Kyloe Hills promontory fort

Reasons for Designation

Promontory forts are a type of hillfort in which conspicuous naturally defended sites are adapted as enclosures by the construction of one or more earth or stone ramparts placed across the neck of a spur in order to divide it from the surrounding land. Coastal situations, using headlands defined by steep natural cliffs, are common while inland similar topographic settings defined by natural cliffs are also used. The ramparts and accompanying ditches formed the main artificial defence, but timber palisades may have been erected along the cliff edges. Access to the interior was generally provided by an entrance through the ramparts. The interior of the fort was used intensively for settlement and related activities, and evidence for timber- and stone- walled round houses can be expected, together with the remains of buildings used for storage and enclosures for animals. Promontory forts are generally Iron Age in date, most having been constructed and used between the sixth century BC and the mid-first century AD. They are broadly contemporary with other types of hillfort. They are regarded as settlements of high status, probably occupied on a permanent basis, and recent interpretations suggest that their construction and choice of location had as much to do with display as defence. Promontory forts are rare nationally with less than 100 recorded examples. In view of their rarity and their importance in the understanding of the nature of social organisation in the later prehistoric period, all examples with surviving archaeological remains are considered nationally important. Kyloe Hills promontory fort is well-preserved and contains significant archaeological deposits relating to its construction, use and abandonment, and environmental deposits relating to the use of the surrounding landscape. With its dramatic landscape setting, this promontory fort is a good example of its type, which taken together with the fact that it is a rare monument type nationally, will contribute to our knowledge and understanding of Iron Age settlement and society.

Details

The monument includes the remains of an Iron Age promontory fort abutting a steep cliff to the south. The promontory fort is visible as a semi-circular enclosure measuring about 109m east to west and 63m north to south. It is defended by a steep natural cliff to the south and to the north by two concentric semi-circular stone and earth ramparts spaced 25m to 30m apart. The inner rampart has an approximate height of 0.9m to 2.1m and the outer rampart stands to a height of roughly 0.6m. The ramparts are breached by entrances on the north west and south east sides. Within the interior of the enclosure there is at least one hut circle visible as a circular scooped feature bounded by closely set orthostats.

SOURCES PastScape Monument No:- 6071 NMR:- NU03NE13 Northumberland HER:- 3743

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

ND 438

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

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.