SE0298 : Maiden Castle (hill fort)
taken 7 years ago, near to Healaugh, North Yorkshire, England
Maiden Castle is a prehistoric defended settlement situated on a north facing slope on the lower flanks of High Harker Hill overlooking the confluence of two major valleys. The enclosure is oval in shape and measures 108m east to west by 88m north to south. The area has been enclosed by a substantial surrounding ditch and an inner rampart upon which are the footings of a stone wall. There is an entrance on the east side approached by stone-walled avenue, now tumbled, 114m long and 6m wide, a unique feature. Within the interior of the enclosure are the remains of a stone-founded hut circle with possibly another 20m to the south west.
There is little evidence of its probable date but the construction of the round-house suggested late Iron Age/Romano-British although it may have been much earlier.
At the eastern extent of the avenue is a large, mutilated round barrow of earth and gravel, 1.7m high, approximately 35m east to west by 28m north to south.
The hill fort and adjacent round barrow are Scheduled Ancient Monuments (List entry Number: 1012609) Link