Excavations at Birhenswark. 41 



Accou7it of the Excavations at Birrenswark, and description of 

 the Plans and Sections. 



By James Barbour, Architect, F.S.A. Scot. (Plates III.-YIII ) 



[Extracted by permission from Tlie Proceedinga of the Society of 

 Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol. XXXIII.] 



Birrenswark Hill, in the parish of Hoddom, lies three miles 

 north of the Roman station of Birrens. and ten as the crow flies 

 from end of Hadrian's Wall, at Bowness, in Cumberland. Its base 

 is about 700 feet above sea level, and the summit rises to an 

 altitude of about 920 feet, the highest point reaching 9.39 (Plate 

 IV.). The hill is isolated, its sides are steep and at places 

 precipitous, and the summit is a nearly level plateau. Owing to 

 the peculiarity of configuration and commanding position, it 

 forms a conspicuous and remarkable feature of the landscape ; 

 and the summit aflbrds extensive prospects of the country in all 

 directions, the English hills, the Solway, Buwness, and Birrens 

 being witliiu view and a number of Scottish counties overlooked. 



At a place like this it is not surprising that evidences should 

 be found of military occupation ; and the remains of artificial 

 works of this description, grouped about the hill, are not less 

 unique than the hill itself. 



The remains, as will be seen by referring to the accompanying 

 plan (Plate III.), consist of a number of works lying round the 

 base of the hill, and of others on the hilltop Of the first are a 

 large camp of rectangular type on the south side of the hill • 

 another of similar character, but smaller, on the north side ; 

 remains of an entrenched roadway, AB, at the east end, for 

 communication between these ; a small fort, C, at the west end 

 of the hill ; and an enclosure, D, at the east end ; also the minor 

 adjuncts, E and F, on the plan. 



The south camp contains a small rectangular redoubt, G, at 

 the north-east corner, and a circular work, H, at the west end. 



A circumvaUatiou likewise extended apparently round the base 

 of the hill on the east and south, one end joining the north 

 camp, and the other the west fort. It is yet continuous from 

 the north camp to the east enclosure ; between the east enclosure 

 and the south camp, where the site is partly under cultivation, 

 only a fragment, K, is left ; west of the south camp the line is 

 again traceable some way, L, and at its junction with the west 

 fort. These, together with the north and south camps, would 







