Cardrona

This project consisted of a topographical survey of Castle Knowe Fort located at NGR NT 3020 3727, to the south of Peebles in the Scottish Borders. The site comprises the remains of two massive collapsed stone walls which enclose the summit of Castle Knowe and associated annexes. These were robbed to create sheepfolds in more recent times. The site became a scheduled monument (SM2954) in 1970 and was rescheduled with an amended area in 2001. A detailed archaeological measured survey was undertaken at the site in November 2013. These works were undertaken on behalf of Forestry Commission Scotland by Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd. The site, situated within Cardrona Forest which is part of the Forests of the Scottish Borders, is currently managed by Forestry Commission Scotland. The purpose of the survey was to provide an enhanced baseline record of the upstanding remains at the site, and to inform future conversation and management of the monument. Results from this assessment recorded the nature and extent of earthworks as well as the wider landscape context of the upstanding archaeological remains.

Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd. (L. Baker & E. O'Flaherty) OASIS ID: rubiconh1-188214

This fort is situated on the Castle Knowe, one of several local summits on the ridge above Cardrona, and now lies in a clearing in an extensive coniferous forest. The defences comprise two widely-spaced stone walls, one forming an inner enclosure on the very summit, and the other an outer enclosure following a shoulder lower down the slope. The inner enclosure is trapezoidal on plan and heavily robbed to build the wall of the sheepfold that probably roughly replicates its shape, so much so that little more than a band of rubble survives along the SSW, and a scree of rubble on the NNE. The featureless interior measures about 49m from E to W by 33m transversely (0.13ha) and there is a probable entrance on the WSW, lining up with one of two entrances through the outer wall. The latter is much better preserved, though along the NNE side it forms a single scree of rubble with the inner wall. Elsewhere around the southern half of the circuit, however, it forms a mound of rubble some 6m in thickness by 1.2m in height, and where the debris has been cleared away the outer face has been revealed over a considerable distance, still standing up to 0.6m high in up to five courses. The interior of this outer enclosure is oval on plan and considerably larger than the inner, measuring up to 100m from E to W by 65m transversely (0.53ha). Its entrances lie on the SSE and WSW, the latter apparently approached obliquely to expose the visitor's right side. There are also traces of what appears as a third line, now reduced to low stony banks, lying a further 10m to 15m beyond the outer wall, but a series of returns suggest that these are later enclosures utilising the earlier defences. While there is no stratigraphy to demonstrate the relationship between the inner and outer enclosures, it is likely that the outer has been a free-standing fortification.

Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 18 October 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC3678

A detailed archaeological measured survey was undertaken at the site in November 2013. These works were undertaken on behalf of Forestry Commission Scotland by Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd. The site, situated within Cardrona Forest is currently managed by Forestry Commission Scotland. The purpose of the survey was to provide an enhanced baseline record of the upstanding remains at the site, and to inform future conservation and management of the monument. Results from this assessment recorded the nature and extent of earthworks as well as the wider landscape context of the upstanding archaeological remains.

Visibility: This is an upstanding earthwork or monument.

Information from Scottish Borders Council