FORT AND HUT-CIRCLES ON UPPER WHITADDER 207 



The entrances to tlie fort are three in number, and have 

 been very carefully planned. The North- West entrance seems 

 to zig-zag slightly through the defences, so far as one can judge 

 in the present dilapidated state of the ends of the ramparts. 

 What to the South of the entrance is the inner rampart becomes 

 to the North of it the second, and turns inward after a short 

 distance to join the inner rampart. The distance between 

 its crest and that of the third rampart is increased, immediately 

 to the North of the entrance, to 46 feet, enabling a considerable 

 body of men to deliver a flank attack upon an entering force. 

 The outer rampart to the South of the entrance seems to have 

 had a platform on its inner slope for a short distance, after 

 the manner adopted at the West entrance of Prestoncleuch fort. 

 The same has probably existed to the North of the entrance, 

 though the rampart at this point is much destroyed. The 

 North-East entrance is also slightly zig-zagged, the North end 

 of the second rampart being opposite the South end of the 

 first. The trench between the first and second ramparts is 

 here also widened, and there is some evidence of a platform 

 having existed in rear of the second rampirt to the South of the 

 entrance. The South- West entrance is much destroyed. The 

 second rampart is not continued to the South of this entrance, 

 and a wide space here exists between the inner and middle 

 ramparts. To the North- West the outer rampart bifurcates for 

 a few yards in a curious manner ; a slight traverse, also, lies 

 between the second and third ramparts at the West side ; but 

 it is difficult to decide whether these features are original. 



The interior of the fort contains the remains of numerous 

 hut-circles. The stony foundations of about twenty-one are 

 sufficiently distinct to be out-lined on the accompanying plan. 

 (Plate IX.) They measure in diameter, from crest to crest of 

 the mound, from 15 to 24 feet. A rectilinear enclosure lies 

 with one end on the inner rampart at the East side of the 

 fort, and measures 44 feet by 15 feet. The stones in its 

 foundations are larger than those visible in the circles.* 



*The perpendicular measarements of the ramparts on the plan are 

 not drawn to scale, it being necessary for the sake of clearness tg 

 exaggerate them. 



