Summary

Large univallate hillfort with outwork known as Castle Dyke Camp.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 29 October 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.

This monument includes a large univallate hillfort with outwork occupying the ridge, which forms the watershed between the valleys of the Kate Brook and Ugbrooke. The hillfort survives as an oval enclosure defined by a bank and outer ditch with a linear outwork to the south. The oval enclosure measures approximately 225m long by 155m wide internally and is defined by an outer rampart bank up to 20m wide and 3m high surrounded by a partially buried outer ditch which measures up to 8m wide and 3m deep. There are inturned entrances to the north east and south west. Approximately 225m to the south is a linear outwork. This survives as a rampart measuring up to 12m wide, 3m high with a partially buried outer ditch measuring up to 8m wide and 2m deep. The outwork extends from the top of the scarp of one river valley to the other. This outwork also has a deeply inturned entrance at approximately the centre of its length. The enclosed area between the outwork and hillfort has cropmark evidence for enclosures.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Large univallate hillforts are defined as fortified enclosures of varying shape, ranging in size between 1ha and 10ha, located on hilltops and surrounded by a single boundary comprising earthworks of massive proportions. They date to the Iron Age period most having been constructed and used between the fourth century BC and the first century AD, although evidence for earlier use is present at most sites. The size of the earthworks reflects the ability of certain social groups to mobilise the labour necessary for works on a large scale, and their function may have had as much to do with display as defence. Large univallate hillforts are also seen as centres of redistribution, both for subsistence products and items produced by craftsmen. The ramparts are often massive and can vary between 6m and 20m wide and may survive to a height of 6m. The ditches can measure between 6m and 13m wide and between 3m and 5m deep. Access to the interior is generally provided by one or two entrances, which often take the form of long passages formed by inturned ramparts and originally closed by a gate located towards the inner end of the passageway. Large univallate hillforts are important for understanding the organisation and regional structure of Iron Age society.

The large univallate hillfort, known as Castle Dyke Camp is unusual because it has an outwork of considerable size protecting the most vulnerable approach to the hillfort. The evidence for enclosures in the area between the outwork and main enclosure indicates its importance for stock rearing, possibly even as a market for livestock. The scale of the earthworks attests to significant levels of social organisation being present in the region during the Iron Age. Despite some cultivation of the hillfort interior, the monument survives well and will contain important archaeological layers, deposits and structures relating to its construction and use, as well as environmental evidence concerning its landscape context.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument Nos:- 446639 and 1031386

Source: Historic England