Details

The scheduling includes a later prehistoric multiple enclosure fort, situated
on a gentle north slope on the east shoulder of a ridge south of Tregony. The
fort has an inner enclosure, pear shaped in plan, and an outer enclosure with
an irregular plan, and measures approximately 257m north east-south west by
215m north west-south east overall.
The inner enclosure has an enclosing bank, visible on the ground as a scarp of
earth and stone up to 13.9m wide and 1m high, with slight traces of the inside
face. By analogy with similar sites it is considered that the bank will have
an external ditch, now buried. The interior of this enclosure has a slighter
gradient than the surrounding field. Aerial photographs show buried remains of
a circular feature some 15m across inside the enclosing bank on the north
east side, and a curving feature on the south west side, considered to be the
remains of a round house and small enclosure respectively.
The outer enclosure has a substantial enclosing bank of earth and stone
incorporated in a field boundary with relatively modern stone facing, except
to the north where it has been removed, forming a scarp above Castlezens Farm.
The bank ranges from 2.2m wide and 1.8m high outside, 1m high inside (to the
south west), to 4.2m wide by 3m high on the outside, 1.8m on the inside (to
the south east). In places, notably on the south and west sides, the line of
its outer face is sinuous, perhaps due to limited collapse and/or robbing in
the past. On the south and south east sides are remains of an external ditch,
visible on the ground as a linear depression up to 0.7m deep extending to
approximately 12m from the base of the outer bank. As with similar sites
elsewhere, this ditch is considered to extend around the remainder of the
outer bank: the lane skirting the fort on the west side, and the trackway on
the east side, are considered to follow its line. The location of the fort's
original entrance is not clear. The interior of this enclosure falls gently to
the north with the natural slope, but its ground level is significantly higher
than that of the surrounding fields.
All modern fencing, gateposts, gates and telegraph posts are excluded from the
scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Multiple enclosure forts comprise an inner and one or more outer enclosed
areas, together measuring up to c.10ha, and defined by sub-circular or sub-
rectangular earthworks spaced at intervals which exceed 15m; the inner
enclosure is usually entirely surrounded by a bank and ditch. The forts date
mainly to the Late Iron Age (350 BC-c.AD 50) and in England usually occur in
the south west. Most are sited on hillslopes overlooked by higher ground near
a water supply, and many were apparently used for periods of up to 250 years.
The outer enclosures of the forts are usually interpreted as areas set aside
for the containment of livestock, whilst the inner enclosures are generally
thought to have been the focus of occupation.
The earthworks usually include a bank with an outer V-shaped ditch 1m-3m deep.
Entrances are generally single gaps through each line of defence, often
aligned to create a passage from the outer to the inner enclosure, although
there are a few examples where entrances through successive earthworks are not
in alignment. Occasionally the interval between the gaps is marked by inturned
ramparts or low banks and ditches, while the outer entrance may be screened by
a short length of earthwork. Excavations within the inner enclosures have
revealed a range of buildings and structures, including circular structures,
hearths, ovens and cobbled surfaces as well as occasional small pits and large
depressions which may have functioned as watering holes.
Multiple enclosure forts are relatively rare with only around 75 examples
recorded in England, mostly in Devon and Cornwall. Outside these counties
their distribution becomes increasingly scattered and the form and
construction methods more varied. They are important for the study of
settlement and stock management in the later prehistoric period, and most
well-preserved examples will be identified as being of national importance.

The Castlezens multiple enclosure fort in this scheduling survives reasonably
well. Despite some reduction and modification of the enclosing banks, it
remains substantially intact. The old land surface underlying the upstanding
earthworks, and remains of buildings and structures and other deposits
associated with these, will survive.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Padel, O J, Cornish placename elements, (1985), 42, 204
Other
Mercer, R, AM7, (1971)
Preston-Jones, A, AM 107, (1995)
Sheppard, P, AM 107, (1984)
SW 94 SW 1, NJA, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1977)
Title: Cornwall Mapping Project
Source Date: 1996
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1880
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1907
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Ordnance Survey 2" drawing
Source Date: 1811
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Veryan Tithe Apportionment
Source Date: 1840
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
294

Source: Historic England