Defensive enclosure at Castle Hill
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Scheduled Monument
- List Entry Number:
- 1004256
- Date first listed:
- 05-Jan-1973
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Scheduled Monument
- List Entry Number:
- 1004256
- Date first listed:
- 05-Jan-1973
- Location Description:
- Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Location
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- St. Goran
- National Grid Reference:
- SX0004543740
Reasons for Designation
The exact date and function of the enclosure at Castle Hill is unclear, but it does have a long documentary history and earliest suggestions included a possible round or other form of defensive site such as an Iron Age defended settlement or a small, slight univallate hillfort. Its early place name of 'Castle Hill' suggests some form of defensive earthwork, possibly of prehistoric date. The enclosure will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, function, date, territorial significance, social organisation, strategic importance, possible domestic arrangements, agricultural practices and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument includes a defensive enclosure, situated at the summit of Castle Hill, overlooking the valleys of the confluence of three rivers leading to Portmellon. The enclosure survives as a roughly-rectangular enclosed area, defined by a slight scarp and a small stretch of bank with a buried outer ditch. Other features, structures and deposits are preserved as buried features.
The enclosure occupies a commanding position and was first recorded in the 16th century by Leland when it was known as 'Castle Hill'. McLauchlan surveyed it and found it to be right-angled in shape and not circular as other earlier writers had suggested. Henderson in the 1920's recorded it in similar condition to its current state.
The exact date of the enclosure is unclear.
Sources: HER:- PastScape Monument No:-431118
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- CO 836
- Legacy System:
- RSM - OCN
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 08-Jun-2026 at 10:56:00.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.