Cleeve Hill camp near Cheltenham

Summary

Small multivallate hillfort 275m south east of Nutterswood.

Reasons for Designation

Small multivallate hillforts are defined as fortified enclosures of varying shape, generally between 1 and 5ha in size and located on hilltops. They are defined by boundaries consisting of two or more lines of closely set earthworks spaced at intervals of up to 15m. These entirely surround the interior except on sites located on promontories, where cliffs may form one or more sides of the monument. Earthworks may consist of a rampart alone or of a rampart and ditch which, on many sites, are associated with counterscarp banks and internal quarry scoops. Access to the interior is generally provided by one or two entrances, either simple gaps in the earthwork or inturned passages, sometimes with guardrooms. The interior generally consists of settlement evidence including round houses, four and six post structures interpreted as raised granaries, roads, pits, gullies, hearths and a variety of scattered post and stake holes. Evidence from outside numerous examples of small multivallate hillforts suggests that extra-mural settlement was of a similar nature. Small multivallate hillforts are rare with around 100 examples recorded nationally. Most are located in the Welsh Marches and the south-west with a concentration of small monuments in the north-east. In view of the rarity of small multivallate hillforts and their importance in understanding the nature of settlement and social organisation within the Iron Age period, all examples with surviving archaeological remains are believed to be of national importance.

Despite quarrying and landscaping for a golf course the small multivallate hillfort 275m south east of Nutterswood survives comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, trade, agricultural practices, social organisation, territorial significance, domestic arrangements and overall landscape context.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 8 July 2015. The record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

This monument includes a small multivallate hillfort situated on the extremely prominent plateau of Cleeve Common on one of the highest points on the Cotswold Scarp in an area known as Cleeve Cloud. This situation also gives the hillfort its alternative local name of ‘Cleve Cloud Camp’. The hillfort occupies a small sloping promontory on the scarp and the western defences are therefore formed by the scarp, elsewhere they are formed by concentric double rampart banks both standing up to 9.1m wide and 2.5m high. The accompanying ditches are up to 9.1m wide and 0.7m deep and an intermediate berm measures 9.1m wide. The interior of the hillfort covers an area of just below 3ha and there is no obvious entrance because of subsequent quarrying and the landscaping of the area during its re-use within a 19th century golf course.

Three post medieval tree ring enclosures have also been indentified to the north, within and to the east of the hillfort which were in the past misinterpreted as possible watch towers or buildings associated with it.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

GC 32

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
PastScape 117630 and 1410556

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