| Description | Linear earthwork enclosing the southern and north western sides of the earthwork enclosure called Woofa Bank (PRN 1963); in its present form it runs from (1) SE 0490 5027 to (4) 0465 4998 and from (6) 0464 4981 to (7) 0508 4967 (see file map for key nos.; grid ref above is a mid point). The earthwork has a ditch outside the bank, a large break about 170 metres long between points (4) and (6), opposite the western side of the Woofa Bank enclosure, and other minor breaks.
1st. edn. 6 O.S. shows it still extant over much of the gap between (4) and (6), and continuing for another 120m. eastwards from point (7). It ends in rough moorland (boggy ground?) to the north and in grassland to the south, and its full extent remains to be established, possibly with the aid of geophysical survey.
Its relationship with the linear earthwork (PRN 1967) east of Round Dikes Camp (PRN 1966) is also unknown; each may be a separate feature or they may connect and surround both the earthwork enclosures. In the last case the northern boundary of the 'circumvallation' may be formed by the boggy ground north east of point (1) and by the west east streams running just north of Hart House and through High and Low Sanfitt. This site must be considered simultaneously with PRN 1967 and PRN 1963.
This earthwork is now scheduled along with Woofa Bank (PRN 1963) and is treated as the same monument. Below is the scheduling description (18/09/1998) relating to this PRN:
‘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 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 approximately 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…
…The late prehistoric enclosed settlement survives well and is one of two such enclosed settlements on the slopes of Counter Hill. The survival of the outlying earthwork is unusual and is an important feature of the site. Together, they contribute to the understanding of late prehistoric settlement and land use in northern England’. |