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<< Our Photo Pages >> Maiden Castle (N Yorks) - Ancient Village or Settlement in England in Yorkshire (North)

Submitted by NeilD on Friday, 09 September 2005  Page Views: 14210

Multi-periodSite Name: Maiden Castle (N Yorks)
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 4.2 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Yorkshire (North) Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Nearest Town: Richmond  Nearest Village: Grinton
Map Ref: SE02189808
Latitude: 54.378216N  Longitude: 1.967944W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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Anne T visited on 30th Jul 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 3 We ran out of time to see this site on 11th July, when we visited Thorborough Henges and West Agra (we got thoroughly distracted by the tremendous rock art at the latter), so took advantage of a trip down to Nottingham to detour via North Yorkshire and Swaledale to visit Maiden Castle. Signs of the recent Tour de France were everywhere in this area (lots of yellow bunting and yellow bicycles, and spray-painted signs of encouragement to the riders on the roads). We stopped off in picturesque Reeth for lunch, then headed off southwards through the village of Grinton, turning west down a small narrow road with views of the river Swale to the north. This single track road runs for about 2km past ‘Bleak House’ and Harkerside Place. There are a number of footpaths and bridleways which run past Maiden Castle, but we picked the westernmost one, just past the fort, where there is a small parking area, sufficient for 4 or 5 cars. From the car park, there is clearly marked path which runs (quite steeply) up past the western edge of the fort. As we were putting on our walking boots, two walkers were coming down and commented that the fort was ‘very well preserved; well worth seeing’. I don’t like steep slopes or drops, but the path was relatively easy, and I needed a helping hand in only one or two rocky parts. The fort was virtually invisible from the path, and is strangely situated part-way up the hillside. About 200 metres up the slope, the wsestern ditches of the fort suddenly come into view, then a few more paces open up a vista across the whole of the fort area. Turning to look back down the path, there are stunning views across the Swale valley and to the villages of Healaugh and Reeth across the valley. There is a clear ditch and bank surrounding the fort; from the footpath to the west of the fort, it’s relatively easy to negotiate the ditch and bank easily (husband like a mountain goat, me picking my way gingerly), and ended up in a quiet, gentle spot, out of the wind and spotting rain. The brush underfoot wasn’t like other sites I’ve visited – the interior of the fort had what appeared to be low growing box plants with ferns, and we used sheep tracks to navigate from one point to the next within the fort area to avoid prickled ankles. At the southern end of the fort, where the slope drops steeply into the valley, there are quite a few tumbled stones, as if the fort had an outer wall at some point. Before we visited, I had come across, and downloaded, the Durham University Archaeological Services report on Maiden Castle and West Hagg (geophysical surveys, report 2631, May 2011), which is available on the web when typing in ‘Maiden Castle Yorkshire’ on my web browser, so were able to largely identify the features they found within the fort, which was a real help in understanding what we were looking at. Where their report had indicated a probable roundhouse, we found a circular area with very different vegetation, with low lying stones popping up through the grass to indicate where the foundation walls had been. The walled approaches on the eastern side of the fort were impressive, giving the fort a ‘banjo’ shape. There is also a cairn/round barrow immediately adjacent to the northern end of the northern wall approach road to the fort. Whilst exploring the fort, we saw other walkers pass by on the footpaths above and below, but very few people actually came into the fort, which was surprising. Definitely worth a visit.

Maiden Castle (N Yorks)
Maiden Castle (N Yorks) submitted by NeilD : SE 022981 Maiden Castle (Vote or comment on this photo)
Ancient Village or Settlement in Yorkshire (North)

This monument has been described as a 'defended settlement' rather than a hillfort. It stands on the north-facing slope of Harker Hill. The earthworks here are fairly substantial measuring 108m east-west and 88m north-south. Hut circles and walls have also been found on the site.
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Maiden Castle (N Yorks)
Maiden Castle (N Yorks) submitted by Anne T : This photograph was taken standing on top of the rim of the fort, looking down the western ditch, back over Swaledale and beyond. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maiden Castle (N Yorks)
Maiden Castle (N Yorks) submitted by NeilD : SE 022981 Maiden Castle (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maiden Castle (N Yorks)
Maiden Castle (N Yorks) submitted by Anne T : Following the measurements on the Maiden Castle Geophysical survey by Durham University Archaeological Services report, we were able to identify the outlines of two roundhouses within the fort. This photograph shows what appears to be the largest, and as well as being able to see some of the foundation stones peeping up through the heather, this one was particularly obvious by the change in vegeta... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maiden Castle (N Yorks)
Maiden Castle (N Yorks) submitted by Anne T : This image shows the eastern entrance of Maiden Castle, showing the impressive (though collapsed) remains of two parallel stone walls which run for about 100 metres. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maiden Castle (N Yorks)
Maiden Castle (N Yorks) submitted by Anne T : This photograph was taken standing on the footpath to the west of the fort, looking east.

Maiden Castle (N Yorks)
Maiden Castle (N Yorks) submitted by Anne T : Just when we thought we'd passed the fort, the western ditches of Maiden Castle suddenly make an appearance as we climbed up the footpath.

Maiden Castle (N Yorks)
Maiden Castle (N Yorks) submitted by Anne T : We reached Maiden Castle by the footpath which climbed steeply from a small car park up towards High Harker Hill/Harkerside Moor. The fort is located on what appears to be a natural terrace in the hillside, and cannot really be identified until you suddenly reach the western ditch. This photograph was taken as we first saw the ditch appearing and shows the footpath looking down towards the smal...

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 170m ENE 69° Maiden Castle Barrow (Yorkshire North) Round Barrow(s) (SE02349814)
 1.4km ESE 110° Harkerside Moor circle* Stone Circle (SE035976)
 5.0km ENE 61° Whitton Burn(Rock Art) Rock Art (NZ066005)
 5.9km ENE 65° Forty Acres 03 (Stelling) Rock Art (NZ07580058)
 8.5km S 190° St Matthew's Well (Carperby)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SE0065689756)
 8.5km S 191° Carperby Cross* Ancient Cross (SE0063189729)
 8.6km SSW 202° Carperby Stone Circle* Stone Circle (SD99009013)
 9.5km NNE 25° Frankinshaw* Cairn (NZ06170672)
 9.8km NNE 18° Barningham Moor 60* Rock Art (NZ0520607422)
 9.9km NNE 17° How Tallon Stone Circle* Stone Circle (NZ05150755)
 10.0km NNE 21° How Tallon Cairn* Cairn (NZ05730740)
 10.0km NNE 21° Barningham Moor 61 Rock Art (NZ0573907410)
 10.0km NNE 18° Barningham Moor 59* Rock Art (NZ0522007624)
 10.1km NNE 18° Barningham Moor 58* Rock Art (NZ0523207672)
 10.1km NNE 18° Barningham Moor 89 Rock Art (NZ0534107709)
 10.1km NNE 19° Barningham Moor 81 Rock Art (NZ0544307698)
 10.2km NNE 19° Barningham Moor 77 Rock Art (NZ0547407695)
 10.2km NNE 17° Barningham Moor 57* Rock Art (NZ0512907806)
 10.2km NNE 19° Barningham Moor 118 Rock Art (NZ0549207690)
 10.2km NNE 19° Barningham Moor 95 Rock Art (NZ0551607685)
 10.2km NNE 19° Barningham Moor 80 Rock Art (NZ0545107708)
 10.2km NNE 19° Barningham Moor 122 Rock Art (NZ0548507697)
 10.2km NNE 19° Barningham Moor 78 Rock Art (NZ0547507704)
 10.2km NNE 19° Barningham Moor 76 Rock Art (NZ0548507701)
 10.2km NNE 19° Barningham Moor 74 Rock Art (NZ0552607687)
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"Maiden Castle (N Yorks)" | Login/Create an Account | 7 News and Comments
  
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Re: Maiden Castle (N Yorks) by ironopolis on Sunday, 03 November 2019
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An account of & some thoughts on Maiden Castle https://teessidepsychogeography.wordpress.com/category/maiden-castle/
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Re: Maiden Castle (N Yorks) by PERKYPUFFIN on Sunday, 20 January 2019
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I am interested in the name Maiden Castle. There is a tor at Treffgarne Pembrokeshire of the same name, which I consider is a ritual area exclusive for women. In the centre of the Tor is a flat area surrounded by three pillars with balancing stones, like a castle area. The burial tor is the next one called Carn Poll. Between the two is a Dew Pond. I think this woman ritual site is where Neo/Bronze Age women gave birth, and was a specific meeting place for the maidens, no men allowed, hence the name.
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Re: Maiden Castle (N Yorks) by drolaf on Sunday, 30 September 2018
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There is an oval Bronze Age barrow at the eastern end of the avenue.35mx28mx1.7m high



https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1012609
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Re: Maiden Castle (N Yorks) by coldrum on Monday, 05 December 2011
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From Pastscape:

"Situated upon north facing valley slopes and overlooking the confluence of two major valleys to the north east are the well preserved remains of a 'pear-shaped' Iron Age fort measuring 108.0m east to west by 88.0m north to south between wall centres (see illust). The site would appear to have been chosen to utilize the spread of a natural stream gulley which has created a 'hollow' in the hillside and which has been subsequently levelled.

This area has been enclosed by a substantial surrounding ditch and inner rampart upon which are the footings of a stone wall. On the south side the ditch has been cut across the natural steep slope giving the exaggerated appearance of a massive inner rampart and in the south west the natural gulley has been truncated by the enclosing work. There are no traces of an external bank or wall although a predominantly earthen bank emanates from the west side of the ditch and runs along the crest of the gulley, terminating at its head. This bank would appear to be contemporary with the fort although not of a very defensive nature.

Access to the fort is in the east, where rough excavation has revealed large corner and facing stones forming an entrance 5.0m wide. A length of banking and short stretch of wall facing on the internal south side of the entrance may be the remains of some form of enclosure for gateway protection. This entrance is approached by a now tumbled, probably contemporary stone-walled avenue 114.0m long and averaging 6.0m wide between inner faces.

Within the interior of the fort, and slightly scarped into the inner rampart, are the remains of a stone founded hut circle 'A', 11.0m overall diameter, 0.4m high with no definite traces of an entrance. An amorphous stony platform 20.0m to the south west, also slightly scarped into the inner rampart, may be a possible hut stance. In the west slight scooping is evident but dense bracken prevented effective interpretation, and it may be obscuring further hut sites.

There is a similarity in size and construction of the ditch and bank of this fort and those of the linear type earthworks which cross the valley to the north east (SE 09 NW 13, 14, 15) and on the higher slopes to the south and south east (SE 09 NW 17, 18), and as suggested by authority 5 the whole complex would appear to be inter-related."

http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=48766
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Street View by coldrum on Thursday, 18 March 2010
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Re: Maiden Castle (N Yorks) by Anonymous on Thursday, 15 September 2005
"Stone circles apart, Swaledale lacks obvious ceremonial monuments unless some elements are incorporated in the undated complex of maiden Castle, Grinton. The pear shaped earthwork partly cut into the slope cannot be defensive, the parallel stone walls leading up to its entrance begins immediately south of a large round barrow. The relationship is suggestive of some of the arrangements of some long barrows, long enclosures and posted avenues in eastern Yorkshire. The structures at Maiden Castle, including a roundhouse, suggest that this is not a single phase monument".

The Archaeology of Yorkshire
The Neolithic & Bronze Ages
T.G. Manby, A. King & B.E. Vyner
YAS Occasional Paper No.3
2003
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Re: Maiden Castle (N Yorks) by Anonymous on Wednesday, 14 September 2005
My original category of "hillfort" is NOT really correct,
quote:

[This is one of the most unusual forts in the British Isles, it combines a
slightly odd but otherwise ordinary hill fort of the Iron Age period with a
unique stone entrance corridor. The corridor was originally some 6-8m wide,
lined with an unusual wall, it was completely parallel, very long, and
tapered to a very low height]. From:-

http://www.brigantesnation.com/SiteResearch/Iron%20Age/MaidenCastleReeth/MaidenCastleReeth.htm

"defended settlement" is probably a better description, as it lies on a
slope and is overlooked by an escarpment.
Unfortunately there is no category of this type available.

It is NOT just an ancient settlement, as its surrounded by vast defensive
dykes, and may have been a site of conflict with the Romans/Brigantes along
with Stanwick, near Aldbrough St John.

I'm not an expert in this subject, just like to assist anyone who has an
interest.

http://www.brigantesnation.com/SiteResearch/Iron%20Age/BattleofReeth/BattleofReeth.htm

Neil in Durham
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