Summary

Defended settlement, 525m WSW of West Lodge.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 24 May 2016. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes the remains of a defended settlement of Iron Age date, situated on the summit of Chesterhill with commanding views on all directions. The defended settlement is formed from a sub-oval enclosure covering an area of roughly 0.5ha. and measuring approximately 88m north east-south west and 65m north west-south east. It is surrounded be a single earth and stone bank and ditch, with a fragmentary additional outer bank, all of which are preserved as low earthworks. The earthworks are interrupted by entrances on the east and west sides with the latter having traces of an inturned entrance with an outer bank forming an entrance passage. The enclosure has both an inner and outer irregular annex attached to the south west rampart. On the north west side of the outer annex is a rectangular enclosure. Within the main enclosure are at least two hut-circles, one of which has an entrance on the north side.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

During the earlier Iron Age (seventh to fifth centuries BC) a variety of different types of defensive settlements began to be constructed and occupied in the northern uplands of England. The most obvious sites were hillforts built in prominent locations. In addition to these a range of smaller sites, sometimes with an enclosed area of less than 1ha and defined as defended settlements, were also constructed. Some of these were located on hilltops, others are found in less prominent positions. The enclosing defences were of earthen construction, some sites having a single bank and ditch (univallate), others having more than one (multivallate). At some sites these earthen ramparts represent a second phase of defence, the first having been a timber fence or palisade. Within the enclosure a number of stone or timber-built round houses were occupied by the inhabitants. Stock may also have been kept in these houses, especially during the cold winter months, or in enclosed yards outside them. The communities occupying these sites were probably single family groups, the defended settlements being used as farmsteads. Construction and use of this type of site extended over several centuries, possibly through to the early Romano-British period (mid to late first century AD). Defended settlements are a rare monument type. They were an important element of the later prehistoric settlement pattern of the northern uplands and are important for any study of the developing use of fortified settlements during this period. All well-preserved examples are believed to be of national importance.

The defended settlement WSW of West Lodge is reasonably well-preserved with the remaining earthworks indicating that the monument will contain archaeological deposits relating to its construction, use and abandonment. The monument provides insight into the character of settlement and subsistence during the Iron Age.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 6697

Source: Historic England