DIXTON HILL

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The remains of a hilltop earthwork enclosure could be a medieval motte or Iron Age hillfort. Scheduled.

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(SOo 986 306) Motte & Bailey (1)

The eathworks on Dixton Hill are the remains of an Iron Age hill-fort with a Norman motte and bailey superimposed at the south-east end. (2)

The alleged hill-fort on Dixton Hill and the motte associated with it cannot be accepted as such. Surface features are partly geological and partly aritficial, perhaps to do with quarrying. (3)

Though the features allegedly part of a hillfort can be discounted as natural it is not possible to entirely exclude as accidental the banks and ditches forming the supposed motte and bailey. They are obviously artificial features with the banks correctly placed to defend the roughly circular mound of soft disturbed earth previously identified as the motte. This sits at the end of the spur in a position well suited for a motte, commanding as it does the valley and approaches from both East and West. (The "relatively low South edge" Auth 3a, is actually only a few feet lower than the crest of the outcrop yet still about 200 ft above the valley floor).

Therefore, though the feature may not be entirely acceptable as a motte and double bailey it would seem to have been intentionally constructed, or partially constructed if unfinished, for some purpose at present unexplained. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (4)

A rapid examination of air photography (5a) shows the features on Dixton Hill, visible as earthworks in 1958. (5)

Listed by Cathcart King as a motte and bailey. (6)

The earthwork remains of the possible Iron Age hillfort and superimposed Medieval motte described by the previous authorities were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Gloucestershire NMP project.

The remains of three linear banks, possible rampart banks, were recorded on the northern flank of the hillfort enclosure. The circular mound supposed to be that of a motte and bailey occupies the prominent location on the end of the hilltop ridge. This mound measures approximately 42m in diameter and appears to be encircled by a ditch. Beyond this to the north there is a small enclosed area 70m x 35m occupying the full width of the top of the ridge at this point. This could be a bailey enclosure. This is divided from the remainder of the ridge by a cross-dyke. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1954

( 2a) Country Life

28.6.1946

( 2b) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

( 2) edited by C.R. Elrington 1965 A history of the county of Gloucester, volume 6

The Victoria history of the counties of England 1965 Page(s)189

( 3a) General reference

Geological Survey (R Cave & A Kellaway)

( 3b) General reference

Bigland's Glos Collection 1791 27

( 3) General reference

RCHM MSS Notes & Plan 14.5.71

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 ANK 10-NOV-71

( 5) RCHME/EH Aerial Photographers Comment

Andrew Miller/28-SEP-1993/RCHME: AP Primary Recording Project

( 5a) Aerial photograph

NMR, SO 9830/1-5

(6) by David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands. Volume I : Anglesey - Montgomery

Page(s)179

(7) Vertical aerial photograph reference number

NMR OS/70268 069-070 13-JUL-1970

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