1. A curvilinear rampart and ditch cut off a coastal promontory with a level interior, about 108m in depth and 70m-26m across; there is a causewayed entrance across the defences, the bank of which appears to have been boulder-faced; a levelled area, just within the entrance, is thought to contain buildings. (source Os495card; SM81SW3)

RCAHMW 15.09.03

2. Revised description: 2025 field visit

A coastal promontory fort, whose univallate defences cut across a north facing promontory above and to the east of Mill Haven, standing at approximately 30m O.D. The single bank and ditch span 90m east-west, with the interior extending approximately 100m north-south, narrowing to a blunt point at the north end. The present interior encloses 0.40ha.

The single rampart encloses the landward side of the promontory in a simple arc, standing 2-3m high externally and with a 2m high inner face. Although the present sea cliffs around the eroded promontory are stable and vegetated today, the rampart has been cut by erosion at both its east and west ends; the ditch and bank can be seen in section in the cliff face on the west side. No substantive signs of a boulder-facing to the bank could be seen on the 2025 visit, despite mentions by previous visitors. There is a substantial outer ditch cut through the bedrock, which is particularly well defined on the north side where it stands between 1-2m deep. The ditch fill here remains boggy underfoot. On the west side, the ditch is narrow or non-existent, and has possibly been infilled by agricultural here.

The main gate, just west of centre, is terminal-defined and preserves a pair of large entrance stones at the inner west gate terminal. The largest stands 0.7m high and is 0.8m broad. Just outside the gate is a collapsed structure of concrete blocks, perhaps the remains of a wartime coastal defence post.

The interior is level and featureless today. There are suggestions of an original scarp bank defining the edge of the interior on the west side but given that the coastal path runs between this bank and the coast edge, it may be an artefact of path creation.

Present condition: The rampart and interior are overgrown with brambles and blackthorn, with active badger setts present in the rampart.

Visited on 6th February 2025, with drone aerial photography completed.

Dr Toby Driver and Louise Barker, RCAHMW, February 2025