| Description | Woofa Bank is an earthwork comprising a ditch and (apparently traces of) an outer bank enclosing a raised area of c.0.7 hectares. The enclosure lies at the foot of the south side of Counter Hill and the lie of the land does not grant it a good defensive position. The site is reasonably well defined, though partly levelled and infilled by former ploughing; it was ploughed during the last war but is now permanent pasture. The ditch is c. 4' across on the west side and the rampart much reduced, showing only as a slight mound. The external bank is just visible all round and is up to 18 high on the west. On the east side, the defences have almost disappeared. There is no record of any internal features as there is for the Round Dikes enclosure (PRN 1966) c.700 metres to the north east. The purpose of a bank and ditch (PRN 1965) partly surrounding the enclosure on the west and south sides is unknown, but this linear earthwork is likely to be some form of boundary to Woofa Bank. Although incomplete on the maps, it purports to surround Woofa Bank and possibly Round Dikes (PRN 1967) also and further survey is required to confirm this, as is also any possible relationship between Woofa Bank and Round Dikes (PRN 1966).
This earthwork is scheduled, along with the linear earthwork that partly surrounds it (PRN 1965). The scheduling description (18/09/1998) relating to this PRN is as follows:
‘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 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’. |