More information : [NU 0042 1463] Camp [OE] (1)
Middledene Camp. Precipitous ground forms the defence on the south
and east, the other sides having two strong ramparts. The ramparts
are about 12 yards apart and the enclosed area about 70 yards each
way. There is an entrance towards the NE angle, constructed so that
the inner rampart forms a traverse. A gap to the NW is possibly of
later construction. An opening in the south side gives access by
path to the brook below. The ground falls towards the east with two
circular foundations, one above the other, in the upper part and two
more in the lower. (2)
Middle Dean, a cliff fort of approx 1/2 acre, has a zig-zag entrance
and two ramparts with stone revetting. A level area between the
ramparts was probably intended to enclose cattle, which would provide
an additional defence against attack. (Accompanying plan, too small
for reproduction, shows double ramparted enclosure with natural
slopes to the south and east). (3)
The earthwork consisted of double ramparts of earth and stone,
running in a semi-circle, with the ends resting on the cliff-edge.
There is an entrance in the outer rampart on the north-west side.
The principal entrance is on the east side of the cliff-edge and is
staggered. Within the interior are traces of two stone-founded hut
circles, diameters 8.0 m and 9.0 m, another possible hut circle, and
lines of stones which suggest foundations of a long, narrow
rectangular structure, lying nearly east-west, and in the west half,
with a garth on the south side. This structure with its garth, are
evidence of later occupation. There is no trace of the opening in
the south side referred to by Authority 2, and the only path on this
side is a sheep track, leading over the rampart and down the slope.
(4)
Listed as pre-Roman IA univallate (forts, settlements and enclosures)
with ? overlying settlement of round stone huts (RB) (5)
Published survey (25") revised. (6)
No change from reports of 8-4-57 and 7-11-69.
Surveyed at 1:10 000 (7)
NU 004 146. Middledean. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate
hillfort covering 0.20 ha. (8)
The fort comprises two massive, concentric ramparts which form a
semi-circle around the W, N and NE sides, their ends terminating on
the steep craggy slopes of a dry ravine protecting the site from the
S and E, thereby enclosing an area of some 60 m NE-SW by 45 m
transversely. In one respect the settlement is in a poor defensive
position with rising ground to the N and W, but it appears to have
been sited above the ravine specifically to accommodate a bulge
outwards in the natural slopes and to utilise that part of the ravine
slopes which are the most precipitous. There is no evidence of a
rampart along the top of the ravine to supplement the natural
defences; there is an impression of a bank here, but it is wholly or
mainly natural as rock outcrop is exposed here and there on or close
to its summit. The picture is further confused by a medieval field
bank [NU 0014/19] extending along the valley edge ultimately
connecting with the farmstead [NU 0014/35] within the enclosed
settlement.
The two concentric ramparts around the N and W, about 7 m apart, are
similar in appearance, surviving as turf-covered banks of earth and
stone up to 2.0 m high and 6.0 m wide, but there is a suspicion that
their height and steepness are enhanced by later field banks along
their summits forming a series of garths in association with the
farmstead [NU 0014/35] within the enclosed settlement. There are two
such field banks, 0.8 m wide and 0.1 m high, connecting the ramparts
on the N side, and another extends from the farmstead W onto the
inner defences; all these banks climb onto the prehistoric ramparts
and are clearly later.
The original construction of the defences is unclear. In the outer
ring, an outer face of upright sandstone blocks appears
intermittently, half buried in the turf. These achieve a maximum
height of 0.65 m at the S extremity of the rampart indicating a
stone-faced wall at least, but no such facings can be seen in the
inner ring of the defences.
A well-formed entrance is cut through the outer rampart in the NW
arc; it is 2.8 m-2.9 m wide with partially buried lining slabs along
the N side and two probable entrance liners on the S. There is a N
outer portal stone 0.8 m high. This entrance appears to be an
original feature, but not corresponding gap appears in the inner
rampart though there is a distinct lowering in the bank at this
point. The sequence of events can only be determined by excavation;
however the absence of an inner entrance here may lend credence to
the suggestion of medieval disturbance to the defences.
There is a further entrance this time through both ramparts in the
ENE. The gap through the outer ring is 4.0 m wide defined on its SE
side by a band of rubble, 0.6 m high, fading into the natural slopes
of the ravine. The inner entrance, 2.7 m wide, is staggered to the S
of the outer, and passage between the two is by a terrace between the
inner defence and the edge of the ravine; the latter seems to have
been consolidated by the addition of some stones. A displaced block,
1.4 m long, 0.8 m wide and 0.6 m thick lies at the S side of the
inner entrance; the rampart is 1.4 m high S of the gap, but it fades
as it approaches the natural slopes of the valley. On the top of
this short stretch of rampart is a line of three stones along its
length, purpose unknown. Within the enclosure there are at least
five hut circles (A-E), visible in the main as platforms set into an
E or NE-facing slope. No entrances can be identified.
Hut A is 7.0 m in diameter.
Hut B is 10.0 m in diameter.
C is the best preserved, 9.0 m in diameter, with traces of a bank of
stones, 2.5 m maximum width and up to 0.25 m high, on the N side.
D and E are about 6.0 m in diameter; in the former there is some
evidence of a stony bank on the SE side, but the latter is reduced to
a W (upper) scarp only. There is much ground disturbance elsewhere
in the enclosure but whether this is prehistoric or associated with
the medieval farmstead [NU 0014/35] is uncertain.
Broad rig cultivation abuts the N and W sides of the settlement.
Some field walls and lynchets occur across the ravine to the SE [NU
0014/2-4] and W of the ridge and furrow [NU 0014/12-17], and these
may be the fragmentary remains of cultivation contemporary with the
settlement. (9)
NU 004 146. Middle Dean camp. Scheduled No ND/184. (10)
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