Reasons for Designation
Slight univallate hillforts are defined as enclosures of various shapes,
generally between 1ha and 10ha in size, situated on or close to hilltops and
defined by a single line of earthworks, the scale of which is relatively
small. They date to between the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (eighth -
fifth centuries BC), the majority being used for 150 to 200 years prior to
their abandonment or reconstruction. Slight univallate hillforts have
generally been interpreted as stock enclosures, redistribution centres, places
of refuge and permanent settlements. The earthworks generally include a
rampart, narrow level berm, external ditch and counterscarp bank, while access
to the interior is usually provided by two entrances comprising either simple
gaps in the earthwork or an inturned rampart. Postholes revealed by excavation
indicate the occasional presence of portal gateways while more elaborate
features like overlapping ramparts and outworks are limited to only a few
examples. Internal features included timber or stone round houses; large
storage pits and hearths; scattered postholes, stakeholes and gullies; and
square or rectangular buildings supported by four to six posts, often
represented by postholes, and interpreted as raised granaries. Slight
univallate hillforts are rare with around 150 examples recorded nationally.
Although on a national scale the number is low, in Devon they comprise one of
the major classes of hillfort. In other areas where the distribution is
relatively dense, for example, Wessex, Sussex, the Cotswolds and the
Chilterns, hillforts belonging to a number of different classes occur within
the same region. Examples are also recorded in eastern England, the Welsh
Marches, central and southern England. In view of the rarity of slight
univallate hillforts and their importance in understanding the transition
between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities, all examples which survive
comparatively well and have potential for the recovery of further
archaeological remains are believed to be of national importance.
The hillfort on Whitechapel Moors, 640m north east of Garliford Mill survives
comparatively well and contains archaeological and environmental information
relating to the settlement and exploitation of this area during the Iron Age.
Details
This monument includes an Iron Age hillfort situated on the summit of a high
ridge with commanding views over the local surrounding area and overlooking
the valley of the River Yeo to the south.
The monument survives as a sub-rectangular enclosure defined by a single
rampart and outer ditch. The whole is aligned from east to west and encloses
an internal area which measures 161m long by 125m wide. On the southern side,
especially in the south western corner, the rampart is preserved as a
flattened platform which measures 7.7m wide and up to 0.4m high. Further east
the southern rampart survives as a large bank up to 12.1m wide and 2.5m high
which gradually peters out at both its eastern and western extremities. The
ditch in this area is preserved largely as a buried feature. It measures up to
5.7m wide and is 0.1m deep. On the eastern side of the hillfort the rampart
varies greatly in height and width being up to 8.4m wide and 2.3m high
externally and 1.7m high internally. The outer ditch is on average 4.2m wide,
but up to 4.6m wide in places and is 0.4m deep. In the north east corner where
there is a gateway in the post and wire fence the rampart has been cut by a
track. A modern field boundary bank now overlies the original line of the
northern side of the hillfort. This modern bank is 1.7m wide and 1m high. On
the northern side the rampart is up to 7.1m wide, 0.3m high internally and
0.9m high externally with the modern field boundary sitting on top. The ditch
to the north survives as an infilled flattened area up to 2.5m wide. On the
northern side, to the west of the centre, an entrance cuts across the rampart
and field boundary which is up to 3.3m wide. Further west is a second entrance
which is up to 7.5m wide. The rampart survives here as a flattened bank up to
9.2m wide and up to 2.6m high externally. On the western side the rampart
measures up to 10.5m wide, 0.8m high externally and 0.45m high internally. The
ditch is 3.4m wide and 0.1m deep.
All fences and fence posts are excluded from the scheduling although the
ground beneath them is included.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
