49 
Notes on an Intrenchment on Holgate Hill, 
YORK. 
By GEORGE BENSON, A.R.I.B.A. 
N referring to the Contour Map of York (plate I.), it will 
W'' be notieed that the Intrenchment marked A, stands on 
the northern spur of the Mount range of hills which stretches 
from Bishopthorpe Road to Holgate. Westward, below the 
Intrenchment, is a water-way formerly of some importance, 
but now a poor stream. On the opposite side of the beck 
rises the Severus group of hills, from Mill Hill which is the 
same altitude as the Intrenchment, the hills rise to 125 feet on 
Severus Hill (D), so the Intrenchment may be an outer defence 
to the higher hills forming the Severus group. The general 
level of the river banks and the low lying land is about 25 feet 
above Ordnance Datum, whilst the summer level of the river 
Ouse is 16*75 feet, but in times of flood the river rises some¬ 
times to 12 or 14 feet, causing a large area to be under water. 
The Intrenchment occupies a central position from Clifton 
Ings to the river at Nunthorpe, and commands the whole of 
the area within the winding of the river Ouse, and it over¬ 
looked the Plain of York. On the same range at CC (plate I.), 
two tumuli have survived to recent times, and near the beck 
outlet at B (plate I.), in excavating in 1868* on the site of the 
N.E.R. Gasworks, were found a number of flint inplements. 
Plate II shows a plan and section of the Intrenchment, the 
levels are approximate. 
On plate III and plate IV (figure 1) are depicted flint 
implements found at B (plate I.); those shown in plate III 
Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, Yol. 1., 1S69, p. 47. 
D 
