ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



for temporary occupation in dangerous times, and not for permanent 

 residence. The precipitous walls of the limestone cliffs on the north 

 and south sides have in certain places (particularly in the Markland 

 Grips) become somewhat less steep, from the sloping accumulation, at 

 the base of the debris, of falling soil and stone and timber ; but their 

 average height originally could not have been less than 30 feet. In one 

 place, on the south side, marked A on the plan, there was evidently some 

 early decay or fault in the rocky contour, with the result that it caused 

 a steep shelving slope, of a few yards in width, instead of a precipitous 

 edge. Above this, it is interesting to note, a considerable rampart of big 

 stones was piled up, out of which a fair-sized tree is now growing. The 

 war entrance to the camp was undoubtedly at the north-west angle, where 

 the traces of an old narrow path, winding up the face of the rock in a 

 kind of recess, and completely commanded on each side by the projecting 

 cliffs, can be clearly seen. This is marked B on the plan, whilst the 

 corresponding steep pathway going up the opposite side of Hollinhill 

 Grips, a little more to the east, is marked C. If the garrison were 

 sufficient in number, such a place as this would be almost impregnable, 

 and would in reality be more difficult to take than the wilder-situated 

 forts on the bleak heights of the Peak. In this case, the attacking force, 

 unless assaulting the triple rampart of the base, would have to descend 

 steep cliffs into the grips, within stone-throw of the defenders, before 

 they could make any attempt to scale or even approach the actual walls 

 or cliffs of the fort ; whilst the narrowed extremity, where the grips meet, 

 was probably also protected, then as now, by an artificial depth of water, 

 to accomplish which only the most elementary notion of engineering 

 would be requisite. 



No kind of excavation or systematic exploration of this camp has 

 ever, to our knowledge, been made. A few artificial flint flakes were 

 picked up on the top and sides of the ramparts in January 1905. Two 

 local labourers testified to the fact that when the Teversall line of railway 

 cleared away the south end of the ramparts there were many such flints 

 lying about, ' several shaped and pointed, but nobody thought of pick- 

 ing them up.' 



HILL FORTS 

 [CLASS B] 



I. MAM TOR (ix. 8), the well-known great hill towering above Castle- 

 ton and Edale to a height of 1,700 feet above the sea level, has its summit 

 crowned with a remarkable and comprehensive earthwork, embracing an 

 area of about sixteen acres, within a rampart that had a circumference, 

 when perfect, of 1,200 yards. 1 The almost precipitous sides of the 



1 Mam Tor was described and a plan given (showing it more perfect than now) in Bray's Tour, 

 pp. 202-4, published in 1783. Mr. Andrew thinks that this rampart was never 'perfect,' as it was not 

 required up the precipices which must have existed at the time of its construction, though in a somewhat 

 lesser degree. He believes that the process of disintegration began in the ice age, long before the fort 

 was made. Had not the precipices been there, a better site than Mam Tor could have readily been 

 found, to wit the adjoining Lose Hill ; but the precipices were space gained without necessitating the 

 employment of a single man to guard them. 



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