Mr. Tate on Yevering Bell, &c. 449 



Two reasons would lead to the adoption of this method at an 

 early period — less mechanical power would be required to 

 form ridges along the side of the hill, and the heavy rain- 

 falls of the mountainous regions would be less liable to wash 

 away the soil from ridges that were horizontal, than from 

 those up and down the hill. 



The relation of the various antiquities about Yevering to 

 each other presents some points of interest. That the Bell 

 was a Druidical temple, is a romantic fancy which melts 

 away before modern criticism ; but we see instead an im- 

 portant use in this strong Fort, as a secure place of temporary 

 refuge for the people, who resided in the valley, whensoever 

 they were assailed by a foe too powerful. It was to them 

 what the mediaeval castle was in later ages ; and to this 

 mountain top they would flee, with their flocks and herds, 

 for there they had extensive and excellent pasturage, and a 

 position almost impregnable from its natural strength and 

 massive stone wall. The Fortlets near to which the hut- 

 dwellings are clustered find also their parallel in the Border- 

 land in the mediaeval times. These Fortlets were the pele 

 towers of the Ancient British race — the residences of the 

 chiefs and strongholds for the protection of the people against 

 sudden inroads. Exposure to similar dangers in these two 

 periods has led to the adoption of analogous arrangements, 

 which however were much modified by the difierence in 

 civilization. As the cottages of the Borderers nestled under 

 the protection of mediaeval pele, so were the ruder huts of 

 Celts scattered in the valleys around or near to the strong 

 Fortlets. The now peaceful valleys and hills in the district 

 of Yevering tell the same dark story, as we heard from the 

 vale of the Breamish. The Celtic period was marked by inse- 

 curity and warfare, else why such great forts, such strong dwell- 

 ings, such massive walls, and such complicated defences ? 



As we wander over the narrow strip of hill country Ave 

 have surveyed from Yevering to Homildon, we marvel how- 

 ever at the number of the ruined dwellings ; wherever the 

 valleys are dry, they are studded over with Fortlets and hut 

 circles ; and it is creditable to the intelligence of this ancient 

 people, that they knew so much of sanitary science as to 

 choose dry sites for their dwellings. There are evidences of 

 a numerous population ; and I estimate, that in the Celtic 

 times, not less than 500 people lived in this limited tract of 

 hill land where now the only human dwelling is a single 

 shepherd's house. 



