A HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 



Class G. Enclosures, mostly rectangular, partaking of the form of F, but protected by 

 stronger defensive works, ramparted and fossed, and in some instances provided with 

 outworks. 



Class H. Ancient village sites protected by walls, ramparts, or fosses. 



Class X. Defensive works which fall under none of these headings. 



Class A. Of the three examples of Promontory Fortresses, Nottingham 

 is by far the boldest ; but that at Worksop was originally more characteristic. 

 All in this class are situated on the great ancient thoroughfares ; but none 

 of them exhibits those prominent features such as are found in the same type 

 of stronghold in certain other districts. 



Class B. Eight examples only, and those not of a typical character, can 

 be included in this category of Hill Fortresses ; and even most of those have 

 perished or are much mutilated. We look in vain for examples of com- 

 plicated entrances such as are found in many other counties, or for those 

 stupendous aggers which excite wonder at the skill and patience of their 

 engineers ; the only one that remains sufficiently perfect to reveal a cunningly 

 contrived defence is the camp called ' Oldox ' in the parish of Oxton. 



Class C. All but one in this class of which there are but few in 

 the county are of very simple construction. The camps at Arnold and 

 Harworth meet those requirements generally considered characteristic of 

 the Roman camps, and that of Southwell recalls to mind some of those en- 

 trenchments usually attributed to the nation ; but among these the camp at 

 Woodborough is incomparably the most interesting. 



Class D. The four mounts in Nottinghamshire are also very simple, 

 that at Lowdham being the best defined. 



Class E. Four only of the mount and bailey type can be found for 

 our attention. The most interesting is that in Laxton parish, where the 

 mount is doubled, the main work being crowned by a monticle, and the 

 design of the double court is distinct. 



Class F. As usual in an agricultural and pastoral country, the moat 

 defences of manor houses and farmsteads are to be found more abundantly 

 than in a district of hilly and rocky character. A considerable number are 

 recorded and apparently many of them have been filled in for modern con- 

 venience at a comparatively modern date. In those examples left there is but 

 little to guide us in attributing them to any given age, and although no history 

 of them is known, they cannot be relegated to a pre-historic period. 



Class X. Those works excluded from either of the above mentioned 

 divisions are naturally of varied types. The great Bykersdyke is of remote 

 antiquity ; and the collateral lines of entrenchments at Barton impress 

 one with the idea of hasty and temporary measures of defence. The 

 curious series of low mounds on Laxton Common provide food for specula- 

 tion as to their date and purpose. 



PROMONTORY FORTRESSES 

 [CLASS A] 



FARNSFIELD : COMBS FARM CAMP. On a promontory jutting out east- 

 ward from the neighbouring high-lands, situated ii miles south-west of 

 Farnsfield, and 4} miles north-west by west from Southwell, is an irregular 



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