Reasons for Designation
The Pennine uplands of northern England contain a wide variety of prehistoric
remains, including cairns, enclosures, carved rocks, settlements and field
systems. These are evidence of the widespread exploitation of these uplands
throughout later prehistory. During the last millennium BC a variety of
different types of enclosed settlements developed. These include hillforts,
which have substantial earthworks and are usually located on hilltops. Other
types of enclosed settlement of this period are less obviously defensive, as
they have less substantial earthworks and are usually in less prominent
positions. In the Pennines a number of late prehistoric enclosed settlements
survive as upstanding monuments. Where upstanding earthworks survive, the
settlements are between 0.4ha and 10ha in area, and are usually located on
ridges or hillside terraces. The enclosing earthworks are usually slight, most
consisting of a ditch with an internal bank, or with an internal and external
bank, but examples with an internal ditch and with no ditch are known. They
are sub-circular, sub-rectangular, or oval in shape. Few of these enclosed
settlements have been subject to systematic excavation, but they are thought
to date from between the Late Bronze Age to the Romano-British period (c.1000
BC-AD 400). Examples which have been excavated have presented evidence of
settlement. Some appear to have developed from earlier palisaded enclosures.
Unexcavated examples occasionally have levelled areas which may have contained
buildings, but a proportion may have functioned primarily as stock enclosures.
Enclosed settlements are a distinctive feature of the late prehistory of the
Pennine uplands, and are important in illustrating the variety of enclosed
settlement types which developed in many areas of Britain at this time.
Examples where a substantial proportion of the enclosed settlement survives
are considered to be nationally important.
Details
The monument, which is in two areas of protection, includes a late prehistoric
enclosed settlement, partly surrounded by an outlying bank and ditch. It is
situated on the south slope of Counter Hill, 220m north east of Moorcock Hall.
The enclosure occupies a small knoll, and is bounded by a ditch with an outer
bank. The bank is approximately 9m wide and up to 0.6m high. The ditch is
about 5m wide and 0.4m deep. There are no discernable internal features. The
outlying earthwork consists of a bank with an outer ditch, partly encircling
the enclosure on its south and west sides.
The condition of the outlying earthwork varies considerably. The bank survives
to a maximum height of approximately 0.3m and a maximum width of about 8m. The
ditch survives to a maximum width of approximately 4m and to a maximum height
of about 0.6m.
The drystone walls which cross the enclosure and the bank and ditch are
excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31499
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
