Blue Crags Hillfort (Chollerton)
(NY 94647608) Settlement. (1)
Blue Crags. A mass of whinstone of about an acre, in the form of a wedge with the back and sides forming natural defences, and the edge defended by a rampart of stones. (2)
The ramparts of the fort follow the sides of the promontory, although that to the north is almost quarried away. It is divided by two walls with hut circles in the northern part, the other being probably intended for stock, it having an entrance at the south-west angle. The whole is supplemented by additional ramparts (proved to be artificial) at the foot of the Crags on the east and west sides.
Excavations of nine hut circles in 1924-5 produced finds which include cup-marked stones; querns; whetstones; and a fragment of medieval pottery suggesting continuous occupation from Bronze Age/Iron Age onwards. (3)
In good condition. Published survey (25 inch). (4)
A defended settlement situated on a rocky shelf which inclines from approximately 600ft above ground level in the north, to ground level in the south. It is generally as described by Ball, but the 'ramparts' are not of Iron Age strength, and the appearance of the visible remains is that of a Romano-British complex. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (5)
NY 9465 7608. Blue Crags hillfort 730m NW of Colwell. Scheduled RSM No 20932. A defended settlement of Iron Age/Romano-British date. The main encircling rampart encloses a rectangular area measuring 192m NW-SE by 70m NE-SW. The rampart, which runs along the edge of the outcrop on the S, W and E sides, measures on average 5m across and stands to a height of over 1m; the N rampart has been quarried away. A double wall with an entrance through it, subsequently damaged by quarrying, divides the enclosure into two parts. The N and larger half contains the well preserved foundations of at least 12 circular stone-walled huts measuring on average 6.5m in diameter with wall standing 0.5m high. When nine of the hut circles were examined in 1924 the finds included cupmarked stones, quernstones, whetstones and a piece of medieval pottery. The S enclosure, which contains no visible traces of habitation, would have been used to contain stock. The settlement was given added defence by the addition of substantial ramparts at the foot of the crags on the E and W sides. (6)
Blue Crags. A mass of whinstone of about an acre, in the form of a wedge with the back and sides forming natural defences, and the edge defended by a rampart of stones. (2)
The ramparts of the fort follow the sides of the promontory, although that to the north is almost quarried away. It is divided by two walls with hut circles in the northern part, the other being probably intended for stock, it having an entrance at the south-west angle. The whole is supplemented by additional ramparts (proved to be artificial) at the foot of the Crags on the east and west sides.
Excavations of nine hut circles in 1924-5 produced finds which include cup-marked stones; querns; whetstones; and a fragment of medieval pottery suggesting continuous occupation from Bronze Age/Iron Age onwards. (3)
In good condition. Published survey (25 inch). (4)
A defended settlement situated on a rocky shelf which inclines from approximately 600ft above ground level in the north, to ground level in the south. It is generally as described by Ball, but the 'ramparts' are not of Iron Age strength, and the appearance of the visible remains is that of a Romano-British complex. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (5)
NY 9465 7608. Blue Crags hillfort 730m NW of Colwell. Scheduled RSM No 20932. A defended settlement of Iron Age/Romano-British date. The main encircling rampart encloses a rectangular area measuring 192m NW-SE by 70m NE-SW. The rampart, which runs along the edge of the outcrop on the S, W and E sides, measures on average 5m across and stands to a height of over 1m; the N rampart has been quarried away. A double wall with an entrance through it, subsequently damaged by quarrying, divides the enclosure into two parts. The N and larger half contains the well preserved foundations of at least 12 circular stone-walled huts measuring on average 6.5m in diameter with wall standing 0.5m high. When nine of the hut circles were examined in 1924 the finds included cupmarked stones, quernstones, whetstones and a piece of medieval pottery. The S enclosure, which contains no visible traces of habitation, would have been used to contain stock. The settlement was given added defence by the addition of substantial ramparts at the foot of the crags on the E and W sides. (6)
N9202
EXCAVATION, BLUE CRAGS, COLWELL 1925; BALL, T
FIELD SURVEY, Rectilinear earthworks in Northumberland: some Medieval and Later settlements 1960
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1961; E G Cameron
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; R W Emsley
FIELD SURVEY, Rectilinear earthworks in Northumberland: some Medieval and Later settlements 1960
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1961; E G Cameron
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; R W Emsley
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