Hunthall Hill
Linear Earthwork(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Hunthall Hill
Classification Linear Earthwork(S) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 58074
Site Number NT71SE 20
NGR NT 776 117
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/58074
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Hownam
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Roxburgh
- Former County Roxburghshire
NT71SE 20 776 117
See also NT71SE 19.
(NT 7761 1170 - NT 7762 1175 and NT 7762 1181 - NT 7761 1184) Earthwork (NR)
OS 6" map, (1962).
Linear Earthwork, Hunthall Hill: Near the point where Dere Street turns from SW to NW after skirting Blackhall Hill, a linear earthwork crosses the summit of the ridge dividing Twise Hope from Blackie Hope and is traversed by the track that diverges from Dere Street to make it sway along the S face of Blackhall Hill. From the brow of the slope above Blackie Hope it ca be traced for a distance of 66 yds, ending beside one of the quarry-pits that line the S side of Dere Street. Its relation to Dere Street is uncertain, but superficial evidence does not forbid the supposition that the earthwork may antedate the Roman work of road-construction. N of Dere Street it seems to have been obliterated by traffic for a distance of some 60 yds; but beyond the belt of hollow tracks what is probably a continuation of the same work reappears and follows a somewhat angular course through the marshy ground at the head of Twise Hope ending, with a slight westward turn, at the S end of another earthwork (NT71SE 19). It is clear, however, that the two are not structurally continuous.
RCAHMS 1956, visited 1938 and 1946.
As described above.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 13 September 1960.
No change.
Visited by OS (BS) 7 September 1976.
Field Visit (21 September 1999)
NT71SE 20
Hunthall Hill
Linear Earthwork
NT 77609 11729
This site was recorded as part of the Kale Water Survey project and is largely as described in the 1956 inventory on the date of visit. The turf bank runs from N to S across the saddle between Hunthall Hill and Blackhall Hill and measures 67m in length, from NT 77615 11696 to NT 77608 11696. There is then a gap of about 55m, through which Dere Street runs. A further section of turf bank then continues N for about 16m, then NW for about 41m (NT 77612 11820 to NT 77592 11869).
For the earthwork immediately to the NE of this section of bank see NT71SE 19.
Visited by RCAHMS (PJD) 21 September 1999
Sbc Note
Visibility: This is an upstanding earthwork or monument.
Information from Scottish Borders Council
