by 63 paces internally, having a bank and ditch, with a second one extending half way round the east side. The beacon stood on a mound 9yds from the bank. (2)
NZ 04228850. A fort occupying a strong natural position with a precipitous cliff face on the west side. It consists of an inner enclosure (dimensions as given by Hodgson) which is also a sheep stell, the remains of a modern stone wall surmounting the original rampart. There is no apparent ditch to this part of the work. Outer defences of two stony banks and ditches flank the east side terminating at either end on rock outcrops. They have been breached by a modern track, and quarried away at the southern extremity, but elsewhere are in fair condition.
The possible remains of two stone-founded huts are visible in the main enclosure suggesting perhaps secondary occupation. The beacon platform is at NZ 04178846. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
NZ 043885. The Stell, Rothley, fort and Romano-British settlement. Two ditches with circular ruined wall inside - used to form a stell at a later date. Two round hut foundations visible inside - presumably secondary Romano-British settlement. Linear bank and ditch 60m to east is of doubtful context. Rothley Crag was once the site of a Border beacon. (4)
The Stell is is a prehistoric hilltop enclosure of a multivallate defence work of revetted banks and ditches in an excellent state of preservation. Though characteristic of the Later Prehistoric period this site may well have given refuge to local inhabitants in much more recent times and the inner area was certainly re-used as a defensible stone-walled nightfold for the protection of stock against reivers.
The beacon platform is built up on a sloping rock outcrop at the southern end of the crags. This was a fire beacon and one of a chain maintained under the Border Laws to give warning of approaching danger. (5)
N10396
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1968; R W Emsley
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
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