Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland

WA2113 Molleston Back Camp, Pembrokeshire (Molleston Bank; Grove)

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

Satellite Imagery

Satellite Imagery

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HER:  Dyfed 3615 (None)

NMR:  SN 01 SE (304430)

SM:  PE274(PEM)

NGR:  SN 0872 1297

X:  208720  Y:  212970  (OSGB36)

Summary

Complex hillslope fort sited on NW-facing slope 150m from the the top of a prominent hill overlooking a stream valley tributary of the Eastern Cleddau to N. Moderate to strong slope to N. moderate elsewhere. Pear-shaped measuring c. 120m E-W by 70m, with internal area 0.6ha. Surrounding rampart to 2m high externally has traces of outer ditch, and a second rampart lies for 40m concentric to inner rampart, and 20m from it, on SE side of an entrance on NE. A wide gap on SW possible second entrance, but not proven. All site under improved pasture. On 1st Ed. OS map (1889). Minimal investigations, undated.

Status

Citizen Science:  

Reliability of Data:  Confirmed

Reliability of Interpretation:  Confirmed

Location

X:  -531497  Y:  6760907  (EPSG: 3857)

Longitude:  -4.774518826959233  Latitude:  51.78257291001692  (EPSG:4326)

Country:  Wales

Current County or Unitary Authority:  Pembrokeshire

Historic County:  Pembrokeshire

Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland:  Templeton

Monument Condition

Farm track goes through entrances.

Condition:
Extant  
Cropmark  
Likely Destroyed  

Land Use

All site under improved pasture. Wooded slopes to N.

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

Complex hillslope fort sited on NW-facing slope 150m from the the top of a prominent hill overlooking a stream valley tributary of the Eastern Cleddau to N. Moderate to strong slope to N. moderate elsewhere. Pear

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:  Hillslope

Aspect:
North  
Northeast  
East  
Southeast  
South  
Southwest  
West  
Northwest  
Level  

Altitude:  125.0m

Boundary

N/A


Dating Evidence

None

Reliability:  D - None

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:No related records

Investigation History

On 1st Ed. OS map (1889). Field Observation OS 1965. Field Observation AMB 1981. Field Observation CADW 2001. Cambria Archaeology defended enclosures survey 2006-2007.

Investigations:
1st Identified Map Depiction (1889):   OS map.
Other (1965):   Field Observation OS.
Other (1981):   Field observation AMB.
Other (2001):   Field observation CADW.
Other (None):   Cambria Archaeology defended enclosures survey 2006-2007.

Interior Features

None

Water Source

None

Source:
None  
Spring  
Stream  
Pool  
Flush  
Well  
Other  

Surface

None

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

Excavation

None

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

Geophysics

None

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

Finds

None

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

Possible entrance on NE. A wide gap on SW possible second entrance, but not proven. Two modern gaps on S side.

Total Number of Breaks Through Ramparts:  
4:   Two modern gaps on S side.

Number of Possible Original Entrances:  
2:   None

Guard Chambers:  

Chevaux de Frise:  

Entrances:
1. Simple Gap (North east):   None
2. Simple Gap (South west):   Possible original entrance, but unclear.

Enclosing Works

Surrounding rampart to 2m high externally has traces of outer ditch, and a second rampart lies for 40m concentric to inner rampart and 20m from it on SE side of an entrance on NE. Possible counterscarp visible at E end, but unclear.

Enclosed Area:
Area 1:   0.6ha.
Total:   0.6ha.

Total Footprint Area:  Noneha.

Ramparts

None

Multi-period Enclosure System:
✗   None

Ramparts Form a Continuous Circuit:
✓   None

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

Possible counterscarp visible at E end, but unclear.

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

None

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:
✓   Traces of ditch.

Number of Ditches:  1

Annex:
✗   None

References

Crossley, D.W. 1963. List of Hill-Forts and other earthworks in Pembrokeshire, Bull Board Celtic Stud, 20, 196.

Murphy, K., Ramsey, R., Poucher, P. and Page, M. 2007. A SURVEY OF DEFENDED ENCLOSURES IN PEMBROKESHIRE, 2006-07: GAZETTEER OF ORDNANCE SURVEY GRID SQUARE SN01, Cambria Archaeology Report No. 2007/01, Project Record No. 54269, Llandeilo: Cambria Archaeology.

RCAMWM 1925. An inventory of the ancient monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire, VII, County of Pembroke, London: HMSO, No. 746.



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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