Clifton Hill
Fort (Prehistoric)
Site Name Clifton Hill
Classification Fort (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Cliftonhill Field; Hoprig; Dovecot Hall
Canmore ID 58856
Site Number NT77SE 17
NGR NT 76625 70715
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/58856
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Cockburnspath
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Berwickshire
- Former County Berwickshire
NT77SE 17 76625 70715
(NT 7660 7071) A fort was clearly traceable in a field of barley before havest, presumably 1929, on a ridge at the E side of Cliftonhill Field, Hoprig, and 200 yds W of Dovecot Hall.
The fort measured probably 80 yds in length, but the E end of it, in a grass field, could not be traced; the breadth was 70 yds. A hut circle, 24ft in diameter, was clearly shown near the NW side. Two trenches, 27ft apart, were also traceable.
G Taylor 1933
No trace of any feature can be seen at this site. It lies at the E end of a flat-topped ridge running E-W and is a likely site for a fort.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 5 April 1966
Nothing is visible of this enclosure.
RCAHMS 1980, visited 1979
The RCAHMS, listing Linear Cropmarks (AP Catalogue 1980), visible at NT 765 707, are presumably referring to this site.
Information from OS Recorder (IF) 1982.
Above statement incorrect.
Information from RCAHMS.
Note (8 February 2016 - 18 May 2016)
This fort or fortified settlement, which is known only from parchmarks, is situated on the gently sloping E end of a low elongated hillock due W of Dovecot Hall, and overlooks the public road leading WSW out of Cockburnspath. Rectilinear on plan, it measures about 85m from E to W by 65m transversely (0.53ha) within two ditches about 5m in breadth and set some 8m apart; making some allowance for the presence of an inner rampart, the interior encloses about 0.38ha. When first noted on the ground in 1929 a circular mark was visible within the interior (Taylor 1933, 70), but this cannot be seen on aerial photographs taken subsequently. None of the latter are particularly well-defined, though they show a probable entrance in the E side near the NE corner; the significance of a possible causeway across the inner ditch in the equivalent position in the W side is less certain.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 18 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC4071
Sbc Note
Visibility: This site is visible as a cropmark.
Information from Scottish Borders Council
