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Bessie's Hill
Scooped Settlement (Iron Age)
Site Name Bessie's Hill
Classification Scooped Settlement (Iron Age)
Canmore ID 67299
Site Number NY29NW 6
NGR NY 24900 95540
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/67299
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Eskdalemuir
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Annandale And Eskdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
Remains of enclosed later prehistoric settlement located on knoll on upper east-facing slopes of White Esk river valley within rough pasture and forestry plantation. Main views to north and east and south-east along and across valley
information from Héléna Gray, (CFA Archaeology Ltd), August 2015
OASIS ID: cfaarcha1-278420
NY29NW 6 24900 95540.
(NY 2490 9554) Fort (NR)
OS 6" map (1965)
This defended settlement measures 200 ft N-S by 175 ft within an earth-and-stone rampart, 51 ft broad at base and 22 ft at the entrance, with an external ditch, in places cut through rock. Except to the N, it is 15 ft wide and 6 ft deep below the crest of the scarp. The principal entrance, 7 ft wide, has been from the lowest point, and opens into a hollow carried inwards between two long parallel mounds formed by excavating the surface around them. There has also been an entrance from the N above a steep downward slope, between which and the rampart lies a natural terrace, 15 ft wide, occupying the position of the ditch.
Curved indentations near the foot of the interior scarps almost certainly mark the sites of round, timber-built houses. There are up to eight or nine visible here, the greater part of the interior probably being given over to dwellings.
RCAHMS 1920, visited 1912; G Jobey 1971
As described and planned by Jobey. Only two possible house sites can be recognised.
Revised at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 4 September 1962 and (IA) 18 October 1973
Clear of forestry planting.
A M Jackson 1978
Field Visit (June 1980)
Bessie's Hill NY 249 955 NY29NW 6
Situated in a clearing on the sloping NE shoulder of Bessie's Hill, there is a settlement measuring about 50m square within a bank (up to 3.8m thick and 0. 7m high) and external ditch; there are entrances on the NE and WNW respectively. In the interior there are at least seven hollows, some of which probably represent the sites of timber houses.
RCAHMS 1980, visited June 1980
(RCAHMS 1920, p. 70, No. 173; Jobey 1971, 88)
Note (1997)
NY 2490 9554 NY29NW 6
Listed as settlement.
RCAHMS 1997.
Project (29 May 2014)
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by CFA Archaeology Ltd, a desk based assessment and walk over survey (May 29th 2014) was conducted
The historic environment record within the Site Boundary is relatively limited, although there is some potential for the proposed development site to contain previously unknown heritage assets from at least the later prehistoric period onwards, given the historic landscape character of the wider area. Taking this into account, the archaeological potential of the proposed development site is considered to be low.
A summary assessment, on a site by site basis, of the predicted effects on the settings of assets within a 10km radius where the blade tip ZTV indicates that there would be theoretical views of one or more turbines
information from Héléna Gray, (CFA Archaeology Ltd), August 2015
OASIS ID: cfaarcha1-278420
Aerial Photography (5 February 2020 - 18 February 2020)
Aerial survey of the site was carried out using a camera mounted on a SUA (drone) in order to capture images for processing into a detailed contour plan of the site at 20cm interval, allowing for 3D modelling and manipulation of data for use in new interpretation.
In addition, images were taken of the site from a variety of angles, placing it into the landscape for the benefit of client publications and interpretations.
Information from OASIS ID: connolly1-388401 (H Kdolska)2020
