Monument details

Summary

This is a Promontory Hill fort, a defensive settlement created using a natural spur of land with steep sides with a short line of man made earthworks across the neck to create a defensive enclosure. In this case it is built on a cliff edge on the highest part of the southern end of mid-Cheshire sandstone ridge.

Maiden Castle is situated on the edge of a cliff with its outer edge protected by a double rampart. It is a Scheduled Monument. There is no ditch between the earthworks and archaeological investigation has revealed that the inner rampart is supported by dry stone walling with a core of sand and timber strapping, in bands. The outer rampart was originally a timber palisade which was replaced by an earth bank that was later strengthened with stone walling.

The timber from the ramparts has been dated giving a date of around 600BC for its construction. It is probable that this settlement was occupied from its creation until the Roman Invasion of Britain in the 1st century AD.

The site survives extremely well despite 17th century quarrying activity which has left its mark on the interior of the Hillfort and 20th century use for military training exercises.

There are few finds from this site. One is a piece of Iron age pottery and another is an iron rock splitting wedge, associated with 17th century quarrying activity

Monument Types

• BANK (EARTHWORK) (Bank-Defensive 2 of, Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• DYKE (DEFENCE) ( 2 of, Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• ENTRANCE ( 2 of, Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• HILLFORT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• PALISADE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• QUARRY (Quarry/pit, Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)