Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland

EN0022 Little Doward, Herefordshire

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

Satellite Imagery

Satellite Imagery

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HER:  Herefordshire MHE213 (901)

NMR:  SO 51 NW 6 (109665)

SM:  1001766

NGR:  SO 539160

X:  353900  Y:  216000  (OSGB36)

Summary

Large, very prominent and now wooded, multivallate, inland promontory fort sited on the major bends of the River Wye at Symonds Yat. Precipitous and rocky terrain, the oval hillfort sited to dominate the Wye. Internal area 7.8ha. Possible two phases of construction. The possible rectangular 'annexe' to the SE, which contains 30 hut platforms, has now been proposed by Bowden (2009) as an earlier promontory fort with rampart and ditch, partly confirmed by excavation. Now double rampart and medial ditch, apart from the SW where there is a single bank to 1.5m high on steep slopes. To NW and NE inner bank strong and up to 12m-16m wide and 2.5m high. Counterscarp visible in places. There was a possible former enclosure on the NW side. To the SE there is a 1m high outward-facing slope, possibly a ploughed-down bank. Original NE entrance and another, rock-cut, to the SW, with a possibly original on the SE. Site ploughed during WWII. Excavations 2009 and 2011 (Dorling et al 2012), with C14 dating to early and middle Iron Age, and topographical survey by English Heritage Conifer plantation in interior now clear felled. Grazing by deer has improved the site. Now actively managed by owners. On 1st Ed OS map (1888).

Status

Citizen Science:  

Reliability of Data:  Confirmed

Reliability of Interpretation:  Confirmed

Location

X:  -297285  Y:  6771364  (EPSG: 3857)

Longitude:  -2.670560994139597  Latitude:  51.8406488059884  (EPSG:4326)

Country:  England

Current County or Unitary Authority:  Herefordshire

Historic County:  Herefordshire

Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland:  Ganarew

Monument Condition

Conifer plantation in interior now clear felled. Grazing by deer has improved the site. Site ploughed during WWII.

Condition:
Extant  
Cropmark  
Likely Destroyed  

Land Use

Woodland is now actively managed by owners.

Current Use:
Woodland  
Commercial Forestry Plantation  
Parkland  
Pasture (Grazing)  
Arable  
Scrub/Bracken  
Bare Outcrop  
Heather/Moorland  
Heath  
Built-up  
Coastal Grassland  
Other  

Landscape

Hillfort Type

The site generally follows the contours of the spur. Large, very prominent and now wooded multivallate hillfort located on a spur promontory on major bends of the River Wye at Symonds Yat.

Type:
Contour Fort  
Partial Contour Fort  
Promontory Fort  
Hillslope Fort  
Level Terrain Fort  
Marsh Fort  
Multiple Enclosure Fort  

Topographic Position

Position:
Hilltop  
Coastal Promontory  
Inland Promontory  
Valley Bottom  
Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop  
Ridge  
Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp  
Hillslope  
Lowland  
Spur  

Dominant Topographic Feature:  Spur above the River Wye

Aspect:
North  
Northeast  
East  
Southeast  
South  
Southwest  
West  
Northwest  
Level  

Altitude:  221.0m

Boundary

N/A


Dating Evidence

C14 dates from bone and charcoal show early Iron Age to middle Iron Age dates (varying 760-170 cal BC). Early/middle Iron Age pottery, Cheshire and Droitwich VCP. Single sherd of possible late Bronze Age/early Iron Age pottery.

Reliability:  B - Medium

Principal Activity:
Pre 1200BC  
1200BC - 800BC  
800BC - 400BC  
400BC - AD50  
AD50 - AD400  
AD400 - AD 800  
Post AD800  
Unknown  

Other Activity:
Pre Hillfort:   None
Post Hillfort:   None

Evidence:
Artefactual:   Single sherd of possible late Bronze Age and early/middle Iron Age pottery.
C14:   Various dates determined.

Investigation History

On 1st Ed OS map (1888). Excavation 2009 and 2011 with dating evidence and EH topographical survey. Herefordshire Council survey 2012.

Investigations:
1st Identified Map Depiction (1888):   OS map.
Earthwork Survey (2009):   EH topographical survey.
Other (2012):   Herefordshire Council survey.
Excavation (None):   Excavation in earlier enclosure (annexe).

Interior Features

30 platforms in 'annexe' and possible hut platforms in main enclosure. Quarry scoops, later barrows and pillow mounds in latter. Several mineshafts in interior, one formally considered a well. The recent excavation details have to be confirmed. Middle Iron Age pottery, Cheshire and Droitwich VCP. Single sherd of possible late Bronze Age/early Iron Age pottery. Bone (incl. die and toggle) and antler objects, charcoal and iron roasting evidence.

Water Source

River Wye located 0.3 km outside the fort.

Source:
None  
Spring  
Stream  
Pool  
Flush  
Well  
Other  

Surface

30 hut platforms in 'annexe' and possible hut platforms in main enclosure. Quarry scoops, barrows and pillow mounds in latter. Several mineshafts in interior, one formally considered a well.

Interior Features (Surface):
No Known Features  
Round Stone Structures  
Rectangular Stone Structures  
Curvilinear Platforms  
Other Roundhouse Evidence  
Pits  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  

Excavation

Two building terraces excavated after middle Iron Age pottery found as a result of beech wind-throw.

Interior Features (Excavation):
No Known Excavation  
Pits  
Postholes  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Roads/Tracks  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  
Nothing Found  

Geophysics

Geophysics unknown

Interior Features (Geophysics):
No Known Geophysics  
Pits  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Roads/Tracks  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  
Nothing Found  

Finds

Middle Iron Age pottery, Cheshire and Droitwich VCP. Single sherd of possible late Bronze Age/early Iron Age pottery. Sheep/goat, pig and cattle bone and bone (incl. die and toggle) and antler objects, charcoal and iron roasting evidence. Charred cereal grains. Molluscs. Good bone survival.

Interior (Finds):
No Known Finds  
Pottery  
Metal  
Metalworking  
Human Bones  
Animal Bones  
Lithics  
Environmental  
Other  

Aerial

None

Interior Features (Aerial):
APs Not Checked  
None  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Pits  
Postholes  
Roads/Tracks  
Other  

Entrances

Three possible entrances, one destroyed on SE. Entrance on NE access up a natural slope, and that on SW is narrow rock-cut gap.

Total Number of Breaks Through Ramparts:  
3:   No modern gaps recorded.

Number of Possible Original Entrances:  
2:   Possible original SE entrance destroyed.

Guard Chambers:  

Chevaux de Frise:  

Entrances:
1. Simple Gap (North east):   Entrance with access up natural slope probably original.
2. Simple Gap (South west):   Narrow rock-cut entrance probably original.
3. Simple Gap (South east):   Destroyed.

Enclosing Works

Double rampart and medial ditch, apart from the SW where there is a single bank to 1.5m high on steep slopes. To NW and NE inner bank strong and up to 2.5m high. There was a possible former enclosure on the NW side. To the SE there is a 1m high outward-facing slope, possibly a ploughed down bank. Counterscarp visible in places.

Enclosed Area:
Area 1:   7.8ha.
Total:   7.8ha.

Total Footprint Area:  Noneha.

Ramparts

None

Multi-period Enclosure System:
✓   Possible two phases of construction. Proposed by Bowden (2009) as an earlier promontory fort with rampart and ditch, partly confirmed by excavation

Ramparts Form a Continuous Circuit:
✗   Whilst the main enclosure is enclosed by banks, to the NE, SW and NW, the 'annexe' has steep rocky slopes for the most part over the entire three sides.

Number of Ramparts:  
NE Quadrant:   2
SE Quadrant:   2
SW Quadrant:   1
NW Quadrant:   2
Total:   2

Morphology

Current Morphology:
Partial Univallate  
Univallate  
Partial Bivallate  
Bivallate  
Partial Multivallate  
Multivallate  
Unknown  

Detailed Morphology:
Partial Univallate  
Univallate  
Partial Bivallate  
Bivallate  
Partial Multivallate  
Multivallate  

Surface Evidence

Counterscarp bank visible in places.

Enclosing Works (Surface):
None  
Earthen Bank  
Stone Wall  
Rubble  
Wall-walk  
Evidence of Timber  
Vitrification  
Other Burning  
Palisade  
Counter Scarp Bank  
Berm  
Unfinished  
Other  

Excavated Evidence

Excavation across rampart and ditch of SE 'annexe' showed it to be early phase of total enclosure and defended by bank and ditch across the promontory neck. Possible palisade slot.

Enclosing Works (Excavation):
None  
Earthen Bank  
Stone Wall  
Murus Duplex  
Timber-framed  
Timber-laced  
Vitrification  
Other Burning  
Palisade  
Counter Scarp Bank  
Berm  
Unfinished  
No Known Excavation  
Other  

Other

Gang Working:
✗   None

Ditches:
✓   Medial ditch to 2m in depth.

Number of Ditches:  1

Annex:
✓   Rectangular SE 'annexe', which may be an earlier enclosure, is enclosed on three sides by natural outcrops. Excavation (Dorling et. al. 2012) found a rampart and ditch across the neck of the promontory.

References

Bowden, M. 2009. Little Doward, Ganarew, Herefordshire. Analytical Earthwork Survey of the Hillfort and Rapid Landscape Investigation. English Heritage Research Department Report Series. 72-2009.

Clarke, S. and Bray, J. 2009. Little Doward Camp, Ganarew. A Programme of Archaeological Work for the Woodland Trust, Unpublished report Monmouth Archaeolaeology, MA09.09.

Dorling, P. and Wigley, A. 2012: Assessment of the archaeological and conservation status of major later prehistoric enclosures in Herefordshire and Shropshire, EH PNUM, Version 3.2, Hereford and Shrewsbury: Herefordshire Council/Shropshire Council.

Dorling, P., Cotton, J. and Rimmington, N. 2012: Little Doward hillfort, Ganarew, Herefordshire. A report on excavations in 2009 and 2011, Hereford: Herefordshire Archaeology Report 295.

Page, W. ed.1908. The Victoria County History of the County of Herefordshire, 1, 210-11, London: St Catherine Press.

RCHME 1931-34. An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Herefordshire, 1 (SW), 68-9, 2, London: HMSO.

Rimmington, N. 2008. Little Doward Camp, Ganarew Parish, Unpublished report Herefordshire Archaeology Report 229.



Terms of Use

This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and should be cited as:

Lock, Gary and Ralston, Ian. 2024. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk


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