Within the hillfort up to 13 buildings have been noted. Most are circular and all but one are probably Romano-British in date. This contradicts previous assumptions that they are Iron Age. It is suggested that the structures could all have been in use at the same time. However, this report also states that two of the structures could be of post-medieval origin. Many of the structures were seen by previous surveyors but their interpretations have nearly all differed in some respects.
The outer enclosure is less substantial than the hillfort and, although previously regarded as contemporary with it, the results of the survey suggest it may also be Romano-British in date. It is more or less concentric with the hillfort rampart, lying between 12m and 35m from its outside edge. The enclosure measures up to 125m north to south by 105m east to west, with an area of 0.74ha, not including the 1.17ha of the hillfort itself. The enclosure bank is made of earth and stone and measures on average 3.5m wide and 0.4m high. Around the north and north-west sides is a shallow quarry hollow where some of the stone may have been taken. On the south side are traces of a possible external ditch. On the north-west side the bank is made only of stones possibly taken from the collapsed rampart of the Iron Age hillfort. Intermittently, facing stones can be seen on both sides of the bank around the whole enclosure. The enclosure has an entrance in the east side and an additional one may lie beneath the Romano-British enclosed settlement. It originally measured about 2.5m wide but may have been widened, possibly in the 19th century. Two earthworks have been built on top of the bank - a mound and an enclosed Romano-British settlement. (1)

Scheduled. (2)

NT 9097 2951 (GCE). Between December 1999 and March 2000, English Heritage carried out a detailed field investigation of the Iron Age hillfort on West Hill (NT 92 NW 31), together with an area of 0.5km2 around it, following a request from the Northumberland National Park (Event record 1300646).

Most of the earthworks have been adequately described by previous investigators as part of the hillfort (see NT 92 NW 31), but seem more likely to represent Romano-British re-occupation and reconstruction of the abandoned Iron Age monument. Two of the fourteen possible hut circles within and around the hillfort are demonstrably later than the hillfort rampart; they are contemporary with a low stony bank built on top of the collapsed Iron Age rampart around the northern part of the circuit. Only one possible 'ring-groove' structure was identified.

It is likely that this R-B occupation is broadly contemporary with the addition of the outer enclosure concentric with the hillfort, which encloses 1.17ha, since the northern side of this circuit seems to have incorporated material from the collapsed rampart. In addition, the construction technique of revetting an earth and stone bank with large boulders set on edge is similar to that of various other R-B features in the vicinity. This outer enclosure has previously been interpreted as an Iron Age stock enclosure contemporary with the rampart. The circuit is overlain by a small D-shaped Romano-British enclosed settlement (NT 92 NW 114), though it seems likely that a fairly short interval may have separated the two constructional episodes.

Scheduled as part of SAM Northumberland 221.

For further information, see the Level 3 report on the field investigation, which includes a full textual description and interpretation of the remains, copies of plans surveyed at various scales, selected photographs and interpretative drawings. The remainder of the archive material is also available through the NMR. (3a-g)

The Roman reuse and occupation of the Iron Age hillfort (NT 92 NW 31) on West Hill is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs, evidenced by three stone hut circles and a rectilinear structure overlying the collapsed hillfort rampart the area is centred at NT 9097 2951. It is likely that this occupation is broadly contemporary with the addition of an outer enclosure to the hillfort. Scheduled. (3h)

General associations with HER 1417, HER 13327, HER 13328 and HER 13343. (3)