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Play Hill, Crichton
Enclosed Settlement (Iron Age), Coin(S) (Roman)(Possible)
Site Name Play Hill, Crichton
Classification Enclosed Settlement (Iron Age), Coin(S) (Roman)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Crichton Village
Canmore ID 53582
Site Number NT36SE 5
NGR NT 38396 61906
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/53582
- Council Midlothian
- Parish Crichton
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District Midlothian
- Former County Midlothian
NT36SE 5 3840 6190.
(NT 3840 6190) Fort (NR)
OS 6" map (1966)
This fort, on the summit of Play Hill, was defended by a single heavy rampart, now in a denuded condition, standing up to 3' above the interior, which measures 300' by 190'. This rampart has been obliterated on the E, but is visible on the other sides; it must originally have been faced and revetted by either stone or timber, or both. The oldest local inhabitants remember when it was entire, also some Roman silver coins being turned up from it (Name Book 1852).
R W Feachem 1963; RCAHMS 1929, visited 1913
The situation of this feature and the nature of its defences suggest that it was a settlement rather than a fort. It is otherwise as described.
Visited by OS (BS) 24 October 1975
Field Visit (31 July 1913)
Fort, Play Hill, Crichton.
On the summit of the more easterly of the two knolls called Play Hill, at the western end of Crichton village and at an elevation of about 650 feet above sea-level, are the remains of a fort. To the north the ground falls in a steep slope, to the east and south there is a gentle dip, and to the west there is a slight hollow between the fort and the smaller hillock. On the east the defences have been obliterated, but round the north, west, and south the hill is scarped, and on the edge of the scarp are the remains of a rampart 12 feet in breadth at the foundation and rising at most 3 feet above the interior. The longer axis is north-north-west and south-south-east, and internally the fort measures 300 by 188 feet.
RCAHMS 1929, visited 31 July 1913.
OS map: xv N.W.
Field Visit (24 May 1955)
There is nothing to add to the Inventory account. It is simply a curvilinear earthwork with a single rampart, standing in a dominating position. There is no trace of stonework in the rampart at the present time, but its construction is uncertain in the absence of excavation. The work is probably an Early Iron Age fort.
Visited by RCAHMS (KAS), 24 May 1955.
Note (1988)
Play Hill, Crichton NT 3840 6190 NT36SE 5
This earthwork occupies a low knoll in the angle of the road junction at the Wend of Crichton village; it measures about 90m from N to S by 55m transversely within an earthen rampart, which stands to a maximum height of 1 m above the interior on the W. Around the W there are traces of an external ditch from 3.5m to 5m below the crest of the rampart, but on the E the earthwork has been almost entirely levelled. The original entrance was possibly on the S.
RCAHMS 1988
(RCAHMS 1929, 52, no. 59; Feachem 1977, 137)
Note (17 November 2015 - 4 August 2016)
What is probably a univallate fort is situated on the hillock at the W end of Crichton village known as Play Hill. Oval on plan, it measures about 90m from N to S by 55m transversely (0.4ha) within a single rampart. The rampart has been virtually obliterated on the E, but elsewhere it is up to 1m high internally, while externally on the W its crest stands between 3.5m and 5m above traces of a broad external ditch. The original entrance was probably on the S. Roman silver coins are supposed to have been found here (Name Book, Edinburghshire, No.37, p 34), but none survives to confirm such an identification.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 04 August 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC3756
