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HER:  Gloucestershire 273 (None)
NMR:  SP 11 NW11 (329935)
SM:  1003355
NGR:  SP127155
X:  412700  Y:  215500  (OSGB36)
Large, roughly rectangular, multivallate promontory hillfort located between steep re-entant valleys above River Leach to W and Sherborne Brook to E, W of village of Farmington. Much affected by farm buildings and roads and ploughed down W end. Measures c. 890m E-W and 520m N-S, encloses 22ha. W and E sides defined by banks set along extremities of slight rise. N and S defined by edges of promontory with scarping. Scarping on S extends for c, 270m from SW corner. On N low bank set on terrace beneath scarp edge, possibly originally natural feature modified by later scarping, probably when trees planted on regular, scarped slopes above and below. W bank under plough, but c. 1.3m high externally and 0.3m high internally. E bank c. 1m high and 8.0m wide, topped by field wall. Internal slope damaged or destroyed by ploughing. S of road bank almost destroyed by development. Ditches only now as cropmarks. Innermost bank of W rampart visible as slight earthwork on 2006 aerial photographs. Original entrances, now used by modern roads, possibly gap near centre of E bank and hollow-way in S scarp. Excavations in NW corner of Hospital Field 1977 in advance of farmbuilding (Saville and Ellison 1983). Features showed late Iron Age occupation with 3 probable four-post structures. Also pit (possibly Roman), ditch and gully excavated. Pit contained incomplete semi-crouched inhumation suggesting mutilation. Little dating evidence , but Iron Age pottery found. Neolithic long barrow in SW corner and Romano British settlement in NE corner. On 1st Ed. OS map (1884). .
Citizen Science:  ✗
Reliability of Data:  Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation:  Confirmed
X:  -202278  Y:  6770873  (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude:  -1.8170911576988849  Latitude:  51.83792227098422  (EPSG:4326)
Country:  England; None
Current County or Unitary Authority:  Gloucestershire
Historic County:  Gloucestershire
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland:  Northleach with Eastington; Farmington
Mutilated with plough and building damage. Short lengths of N and S ramparts visible as scarp edges, with NE corner of hillfort. Remainder of enclosing banks, ditches and scarps hidden from aerial view by trees, field boundaries and modern housing.
| Extant   | ✓ |
| Cropmark   | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed   | ✗ |
None
| Woodland   | ✓ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation   | ✗ |
| Parkland   | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing)   | ✓ |
| Arable   | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken   | ✗ |
| Bare Outcrop   | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland   | ✗ |
| Heath   | ✗ |
| Built-up   | ✓ |
| Coastal Grassland   | ✗ |
| Other   | ✗ |
Large, roughly rectangular, multivallate promontory hillfort located between steep re-entant valleys above River Leach to W and Sherborne Brook to E, W of village of Farmington.
| Contour Fort   | ✗ |
| Partial Contour Fort   | ✗ |
| Promontory Fort   | ✓ |
| Hillslope Fort   | ✗ |
| Level Terrain Fort   | ✗ |
| Marsh Fort   | ✗ |
| Multiple Enclosure Fort   | ✗ |
Located at the headwaters of the Sherborne Brook, a tributary of the River Windrush between re-entrant valleys
| Hilltop   | ✗ |
| Coastal Promontory   | ✗ |
| Inland Promontory   | ✓ |
| Valley Bottom   | ✗ |
| Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop   | ✗ |
| Ridge   | ✗ |
| Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp   | ✗ |
| Hillslope   | ✗ |
| Lowland   | ✗ |
| Spur   | ✗ |
Dominant Topographic Feature:  Spur promontory.
| North   | ✗ |
| Northeast   | ✗ |
| East   | ✗ |
| Southeast   | ✗ |
| South   | ✗ |
| Southwest   | ✗ |
| West   | ✗ |
| Northwest   | ✗ |
| Level   | ✓ |
Altitude:  190.0m
Boundary Type:  Parish/Townland
Excavation and geophysical survey revealed Iron Age and Romano British occupation and Iron Age pottery found. Neolithic long barrow in SW corner.
Reliability:  B - Medium
| Pre 1200BC   | ✗ |
| 1200BC - 800BC   | ✗ |
| 800BC - 400BC   | ✓ |
| 400BC - AD50   | ✓ |
| AD50 - AD400   | ✗ |
| AD400 - AD 800   | ✗ |
| Post AD800   | ✗ |
| Unknown   | ✗ |
| Pre Hillfort:   | None |
| Post Hillfort:   | None |
| Artefactual:   | None |
On 1st Ed. OS map (1884). Magnetic survey and watching briefs and small excavation in advance of building, A.Saville, Corinium Museum 1977. Aerial photograph interpretation RCHME Primary Record Project 1992-96. geophysical survey, A. Marshall 1996. Evaluation, Cotswold Archaeology, 1998. Geophysical survey, A. Marshall 2002. Aerial photograph interpretation, Gloucestershire County Council: Cotswolds Hills (S. Cotswolds) NMP, 2007-2010.
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (1884):   | OS map. |
| Excavation (1977):   | A. Saville. |
| Geophysical Survey (1996):   | A. Marshall |
| Other (1998):   | Cotswold Archaeology |
| Geophysical Survey (2002):   | A. Marshall. |
| Other (None):   | Aerial photograph interpretation RCHME |
| Other (None):   | Aerial photograph interpretation, Gloucestershire County Council: Cotswolds Hills (S. Cotswolds) NMP. |
Excavations in NW corner of Hospital Field 1977 in advance of farmbuilding. Features showed late Iron Age occupation with 3 probable 4-post structures. Also pit (possibly Roman), ditch and gully excavated. Pit contained incomplete semi-crouched inhumation suggesting mutilation. Little dating evidence , but Iron Age pottery found. Geophysics undertaken has found evidence of interior structures and other features.
None
| None   | ✓ |
| Spring   | ✗ |
| Stream   | ✗ |
| Pool   | ✗ |
| Flush   | ✗ |
| Well   | ✗ |
| Other   | ✗ |
None
| No Known Features   | ✓ |
| Round Stone Structures   | ✗ |
| Rectangular Stone Structures   | ✗ |
| Curvilinear Platforms   | ✗ |
| Other Roundhouse Evidence   | ✗ |
| Pits   | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows   | ✗ |
| Other   | ✗ |
Excavations in NW corner of Hospital Field 1977 in advance of farmbuilding. Features showed late Iron Age occupation with 3 probable 4-post structures. Also pit (possibly Roman), ditch and gully excavated.
| No Known Excavation   | ✗ |
| Pits   | ✓ |
| Postholes   | ✗ |
| Roundhouses   | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures   | ✓ |
| Roads/Tracks   | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows   | ✗ |
| Other   | ✓ |
| Nothing Found   | ✗ |
Geophysics undertaken has found evidence of interior structures and other features.
| No Known Geophysics   | ✗ |
| Pits   | ✗ |
| Roundhouses   | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures   | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks   | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows   | ✗ |
| Other   | ✓ |
| Nothing Found   | ✗ |
Pit contained incomplete semi-crouched inhumation suggesting mutilation. Little dating evidence , but Iron Age pottery found.
| No Known Finds   | ✗ |
| Pottery   | ✓ |
| Metal   | ✗ |
| Metalworking   | ✗ |
| Human Bones   | ✓ |
| Animal Bones   | ✗ |
| Lithics   | ✗ |
| Environmental   | ✗ |
| Other   | ✗ |
None
| APs Not Checked   | ✓ |
| None   | ✗ |
| Roundhouses   | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures   | ✗ |
| Pits   | ✗ |
| Postholes   | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks   | ✗ |
| Other   | ✗ |
Original entrances, now used by modern roads, possibly gap near centre of E bank and hollow way in S scarp.
| 2:   | None |
| 2:   | None |
Guard Chambers:  ✗
Chevaux de Frise:  ✗
| 1. Simple Gap (East):   | None |
| 2. Hollow Way (South):   | None |
W and E sides defined by banks set along extremities of slight rise. N and S defined by edges of promontory with scarping. Scarping on S extends for c, 270m from SW corner. On N low bank set on a terrace beneath scarp edge, possibly originally natural feature modified by later scarping, probably when trees planted on regular, scarped slopes above and below. W bank under plough, but c. 1.3m high externally and 0.3m high internally. E bank c. 1m high and 8.0m wide, topped by field wall. Internal slope damaged or destroyed by ploughing. S of road bank almost destroyed by development. Ditches only now as cropmarks. Innermost bank of W rampart visible as slight earthwork on 2006 aerial photographs.
| Area 1:   | 22.0ha. |
| Total:   | 22.0ha. |
Total Footprint Area:  Noneha.
None
| ✗   | None |
| ✓   | Ploughed down W end possibly multivallate - no details. |
| NE Quadrant:   | 1 |
| SE Quadrant:   | 1 |
| SW Quadrant:   | 1 |
| NW Quadrant:   | 1 |
| Total:   | 1 |
| Partial Univallate   | ✗ |
| Univallate   | ✓ |
| Partial Bivallate   | ✗ |
| Bivallate   | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate   | ✗ |
| Multivallate   | ✗ |
| Unknown   | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate   | ✗ |
| Univallate   | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate   | ✗ |
| Bivallate   | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate   | ✗ |
| Multivallate   | ✗ |
None
| None   | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank   | ✓ |
| Stone Wall   | ✗ |
| Rubble   | ✗ |
| Wall-walk   | ✗ |
| Evidence of Timber   | ✗ |
| Vitrification   | ✗ |
| Other Burning   | ✗ |
| Palisade   | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank   | ✗ |
| Berm   | ✗ |
| Unfinished   | ✗ |
| Other   | ✗ |
Bank not sectioned.
| None   | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank   | ✗ |
| Stone Wall   | ✗ |
| Murus Duplex   | ✗ |
| Timber-framed   | ✗ |
| Timber-laced   | ✗ |
| Vitrification   | ✗ |
| Other Burning   | ✗ |
| Palisade   | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank   | ✗ |
| Berm   | ✗ |
| Unfinished   | ✗ |
| No Known Excavation   | ✓ |
| Other   | ✗ |
| ✗   | None |
| ✓   | Ditches visible only as cropmarks. |
Number of Ditches:  1
| ✗   | None |
Marshall, A. 1996. ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF A POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AREA WITHIN FARMINGTON NORBURY HILLFORT NORTHLEACH WITH EASINGTON.
Marshall, A. 1996 Northleach long barrow and Norbury Camp. Trans Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeol Soc,114; 170-185.
Marshall, A. J. 2003. SUMMARY OF GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY UNDERTAKEN AT NORBURY HILLFORT, NORTHLEACH WITH EASINGTON, GLOS, Unpublished.
RCHME 1976. Ancient and historical monuments in the County of Gloucestershire, Vol. I: Iron Age and Romano- British monuments in Gloucestershire Cotswolds, London: HMSO, 87-8.
Saville, A. and Ellison, A. 1983. Uley Bury and Norbury hillforts: rescue excavations at two Gloucestershire Iron Age sites. Bristol: Western Archaeological Trust.
Witts, G.B. 1883. Archaeological handbook of the County of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham: Norman Brothers, 37, 72.
Atlas of Hillforts:
Wikidata:
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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