| Name: | Beeston Castle Hillfort, Bronze Age Activity |
|---|
| SMR Number: | 1732/1/2 |
|---|
| Type of record: | Monument |
|---|
| Map Sheet: | SJ55NW |
|---|
| Parish: | BEESTON, CHESTER, CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER |
|---|
Summary
Beeston Castle has a long history as a defensive site. Its lofty position on rock outcrop gives it a commanding view across Cheshire, Wales, Merseyside and the Pennines. The earliest fortifications date to the Late Bronze age. Excavations of the outer gateway from 1978-1981 revealed prehistoric rampart defences, an external ditch and a bank. The rampart had timber uprights at some stage and also stone elements. The entrance would have had complex outworks, with a number of ditches identified. The circuit of the prehistoric rampart is now hidden by the medieval structures. A number of bronze age implements have been found in outer ward on Beeston Hill, including socketed axes, a fragment of sword and spearheads. A number of clay moulds and crucibles used in bronze working have also been found as well as a lot of later prehistoric pottery, and fragments of very coarse pottery salt holders. There is structural evidence of at least three phases of postholes and postpits representing a sequence of building phases.
Monument Types
- BANK (EARTHWORK) (Bronze Age to Iron Age - 1000 BC to 42 AD)
- DITCH (Ditch & Double Bank, Bronze Age to Iron Age - 1000 BC to 42 AD) + Sci.Date
- HEARTH (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- HILLFORT (Bronze Age to Iron Age - 1000 BC to 42 AD)
- PIT (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- POST HOLE (Bronze Age to Iron Age - 1000 BC to 42 AD)
- PROMONTORY FORT (Bronze Age to Iron Age - 1000 BC to 42 AD)
- SETTLEMENT (Bronze Age to Iron Age - 1000 BC to 42 AD)
Associated Finds
- ASSEMBLAGE (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- AXE (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- CEREAL GRAIN (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- CRUCIBLE (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- MOULD (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- RING (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- SHERD (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- SHERD (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
- SHERD (Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)
Protected Status
- Conservation Area 117: Beeston
- Scheduled Monument 1007900: Beeston Castle; Medieval Enclosure Castle And Site Of Late Prehistoric Hillfort
Related records
| 1732/1/3 | Parent of: Beeston Castle Hillfort, Iron Age Activity (Monument) |
| 1732/1/1 | Part of: Beeston Castle Hillfort, Neolithic Activity (Monument) |
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.