More information : [SS 99044201] Earthwork (NR) (1)
A zig-zag bank of stones and earth, with a shallow ditch in front situated about 140 yds S.E. of Bat's Castle. Its total length is about 200 yards, and is 15-18 feet high. It is clearly of much later date than the camp and is probably one of the earthworks thrown up during the siege of Dunster Castle in the Civil War. (2)
There is no reason to suppose that this earthwork is of Civil War
date. From its construction and situation (out of sight of Dunster
Castle) it seems improbable. It crosses the approach to "Bats Castle" and, with its strong bank and outer ditch, is most likely to be associated with the hillfort. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
This earthwork, of the crossbank type, together with Bats Castle forms a probable Iron Age 'crossbank enclosure'. (4)
Additional bibliography. (5 & 6)
The outwork to Bat's Castle was surveyed at 1:1000 scale using GPS as part of the RCHME Exmoor Project. The earthwork lies 150m to the southeast of Bat's Castle. It comprises a bank and ditch, 170m long with an overall width of 15m, arranged in a "zig-zag" across the ridge where Bat's Castle is at its most vulnerable. The bank is 1.5m high at its southern end, rising to 3m by the gap, which may well be an original entrance (7-8).
The outwork can be seen on most aerial photographs of the area (9-10). |