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CAMP AT OXTON. 



A HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 



Roman amphorae, which were identified by the late Sir Wollaston Franks, of 

 the British Museum, as hand-warmers. 1 



OXTON. A well-planned camp remains in good preservation nearly 

 one mile north of Oxton village and south-east of Oxton Grange, locally 

 known as ' Oldox,' which is probably derived from Old Works ; this camp 

 governed to a certain extent by the natural line of the hill has a plan 



something between an oval and a parallelo- 

 gram. It is surrounded by a double vallum 

 and single fosse, except on the east, where 

 there is a triple vallum and a double fosse, 

 and here its strength is greatly augmented 

 by the steep escarpment of the hill on the 

 south and east. 



The entrance, at the south-east, is by a 

 sunk road which rises 200 ft. up the hill side. 

 At half that distance a path curves from it on 

 the right and continues in the outer fosse ; 

 but the main path continues to the inner 

 fosse, where it is confronted by an indentation 

 in the vallum, at which spot the invaders 

 would be thrown into confusion by an all- 

 round assault from the defenders. On the 

 eastern side, beneath the second rampart and the 

 outer ditch, is a berm or fairly wide platform, 

 which forms a coign of vantage over the sunk path entrance and provides 

 a thoroughfare to the northern part of the camp. At the north-east the 

 works are mutilated, but the middle agger and outer fosse, with the inter- 

 mediate berm, apparently merge into one broad ditch, from which an 

 entrance through the inner rampart gives access to the central area. 



The engineering skill displayed in the construction of this earthwork is 

 of a high order, and well repays a careful study. 



Three tumuli are in a westward line from this camp, the farthest not 

 being over a mile distant, and half a mile to the west is the rectangular camp 

 at Lovely Grange. ruargarto 



THURGARTON. In this parish, 3! 

 miles south-west from Southwell, is Castle 

 Hill, a slight eminence in the valley of 

 the Trent. It is quite close to the village, 

 from which a footpath leads to a small, 

 almost square, entrenchment 200 ft. by 

 1 60 ft. The footpath covers the site of 

 the north-west side. Within the enclosure 

 is a small mound. 



WOODBOROUGH. Five miles north-east from Nottingham and half a mile 

 south of Calverton is Fox Wood, in which is one of the most interesting 

 earthworks of the county. It is a matter of regret that destructive forces have 

 shorn it of its original size and plan. The swell of the ground gives a promi- 

 nence to the site. 



1 Proc. Soc. Antiq. 28 Jan. 189*. 

 298 



Hill f 



CASTLE HILL, THURGARTON. 



