ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



in length. Though 

 the precipitous banks 

 of the streams formed 

 the main protection on 

 the north and south, 

 there are considerable 

 remains of added 

 banking to which re- 

 ference will presently 

 be made, but the main 

 artificial work is that 

 on the thirdjor western, 

 side of the enclosure. 

 It consists of a bank 

 with a fosse on its outer 

 side, the latter about 

 9 feet wide at the top ; 

 the bank, now 1 1 feet 

 wide at its summit 

 and standing some 

 6 feet above the fosse, 

 was no doubt origin- 

 ally higher, and when 

 surmounted by a 

 stockade of timber 

 formed a formidable 

 obstacle. The western 

 portion of the 'camp,' 

 if we may so style it, 

 is about 2 50 feet higher 

 in level than the eastern 

 point to which the 

 ground slopes. 



Upon examina- 

 tion of the plan it will 

 be noted that between 

 the streams on the 

 north and south is a 

 third stream. This 

 has also in parts of its 

 course very precipitous 

 banks, and seems to 

 have been utilized for the northern defence of an enclosure, less in size than 

 the original ' camp,' but more amply protected by artificial work forming an 

 earthwork complete in itself. 



There is some doubt as to the purpose of this enclosure; the out- 

 side fosse of the western rampart suggests defence against human foes, but 

 Mr. Edward Wooler of Darlington, who has devoted much attention to 

 this place, writes : ' I find in the description of the estate on the forfeiture by 



347 



