east-lothian-1924/05-098

Transcription

GARVALD & BARA.]HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION.[GARVALD & BARA.

1 See Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot. vol. xxxviii
(1903-4), p. 151 ff. 2 Reg. P.C. i., p. 82 ; 3
Scottish Papers, i., Nos. 168, 174 ; 4 Laing
Charters, No. 722 ; 5 Reg. Mag. Sig. s.a. Nos.
1602, 1753, 62 ; 6 R.M.S. s.a., No. 301 ; 7
Ib., s.a., No. 1234 ; 8 Ib., s.a., No. 1595.
xi. S.W. 29 August 1919.

DEFENSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS.

46. Hill Fort, " Green Castle," Newlands.-
At an elevation of 950 feet above sea level,
some 500 yards south-south-east of " Black
Castle " fort (No. 50) and about a mile east-
south-east of Newlands steading, is a natural
plateau (fig. 12) on the steep right bank of the
Newlands burn, rising about 6 feet above the
terrain to the south-east and 45 feet above a
narrow haugh on the north. The plateau is
triangular in shape with the apex lying to the
north-east and the base towards the Newlands
burn on the south-west. Around the perimeter
there has been a stone wall, which is almost
obliterated except on the south-western side
and at the western angles ; at these latter
sections the wall, now sod-covered, is 12 feet
broad at base and rises 10 feet above the
interior of the fort. The area enclosed meas-
ures 225 feet from south-west to north-east by
190 feet along the south-western side. The
entrance, which is 20 feet wide, is in the north-
eastern angle.
The plateau is steeply scarped on all sides
and is further protected by an outer defence
(fig. 67), a great ditch and counterscarp carried
round the work ; on the south-western side,
where the deeply worn course of the Newlands
burn is sufficient protection, the artificial ditch
is discontinued, while the steep farther bank
of the burn forms a natural counterscarp,
which is strengthened by a ditch beyond,
12 feet broad and 5 feet deep, that follows the
line of the stream for a distance of about 60
yards in front of the fort. This line of outer
defences is not continuous. On the north-west
it commences 20 feet back from the bank of the
stream and returns eastward and round the
north-eastern angle, where it dies out in a slight
cleugh ; it is carried from the farther side of this
cleugh in a south-westerly direction until it
approaches the Newlands burn.
On the northern section of the outworks the
ditch lies 26 feet below the summit and is

32

12 feet wide ; on the counterscarp is a rampart
12 feet broad at base, rising 5 feet above the
bottom of the trench and 24 feet above the
haugh. On the north-east a ditch 9 feet wide,
6 1/2 feet deep on the scarp and 2 feet deep on
the counterscarp has been formed beyond the
rampart to cut off a spur that rises gradually
from the haugh.
On the eastern side the main ditch is 20 feet
wide, 18 feet deep on the scarp and 11 feet deep
on the counterscarp. The counterscarp bears
a rampart 10 feet wide and about a foot high,
built for half its length some 8 feet out from

[illustration inserted]
FIG. 67.-Green Castle (No. 46).

the edge of the ditch and so forming a rough
banquette or platform ; beyond the rampart is
an outer ditch 12 feet wide, 6 1/2 feet deep on the
scarp and 3 feet deep on the counterscarp,
which follows the line of the rampart from the
cleugh until it approaches the burn, where it
swings sharply southward and encloses what
may be a mound 8 feet by 12 feet before dying
out on the right bank of the burn.
On the farther side of the cleugh and opposite
the north-eastern angle of the plateau a trench,
30 yards in length, 6 feet in breadth and 1 foot
in depth with a rampart 7 feet in breadth rising
1 foot above the bottom of the trench, has been
constructed across the face of a promontory on
the higher ground facing this part of the fort.
This trench is interrupted at one place by the
lie of the ground.
Within the fort and towards the southern
corner are foundations of small structures,