Castercliff

It is located on a hilltop overlooking the valley system of the River Calder and its tributaries, on the western edge of the South Pennines. On the upper part of the hill, triple rubble ramparts up to {{convert|1.5|m}} high, separated by ditches of similar depth, surround the site on all sides except the north. On this side the defences consist mainly of a single rampart and ditch, but some short lengths of triple rampart and ditch are also found here. The inner rampart may have been timber-laced and revetted with stone and enclosed an oval area measuring approximately {{convert|115|by|76|m}}.{{NHLE |num=1007404 |desc=Castercliff small multivallate hillfort |access-date=1 January 2021}}

The summit of the hill is {{convert|920|ft|order=flip}} above sea level and the surrounding ground falls rapidly on all sides except the south east. Here a neck of land, dropping {{convert|60|ft|order=flip}} from the summit, connects it to similarly high ground about {{convert|{{convert|400|yd|ft|disp=number}}|ft|order=flip}} away. Streams spring from either side of the ridge and the deep valleys which they have cut, especially on the south, offer additional defence.{{citation |editor-last1=Farrer |editor-first1=William |editor-last2=Brownbill |editor-first2=John |title=The Victoria History of the County of Lancaster Vol 2 |publisher=Victoria County History - Constable & Co |pages=514–516 |year=1906 |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924088434547 |oclc=59375181 |access-date=1 January 2021}}

Excavations during the 1970s appear to show that the site was not completed, and no evidence of occupation was unearthed.Excavation of the hillfort of Castercliff, Nelson, Lancashire, 1970-71 Trans. Lancs. & Ches. Antiq. Soc. 81, 111-30 However, in the past, evidence of Roman occupation has been found and in 1898, Harry Speight was in no doubt that the site was the Roman Colonio.{{Cite book |last=Speight |first=Harry |url=http://archive.org/details/chroniclesstorie00speiiala |title=Chronicles and stories of old Bingley. A full account of the history, antiquities, natural productions, scenery, customs and folklore of the ancient town and parish of Bingley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire |date=1898 |publisher=London : Elliot Stock |others=University of California Libraries}}

File:Castercliff Digital Terrain Model.jpg

The hillfort has been damaged by coal mining with old bell pits evident both inside and around the site.

The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/view.asp?siteid=4398&pageid=20449&e=e Lancashire County Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613193539/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/view.asp?siteid=4398&pageid=20449&e=e |date=2011-06-13 }}

File:Castercliff plan.png | Published in The Victoria History of the County of Lancaster Vol 2 (1906)

File:Castercliff Camp Hillfort - geograph.org.uk - 718864.jpg | One of the many bell pit circles on top of the fort

File:Castercliff - geograph.org.uk - 720940.jpg | The view from the summit toward Walton's Spire to the southeast

File:Castercliff hillfort 04.jpg | On the eastern slope looking southwest, showing a section of the ramparts

• Scheduled monuments in Lancashire

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Castercliff Camp|position=left}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071027155034/http://www.brigantesnation.com/SiteResearch/Iron%20Age/Castercliff/Castercliff.htm Aerial view and description]

{{Borough of Pendle buildings}}

{{Iron Age hillforts in England}}

Category:Hill forts in Lancashire

Category:Scheduled monuments in Lancashire

Category:Buildings and structures in the Borough of Pendle

Category:Nelson, Lancashire

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