A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



the north-west the slope is not so rapid, while to the north-east the land only 

 drops slightly at first and then rises to a similar height again at a distance of 

 70 yds. The command, therefore, is magnificent on three of its sides, but 

 on the fourth the stronghold was only tenable during the days of short-range 

 weapons. 



Ancient roads are said to have been traced from Portfield in three 

 directions ; one led eastward to Caster Cliff in Marsden (q.v.) ; another 

 south-east towards Burnley, and a third to join the important Skipton and 

 Ribchester road near Clewford, west of Whalley. 



The elevated plateau within the camp (over 3! acres) is so nearly level 

 that it has some appearance of artificial improvement ; it is protected by the 

 above-mentioned steep natural scarp, some 50 ft. high, along its south-west 

 side ; its other sides were defended by single, and in some places double, 

 ramparts and ditches, which are now more or less obliterated. The north- 

 west side has practically no rampart remaining upon the edge of the plateau, 

 but slopes downwards 1 5 ft. deep to the bottom of a fosse ; beyond this 

 rises a rampart, now 4 ft. high and 1 8 ft. thick at its base ; outside it again 

 is a second fosse at a rather lower level than the first. Along the north-east 

 side, i.e. from the northern apex of the stronghold to the back of Portfield 

 farm-house, only a single rampart and fosse remain. The first is about 20 ft. 

 thick at its base, and its top rises some 3 ft. to 4 ft. above the interior plateau ; 

 outside it, some 7 ft. below the top of the rampart, are traces of a fosse. 

 Buildings and gardens have, however, altered the grounds considerably here- 

 abouts. Along the east side the artificial defences have disappeared ; down 

 the slope from the plateau, about 70 yds. south of the house, however, the 

 lane at its foot runs in a hollow, which probably represents a former ditch. 

 This continues round to the south-east side, and here, above it, are traces in 

 the wood of an outer rampart upon the slope similar to that upon the north- 

 west side. Above this the bank is steep below the edge of the plateau, 

 but no remains of artificial defences are now visible. As far as we can judge 

 from much obliterated remains, therefore, this stronghold was originally de- 

 fended by double ramparts and ditches on every side except the south-west, 

 where the steep scarp of the hill made them unnecessary. 



This earthwork has often been described as Roman, but no evidence is 

 forthcoming to justify this. There is no record of any antiquities having 

 been unearthed here, nor does the place seem to have any local traditions.* 



(Class B) 



Defined as ' Fortresses on hill-tops with artificial defences following the 

 natural line of the hill, or, though usually on high ground, less dependent on natural 

 slopes for protection.'' 



We have but few of this class in Lancashire, and those very small in 

 size compared with examples in other parts of the country. And this is 

 noteworthy because the hill-tops of the county afford abundant points of 

 vantage for the erection of earthworks of this description, which in some 

 parts of England and Wales crown nearly every suitable summit. We can 



' Watkins, Roman Lancashire, 86, 219 ; Whittaker, Hist, of Whalley (ed. 2), 252, vol. ii, 19. Ord. Surv. 

 i-in. 68, old 92 SW. ; 6-in. 55 SW. ; 25-in. 55, 10. 



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