Summary

Hillfort and enclosure 800m north east of Witnells End Farm.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 20 May 2015. 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. As such they do not yet have the full descriptions of their modernised counterparts available. Please contact us if you would like further information.

This monument, which falls into two areas, includes a small multivallate hillfort, an enclosure and hollow ways on a hill above a conjunction of three streams in Arley Wood. The hillfort survives as a sub rectangular area measuring up to 130m long and 70m wide, defined by a triple rampart on the north and elsewhere by a single rampart with associated external quarry ditch. The quarry ditch is up to 7m wide and 1.2m deep and an entrance gap at the northern end leads between the three ramparts and associated quarry ditches. The sub rectangular enclosure is situated to the north of the hillfort and in the area between are a series of hollow ways.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Small multivallate hillforts are defined as fortified enclosures of varying shape, generally between 1 and 5ha in size and located on hilltops. They are defined by boundaries consisting of two or more lines of closely set earthworks spaced at intervals of up to 15m. These entirely surround the interior except on sites located on promontories, where cliffs may form one or more sides of the monument. They date to the Iron Age period, most having been constructed and occupied between the sixth century BC and the mid-first century AD. Small multivallate hillforts are generally regarded as settlements of high status, occupied on a permanent basis. Recent interpretations suggest that the construction of multiple earthworks may have had as much to do with display as with defence. Earthworks may consist of a rampart alone or of a rampart and ditch which, on many sites, are associated with counterscarp banks and internal quarry scoops. Access to the interior is generally provided by one or two entrances, which either appear as simple gaps in the earthwork or inturned passages, sometimes with guardrooms. The interior generally consists of settlement evidence including round houses, four and six post structures interpreted as raised granaries, roads, pits, gullies, hearths and a variety of scattered post and stake holes. Evidence from outside numerous examples of small multivallate hillforts suggests that extra-mural settlement was of a similar nature. Small multivallate hillforts are rare with around 100 examples recorded nationally. Most are located in the Welsh Marches and the south-west with a concentration of small monuments in the north-east. In view of the rarity of small multivallate hillforts and their importance in understanding the nature of settlement and social organisation within the Iron Age period, all examples with surviving archaeological remains are believed to be of national importance. Despite afforestation, the hillfort 800m north east of Witnells End Farm survives comparatively well. The monument has an interesting and potentially informative relationship with a broadly contemporary separate enclosure. The interior of the hillfort, ramparts and enclosure ditches will contain layers and deposits containing important archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, use and occupation.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Pastscape Monument Nos:-116774 & 116779

Source: Historic England