ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



interior, and descending with an escarpment 30 ft, on the slope into a fosse 12 ft. wide, which, at 

 the western extremity joins, and is incorporated into, the ditch around the mound. 



The entrance on the south-west is protected by a strong outer rampart, supported at its 

 northern end by the fosse of the mound, and curves to a parallel with the bailey defence some 150 ft. 

 distant from it. The southern side depends largely upon its natural fastness, where it descends to 

 the River Avon, while the northern — the most assailable side — has a double vallum. 



Lydford (O.S. Ixxxviii, 13). — Lydford Castle. The ancient importance of Lydford is far 

 from demonstrated by the very small village which bears the name. 



A portion of the mediaeval entrenchment and the site of one gate are still to be seen ; but we 

 may probably look to an earlier date for the most interesting remains extant in Lydford. The 

 ruinous square keep of the mediaeval castle stands upon a mound 1 8 ft. high, which is possibly not 

 long anterior, but the base-court is a small deeply entrenched defence lying to the north-west of the 

 keep. Semi-elliptical in form, the short axis is the edge of a deep ravine, the bank of the Lyd. 

 The keep shows no evidence of a moat, but the lower level of the bailey is protected on each side by 

 a rampart 6 ft. 6 in. in height from the inner side, with an escarpment of 23 ft. in depth to the 

 base of the fosse. On the south-west side an outer bank 3 ft. in height crests the counterscarp. 



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:^5 ^ffiirrenehmenn 



South G&Te^ 



^^^^ 



Lydford Castle. 



About 300 ft. south-west is another work, upon which no structure of the Middle Ages is 

 seen. This consists of an earthern mount, also on the verge of the river bank. The mount is 22 ft. 

 in height from the bottom of a fosse — which is 9 ft. deep — by which it was originally surroimded ; 

 the latter was also strengthened on the land side by a bank 3 ft. in height on the counterscarp, of 

 which, part only remains on the east side. In both of these fortifications the ditches and ramparts 

 abruptly terminate on the river height. 



Milton Damerel (O.S. xxxix, 8 and 12). — Over 7 miles from Holsworthy, in the 

 direction of Torrington, is a small camp which is included in this class of fortification. Situated 

 on the west bank above the River Torridge to the north-east of Woodford Bridge, in the shade 

 of Woodford Wood, is an entrenchment 200 ft. long by 140 ft. wide. A bailey surrounded by 

 a ditch is of almost right-angular form on the north-east, but at the opposite is semi-circular, 

 within which is a shallow mount formed on one side by the curve of the ditch and on the side 

 within the bailey by a crescent-shaped bank. 



This forms one of a triangular group, the other two camps being respectively in the parishes 

 of Shebbear and Bradford. (Plan on next page.) 



Okehampton (O.S. Ixxvi, 8). — Okehampton Castle is situated on the summit of a tongue of 

 rock about one mile south-west of the town, on the left bank of the West Okement. It occupies 

 a very strong natural position which artificial works render well-nigh impregnable. These works 



619 



