Blue Crags hillfort, NW of Colwell

Blue Crags hillfort survives well, despite the loss of the northern rampart. Limited excavation has confirmed that settlement remains within the interior of the site are extensive and well preserved. The survival of visible internal sub-divisions makes this an unusual monument which will contribute significantly to study of prehistoric/Romano-British settlement patterns in this area.

The monument includes a defended settlement of Iron Age/Romano-British date situated on a rocky incline of whinstone. The main encircling rampart encloses a rectangular area measuring 192m north-west to south-east by 70m north-east to south-west. The rampart, which runs along the edge of the outcrop on the south, west and east sides, measures on average 5m across and stands to a height of over 1m; the northern rampart has been quarried away. A double wall, with an entrance through it, subsequently damaged by quarrying, divides the enclosure into two parts. The northern and largest part contains the well preserved foundations of at least 12 circular stone-walled huts measuring on average 6.5m in diameter with walls standing 0.5m high. When nine of the hut circles were examined in 1924 the finds uncovered included cupmarked stones, quernstones for the grinding of corn, whetstones and a piece of medieval pottery. The southern enclosure, which contains no visible traces of habitation, would have been used to contain stock. The settlement was given added defence by the addition of substantial ramparts at the foot of the crags on the east and west sides.