(NT 98192785) Camp [OE], Green Castle [T1]. (1)

Ditch visible on west and north sides, and ? traces of two mole ditches on west side. (Known locally as the 'Cup and Saucer'). (2)

Green Castle or Cup and Saucer Camp. Its form is that of half an ellipse with diameters of about 120x and 45x, area not more than half an acre, it stands on a cliff and slopes gradually eastward. Two silver pennies of ED I were found here. (3)

A motte type earthwork. (4)

This earthwork is situated at the bend of a stream in a strongly defensive position.
It consists of a large mound with a rampart along the top north-west and south-west faces; additional defences consist of a broad strong ditch to the south-west and an outer scarped bank to the north-west. Elsewhere the defences are natural and precipitous.
There are no traces of internal occupation or entrances. A water supply is adjacent.
The defences appear stronger than is usually associated with Northumbrian prehistoric or native sites, and this feature is possibly an early ring castle of early medieval date. There are no additional defences to the west. Location of finds noted not ascertained. (5)

The work is of ring motte type, formed by the addition of a ditch to the north and west sides of a strongly placed natural hillock, and the consequent raising of it on those sides. Published survey (1:2500) revised. (6)

Green Castle ringwork 320m south west of Humbleton Mill. Scheduling revised on 7 August 2001, new national monument number 34226. The monument includes the remains of a ringwork of medieval date, known as Green Castle, situated on a high promontory above the Humbleton Burn and overlooking the town of Wooler. The ringwork has been constructed in order to utilize the steep natural defences on the north east and south east sides of the promontory. The remaining sides have been modifed to create a steep sided mound, and a line of retaining stones is visible across the south west slope where erosion has occurred. In addition, a ditch with a maximum width of 5m and a slight counterscarp bank have been dug around the south, west and north sides further enhancing the defences. The ringwork is D-shaped in plan and measures approximately 50m north east to south west by 46m north west to south east internally. A bank, up to 0.7m high, has been constructed around the top of the mound on all sides except the north east, which drops sharply to the Humbleton Burn. Both the internal and external facing stones of this bank are visible. The interior of the ringwork is concave, although the ground level is considerably higher than outside the enclosure wall. The interior is subdivided by a north-south bank which stands up to 0.2m high. Aerial photographs indicate a second subdivision inside the ringwork, but this is difficult to trace on the ground.
The ringwork is well-preserved and a good example of its type. It will contain occupation debris and evidence relating to its use as a stronghold which will enhance our understanding of fortifications from this period. In addition, the structure of the ringwork will reveal details of the manner of its construction. As a rare monument type in Northumberland it will contribute to the study of fortifications in this period. (7)

Border Archaeology Society discovered a large rock, approximately 1.0m by 0.5m by 0.25m at the surface, with four distinctive cup marks on its upper surface at Green Castle in 2003 (NT 98183 27884). The stone is set into the top of Green Castle fort on the lower western rampart, positioned near the entrance to the hillfort, to the east is a rise of some 20m. (8)

NT 981 278. Green Castle camp. Scheduled no. ND/205. (9a)

Listed by Cathcart King as a partial ringwork. (9b)

Visible on an oblique aerial photograph (9c)

The site has been mapped from the air as part of the Milfield Geoarchaeoloy Project. (See archive object MD000292) (9)