Hillfort 450m north west of Cargoll Farm

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 univallate hillfort 450m north west of Cargoll Farm survives well. Despite some limited reduction of the rampart, this remains substantially intact. The old land surface underlying the ramparts, and remains of buildings, structures and other deposits associated with the ramparts and external ditch and with the interior, will survive. The prominent location on the shoulder of a ridge illustrates the role of topography in the siting of later prehistoric enclosures.

Details

The scheduling includes a small later prehistoric univallate hillfort situated on a slight slope on the north east shoulder of a ridge west of St Newlyn East. The hillfort is sub-oval in plan, measuring overall approximately 115m WNW- ESE by up to 80m NNE-SSW. The interior is fairly level, with several slight undulations or indistinct earthworks. On the east and south sides the remains of the rampart are surmounted by a boundary bank of earth and stone, with roughly coursed shillet facing visible in places. The resulting earthwork is 1.3m wide at its top and 0.8m high internally, 2.2m high externally, on the east; on the south side, it is 2.4m wide, 1m high internally, and 1.9m high externally. The external ditch is 6.8m wide and 0.75m deep on the east, and 8m wide and 0.7m deep on the south side. On the north and west sides the rampart is visible as a scarp 1.5m high, with an external ditch 4.4m wide and 0.5m deep. A probable causeway 6m-7m wide across the ditch on the west side, some 17.3m north of where the boundary bank joins the rampart on the south, is considered to be a relatively recent access point. The modern fencing is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath it 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.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

32926

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Padel, O J, Cornish placename elements, (1985), 50, 139
Henderson, C, Parochial Antiquities in Parochial Antiquities, Vol. 3, (1917), 140

Other
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map Source Date: 1907 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
Title: St Newlyn East Tithe Apportionment Source Date: 1840 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: 1218-1220
SW 85 NW 6, Fletcher, M, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1970)
Thomas, R, Letter to the West Briton, (1851)

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.

Print the official list entry