Multivallate hillfort, E of Campville

The hillfort at Campville is reasonably well preserved and its semi-circular form is not common in Northumberland. Despite the fact that some of the original area has been destroyed, significant archaeological deposits will survive undisturbed. It will contribute to any study of the nature and extent of prehistoric settlement and activity in the region.

The monument includes a hillfort of Iron Age date situated in a defensive position on an eastern slope above the steep slopes of Dovecrag Burn. The enclosure, originally semi-circular in shape, bounded on the south by the burn, has been partially destroyed by the construction of the settlement at Campville and now only the eastern half is visible. The enclosure is 65m in breadth within three banks and two ditches. The defences are best preserved at the eastern end where the outer bank is 7.5m wide and rises almost 3m above an internal ditch 2m wide. The inner bank measures 6.5m across and is 1.3m high. At the northern end of the fort there is a third, more denuded rampart separated from the inner rampart by a narrow ditch. A wide, original entrance can clearly be seen in the east side of the enclosure.

The remains of a multivallate promontory hillfort situated on sloping ground 70m to the E of Campville. The hillfort has been damaged by medieval agriculture and partially destroyed in the W by the settlement at Campville. Approximately 65m in breadth, it was estimated by Hogg (1979) as enclosing 0.32ha and comprises three ramparts and two medial ditches with traces of a third outer ditch in the SE. The enclosure was probably originally semi-circular, utilising the the steep escarpment above the Dovecrag Burn where the ramparts terminate. It is best preserved in the E where the inner bank is 6.5m wide and 1.3m high. The outer bank is 7.5m wide and lies 3m above the 2m wide internal ditch. At the N end there is a third, more denuded rampart separated from the inner rampart by a narrow ditch. An unusually wide entrance lies in the E, possibly widened by medieval ploughing. There is no evidence for internal occupation. A survey for the Hillforts in the Northumberland National Park project suggests the outer rampart might have been rebuilt at some unspecified time. It is shown on 1856-65 OS mapping. Minimal investigations and undated.

Source: Lock, Gary and Ralston, Ian. 2024. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk (CC BY-SA 4.0)