Leap Hill

NT41NW 9 4411 1947.

(No Grid) Fort (NR)

OS 6" map (1900)

NT 441 195 Earthwork, Leap Hill. The "fort" marked on the O.S. map 50 yds. SSE. of the summit of Leap Hill has been almost entirely wrecked by cultivation. All that survives is the SW. side of the enclosure wall, represented by a curved bank formed of upcast from an external ditch and measuring 210 ft. along the chord, and a slighter meandering bank and a scooped hollow in the interior. The main bank measures 10 ft. to 15 ft. in thickness, but is not more than 18 in. high at the present time, while the ditch is 12 ft. wide and up to 2 ft. 6 in. deep.

The site has not been chosen with a view to defence, since it is immediately overlooked by rising ground on both the N. and W. sides, and the remains, which are certainly not those of a prehistoric fort, recall the mediaeval or later farmstead on Castleside Hill (No. 76).

RCAHMS 1957, visited 1950

Enclosure: a small structure believed to be of ancient origin, bounded by non-defensive walls. No trace of huts. Many enclosures are no doubt settlements or homesteads whose huts were constructed of perishable material or have been levelled by cultivation. Period doubtful - requires excavation.

Information from a letter from K A Steer 13 October 1953

NT 4411 1947. The earthwork is as described by RCAHMS. Two scooped areas are evident in the interior, at the centre and S. end respectively, but these are probably the result of former cultivation. There are other indications of former cultivation to the NW of the earthwork.

Re-surveyed at 1/10,560.

Visited by OS (EGC) 24 July 1962

As previously described.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 29 April 1965