Ven Law

NT24SE 43 2579 4126.

NT 258 412: Palisaded Enclosure. Situated about 200 yds N of the summit of Ven Law, this enclosure occupies the top of a slight, grass-covered, rocky knoll which rises only a little above the general level of the broad ridge-top. The surrounding ground falls away fairly steeply in all directions except the S and was formerly under cultivation, but it has now reverted to rough pasture. The enclosure has been oval on plan and has measured about 75' from N to S by 60' transversely. Except for a distance of about 45' on the S side, where it is no longer visisble, the line of the palisade is indicated by a shallow groove measuring about 3' in width and 6" in depth. A small cutting made on the NE arc at the time of visit revealed that, at this point, the trench was rock-cut and measured about one foot in width and 1'6" in depth; it was tightly packed with earth and small stone chips. The entrance was resumably situated in the obliterated section. The interior slopes down slightly from E to W and its surface is broken by several patches of bare rock. Although there are no visible signs of any dwelling, the size and shape of the enclosure suggest that it was probably a homestead comparable to the one at Meldon Burn.

(Information from A McLaren notebook 1, 69)

Source: RCAHMS 1967, visited 1959

NT 2579 4126. Situated on the top of a slight, grass-covered, rocky knoll about 180.0m of the summit of Venlaw is a sub-circular, double-palisaded homestead measuring 20.0m E-W x 18.0m. The palisade trenches vary from between 3.0m and 6.5m apart and measure 0.8m wide and 0.1m deep. On the N the outer trench has been destroyed by ploughing.

In the middle of the W side is a break 3.0m wide through both trenches.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (SFS) 10 December 1974