Summary

Univalliate hillfort, to the south-east of Braithwaite Hall.

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Description

from Schedule File MPP4/ AA 11194/1

"This generally well preserved and strongly fortified univalliate hillfort is situated on a north facing slope on Braithwaite Banks. It is defended on all sides except the east by a rampart and outer ditch with a slight outer or counterscarp bank on the north and west wides. The banks are constructed with a stone core and have two entrances, one at the north-west corner and the other of more modern appearance on the south side. This latter entrance has been revetted on its west side with large boulders. The east side has been infilled and widened to take a modern track and has a width of 4.6m

A sub-rectangular inner enclosure is defined by the ditch and rampart and situated towards the south-east corner of the main work. It encloses an area measuring approximately 45m square with an entrance on the west side. The area has, however, been ploughed out at some time and the extent is now barely discernable. Only in the southern section are rampart and ditch prominent. Here the rampart is 1.8m high and the ditch 1.3m deep. These fade out on the north and east sides and only faint traces remain. Some damage has been caused to the site from quarrying above Red Beck Gill which has encroached upon the south-east corner of the outer rampart. The south-west outer rampart is also slightly mutilated."

From OS SE18NW16

"IA fort. Defensive earthwork enclosing 2.25 acres protected on all but the east side by a rampart and ditch with a slight counterscarp bank on the N and W. An inner concentric work near the SE corner suggests a second line of defence, now incomplete. The banks are constructed with a stone core and have two entrances, one at the NW corner and the other of more modern appearance, in the middle of the S side.

See VCH Yorks 2 (1912) 7-8/AP RAF/106G/UK1512

Remains as above. Inner earthwork originally extended northwards. The area has been ploughed at one time and thick bracken now covers it and the extent is only barely discernable on the ground as an indistinct N facing scarp edging an area approx. 45m square. No trace of internal occupation.

The entrance in the south of the outer work has been revetted on its W side by large boulders. The E side has been infilled and widened to take a broader track. A breach in the SW outer rampart is mutilated and quarrying in the SE corner above Red Beck Gill has encroached on the outer rampart. 23/8/77"

From VCH Yorks. Vol 2 (1912) pp.7-8

"East Witton, Near Braithwaite Hall (lxxxiv,2) - This is a work covering two and a quarter acres, placed on steep ground and defended on all sides, except the east, by a rampart and ditch, but the former is of no great height, and the latter forms the chief obstacle. The east side may have depended upon the ravine for its protection, but has a slight fragment of a ditch in the middle. There is a slight counterscarp bank on the north and west, but none on the south, owing to the slope of the hill. Near the south-east corner is a curious sort of inner concentric work, which suggests a second line of defence, now incomplete. The banks are constructed with a stone core and have an opening at the north-west corner and another in the middle of the south side, but the latter has a more modern appearance.

Footnote: This is the only camp of this class which shows anything of the nature of a citadel".


East Witton Camp is first recorded as an antiquity in the lC19. It is a multi-vallate enclosure of c.1 hectare, roughly pear- shaped in plan, widening to the S. Although such sites are frequently thought of as defensive, this seems unlikely here as the camp lies on a progressive S to N slope and its interior is therefore overlooked from adjoining land immediately to the S - and pretty much from the N and W too (almost as if it was tilted up to the N).

In many ways the component earthworks now appear less cohesive than they did originally, and will be described separately for ease of monitoring and reference. Together they form the enclosure though this is less impressive to E, where it is flanked by Red Beck and/or a large semi-natural hollow (31652). The camp is also bisected by trackway 31487.

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