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Bessie's Hill
Fort (Prehistoric)
Site Name Bessie's Hill
Classification Fort (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 67235
Site Number NY29NE 14
NGR NY 25040 95400
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/67235
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Eskdalemuir
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Annandale And Eskdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
Remains of later prehistoric enclosure and pre-improvement farmstead and field system located on Birrens Hill within rough pasture. Main views are to south towards Solway Firth. Other related monuments in vicinity.
information from Héléna Gray, (CFA Archaeology Ltd), August 2015
NY29NE 14 25040 95400
Extends onto map sheet NY29NW 6.
(NY 2504 9540) Fort (NR)
OS 6" map (1965)
Some 200 yds SE of the fort NY29NW 6, there is another fort. It is formed on an eminence at an elevation of 800 ft above sea level overlooking the valley of the White Esk about 1/4 mile W of the farm of Holm Mill. Its main axis lies NE and SW. Towards the N is a hollow cutting it off from the higher slope of the hill beyond; and, on the S, with an abrupt and in places precipitous rocky face, the ground declines rapidly to the base of the hill. On plan, the fort is semi-oval with the edge of the steep southern escarpment foring the chord. So strongly is it protected by nature on the S that artificial earthwork has been dispensed with; but around the periphery towards the lower ground, below a bold scarp from the summit level, there runs a double trench with an intervening rampart 22 ft (6.7m) broad at base. The trenches from crest to crest measure, the inner 33 ft (10.1m) and the outer 16 ft (4.9m), while the outer has a depth of 12 ft (3.7m) below the crest of the scarp and 3 ft 6 ins (1m) below that of the counterscarp, and the latter similar measurements of 8ft (2.4m) and 3 ft 6 ins (1.1m) respectively. The rampart has been of earth and stone, and there has been considerable rock cutting in the formation of the trenches. The entrance has been on the summit level at the NE angle, some 8 to 9 ft (2.4 to 2.7m) wide, passing between the end of the defences and the steep escarpment to the E, the road towards it being traceable for some distance up the hillside. There is no well visible in the area of the interior, but in the inner trench there is a considerable clump of rushes at one point, which may indicate the presence of water.
RCAHMS 1920, visited July 1912.
When visited in 1973, this fort was generally in a similar condition to that described above. However, the interior was overgrown with long grass, and no huts could be seen.
Revised at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 4 September 1962 and (IA) 16 October 1973.
Scheduled as Bessie's Hill, settlement.
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 14 January 2002.
Field Visit (June 1980)
Bessie's Hill NY 250 954 NY29NE 14
Situated in a clearing 150m SE of the settlement NY29NW 6 there is an oval fort which measures 86m by 36m internally and is defended by double ditches with a medial rampart on all sides except the SSE, where there is a precipitous slope. There are entrances on the E and WSW respectively, and within the interior there are at least five scooped platforms which probably indicate the sites of circular houses.
RCAHMS 1980, visited June 1980
(RCAHMS 1920, p. 70, No. 17 4; Jobey 1971, 85)
Note (1997)
NY 2504 9540 NY29NE 14
Listed as fort.
RCAHMS 1997.
Note (30 June 2014 - 23 May 2016)
This fort encloses a hillock forming the shoulder of the E spur of Bessie's Hill and backs onto a precipitous escarpment along the length of its SE flank. Elsewhere the defences comprise two ramparts with rock-cut external ditches, though the inner rampart is little more than a scarp standing some 2.5m high above the bottom of the inner ditch. This ditch is probably about 6m in breadth, while the outer is about 4m and also has traces of a bank along the lip of its counterscarp. Within the roughly oval interior, which measures about 86m from ENE to WSW by 36m transversely (0.31ha), there are at least five scooped house platforms set out along the SE side, and there are entrances on the ENE and WSW respectively.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 23 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC1077
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
