76 AN EXPLORATION OF TREGAER ROUNDS. 



strong stockade of wood. This inner ring covers an area of 

 IJ acres. 



The outer earthwork is practically perfect except so for as it 

 has suffered from the ravages of time and sheep. It consists of 

 a rampart and an external ditch, the former presenting a slope 

 of 45° to the bottom of the ditch. In some places the rampart 

 is still 30 feet thick at the natural level and, most probably, had a 

 height of 10 feet, at least, above this level. It encloses an area 

 of rather more than 7^ acres. 



On the S.E. of this circle is the entrance to the fortress, 

 well defined and still quite distinct as such. From no other 

 point than the entrance, on the lower side of the fortress, can its 

 interior be seen. A regular well-trodden depression, about 1 2 

 feet wide, still shows the approach to this entrance, which was 

 defended and masked by a work some 1 20 feet distant from it, 

 concentric with the oiiter and inner circles and extending about 

 300 feet on each side of it. That portion extending N. consists 

 of a strong rampart about 12 feet high and proportionally thick, 

 but that towards the S.W. is merely a steep slope varymg from 

 10 feet to less in height: this otherwise rather weak portion 

 (if it does not represent the remains of a rampart) may also have 

 been strengthened by a stockade. Apparently this last portion 

 of the fortress was a covered way protecting the entrance from 

 a front attack, and were it not for this the weakness of the 

 place, sloping as it does in this direction, would be at the mercy 

 of slingers and archers ; but this very slope gives the surface of 

 Tregaer a maximum of sunlight while the rising ground at the 

 N.W. has, doubtless, some climatic advantage. 



Within 400 feet of this outermost defence is a brook within 

 easy reach of the garrison and, probably, the water supply of 

 the place. 



The most striking features of the view from Tregaer 

 Eounds are Eow Tor, Brown Willy, Alix Tor, Carbilly, Hawks 

 Tor, Helmen Tor, Bodmin Beacon, and the earthwork known 

 as Helsbury Castle, 3| miles as the crow flies, slightly to the 

 south of east, and standing at about 130 feet greater 

 elevation. Another small circular camp, Pengenna Castle, 

 stands about two miles S.E. from Tregaer on lower ground and 



