Middle Dod Law hillfort (Doddington)
(NU 00633170) Camp. (1)
'This fort measures 98 by 93 yards, and is protected by a low escarpment to the west. It is joined to the fort to the south-east (NU 03 SW 25) by a mound on the north and south of the intervening space.
It is enclosed by a single rampart of stone with, at parts, slight traces of an excavated trench. The rampart where best preserved is 4 feet in height, and traces occur here and there of an inner rampart of very slight dimensions. The entrances are doubtful but were probably to the north-west and south-west. An earthwork runs south-west from the fort to the edge of a steep slope. A well exists at the foot of the escarpment to the west.'
May have been joined to the camp on the west (NU 03 SW 18) as there are traces of a rampart which would have joined the two camps together.
Middle Dod Law. An oval earthwork with single rampart, enclosing approximately 1 1/2 acres. Type B2 (Forts on high ground less dependent on natural slopes for protection). (2)(3)(4)(5)
Situated on the crest of a ridge of high ground about 650 feet above sea level. Although the site commands an excellent view in all directions the position is not strong, the natural slopes,
particularly to the north and east being slight with dead ground in the near vicinity.
The earthwork is D shaped and is contained by a bank with slight outer ditch, with fragmentary traces of a second inner bank.
The inner bank is surveyable only on the north side where it has a width of 4m and a maximum height of 0.4m. Elsewhere a few stones protruding from the turf are the only traces. To the west the inner bank probably coincided with the top of the low rocky escarpment. The outer bank traceable throughout its length except on the escarpment has a width varying from 3m to 5m and a height varying from 0.3m to 1.4m. It is strongest on the west where it runs at the foot of the
escarpment. The outer ditch where visible is crudely constructed and has an average width of 8m with a maximum depth of 0.7m.
There are four gaps in the outer bank but the two corresponding with the modern footpath are probably not original. Of the other two entrances that to the NE appears to be original and gives access to the near level crest of the ridge and to the gently sloping ground to the NE. The other entrance to the SW, mutilated by a small quarry, is more complex. To the west the outer bank continues southwards and on the east turns outwards forming a bottleneck. The entrance is further restricted by an 'island' placed centrally in the gap leaving a very narrow passage on each side. The entrance, slightly downhill, gives access to the lower ground to the south. A little SW of this entrance and downhill from it are two fragments of bank, possibly the remains of a covered way from the lower ground to the enclosure. There are no surface traces of habitation inside the enclosure.
The nearest water supply is some 350m to the south but the presence of a modern well just outside the NW corner of the enclosure indicates the presence of an accessible water table.
There is no evidence for dating purposes but the enclosure may have been associated with two other earthworks nearby (NU 03 SW 18 and 25). Of these, the former, a short distance (150m) to the west has Iron Age characteristics.
There is no trace of any banks or mounds joining this enclosure with those to the west and south east. (6)
Middle Dod Law: Possible traces of two huts are visible. (7)
There is no trace of the possible hut circles. Published survey (25inch) revised. (8)
Enclosure. (9)
Listed as pre-Roman Iron Age univallate (forts, settlements and enclosures), possibly with a Romano-British overlying settlement of round stone huts. (10)
Condition unchanged. The work is probably contemporary with the nearby fort (NU 03 SW 18), and, similarly, some secondary occupation seems likely, although the visible evidence for this, i.e. possible traces of stone huts, is slight. (11)
A brief description of this site, along with a bibliography, has been published as part of a survey of sites on Doddington and Horton Moors. (12)
NU 006 316. Middle Dod Law. Listed in a gazetteer of British hillforts as a multivallate structure enclosing 0.50ha. (13a)
NU 006 317. Two camps and cup and ring marked rocks on Dod Law. Scheduled No ND/94. (13b)
General association with HER 3795 and HER 3802. (13)
'This fort measures 98 by 93 yards, and is protected by a low escarpment to the west. It is joined to the fort to the south-east (NU 03 SW 25) by a mound on the north and south of the intervening space.
It is enclosed by a single rampart of stone with, at parts, slight traces of an excavated trench. The rampart where best preserved is 4 feet in height, and traces occur here and there of an inner rampart of very slight dimensions. The entrances are doubtful but were probably to the north-west and south-west. An earthwork runs south-west from the fort to the edge of a steep slope. A well exists at the foot of the escarpment to the west.'
May have been joined to the camp on the west (NU 03 SW 18) as there are traces of a rampart which would have joined the two camps together.
Middle Dod Law. An oval earthwork with single rampart, enclosing approximately 1 1/2 acres. Type B2 (Forts on high ground less dependent on natural slopes for protection). (2)(3)(4)(5)
Situated on the crest of a ridge of high ground about 650 feet above sea level. Although the site commands an excellent view in all directions the position is not strong, the natural slopes,
particularly to the north and east being slight with dead ground in the near vicinity.
The earthwork is D shaped and is contained by a bank with slight outer ditch, with fragmentary traces of a second inner bank.
The inner bank is surveyable only on the north side where it has a width of 4m and a maximum height of 0.4m. Elsewhere a few stones protruding from the turf are the only traces. To the west the inner bank probably coincided with the top of the low rocky escarpment. The outer bank traceable throughout its length except on the escarpment has a width varying from 3m to 5m and a height varying from 0.3m to 1.4m. It is strongest on the west where it runs at the foot of the
escarpment. The outer ditch where visible is crudely constructed and has an average width of 8m with a maximum depth of 0.7m.
There are four gaps in the outer bank but the two corresponding with the modern footpath are probably not original. Of the other two entrances that to the NE appears to be original and gives access to the near level crest of the ridge and to the gently sloping ground to the NE. The other entrance to the SW, mutilated by a small quarry, is more complex. To the west the outer bank continues southwards and on the east turns outwards forming a bottleneck. The entrance is further restricted by an 'island' placed centrally in the gap leaving a very narrow passage on each side. The entrance, slightly downhill, gives access to the lower ground to the south. A little SW of this entrance and downhill from it are two fragments of bank, possibly the remains of a covered way from the lower ground to the enclosure. There are no surface traces of habitation inside the enclosure.
The nearest water supply is some 350m to the south but the presence of a modern well just outside the NW corner of the enclosure indicates the presence of an accessible water table.
There is no evidence for dating purposes but the enclosure may have been associated with two other earthworks nearby (NU 03 SW 18 and 25). Of these, the former, a short distance (150m) to the west has Iron Age characteristics.
There is no trace of any banks or mounds joining this enclosure with those to the west and south east. (6)
Middle Dod Law: Possible traces of two huts are visible. (7)
There is no trace of the possible hut circles. Published survey (25inch) revised. (8)
Enclosure. (9)
Listed as pre-Roman Iron Age univallate (forts, settlements and enclosures), possibly with a Romano-British overlying settlement of round stone huts. (10)
Condition unchanged. The work is probably contemporary with the nearby fort (NU 03 SW 18), and, similarly, some secondary occupation seems likely, although the visible evidence for this, i.e. possible traces of stone huts, is slight. (11)
A brief description of this site, along with a bibliography, has been published as part of a survey of sites on Doddington and Horton Moors. (12)
NU 006 316. Middle Dod Law. Listed in a gazetteer of British hillforts as a multivallate structure enclosing 0.50ha. (13a)
NU 006 317. Two camps and cup and ring marked rocks on Dod Law. Scheduled No ND/94. (13b)
General association with HER 3795 and HER 3802. (13)
N3794
FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; E Geary
FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1964; R D Loader
FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1968; D Smith
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1964; R D Loader
FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1968; D Smith
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
Disclaimer -
Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.