east-lothian-1924/05-246

Transcription

YESTER.] -- INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN. -- [YESTER.

broad and 2 1/2 feet in height above the interior.
Some 16 feet below the base of this rampart and
following its entire length, a terrace has been
cut on the steep slope. On the south-eastern
flank much of it has been obliterated, but a
short section 8 feet in breadth is to be seen; it
broadens to 20 feet at the north-eastern end,
and 40 feet on the north-western flank. These
two defences give out on a wide hollow, which
slopes obliquely down the long steep escarp-
ment. From the opposite side of this hollow
three formidable ramparts (fig. 187) sweep
round the western arc, the most vulnerable
part of the fort, terminating some 20 feet from
the edge of the steep slope on the southern
flank and leaving a broad passage for an
entrance into the fort. The inner of these
measures 30 feet broad at the base and rises
5 1/2 feet on the counterscarp and 11 feet above
the bottom of a trench 22 feet wide, which

[illustration inserted]
FIG. 187.-The " Castles," Section (No. 256).

separates it from the second rampart. This
defence is 14 feet wide at the foundation, 2 to
4 feet high on the inside, and 3 to 4 feet on the
outside. Some 18 feet beyond is the outer
rampart, which measures 18 feet in width at
the foundation and rises 5 1/2 feet in height on
the inside and 7 feet on the outside. In the
line of the ditch between the two outer ram-
parts and beside the entrance are four rect-
angular hollows with rounded angles. These
measure 16 feet by 14 feet, while they are some
6 feet apart. The compartment at the eastern
end opens on to the entrance passage, while at
present access to the other three is obtained by
gaps in the outer wall. It is impossible to say
whether these hollows belong to the same
period as the fort, but it may be noted that
somewhat similar excavations are seen in the
same relative position in Harelaw Fort (No. 254)
about 1 1/2 miles to the south-east of this site.
Though not much stone can now be detected
in any of the mounds which defend this fort,
it is probable that they were originally faced
at least on both sides by this material, which

151

has been utilised in building the numerous
stone dykes in the immediate vicinity.

xv. S.E. 21 May 1913.

257. Fort, The Hopes.-Overlooking the
" Hopes " mansion house some 3 1/4 miles
south-east of Gifford, and occupying the
highest point of a short spur of the Lammer-
muirs, is a large fort defended by an elaborate
series of earthworks (fig. 188). Situated at a
height of about 1350 feet above sea-level, it
occupies a strong natural position on a hill top
which is the eastern termination of a saddle-
shaped ridge. The southern side of this height
falls away steeply but towards the west the
slopes are more gradual.
The fort is sub-oval on plan, the main axis
running north-east and south-west. Except
on the south, where there are almost in-
accessible screes and no traces of mound or
parapet, the defences consist of an outer and
inner series of earthen ramparts and occasional
ditches, which vary in number according to the
vulnerability of the sector which they protect.
The outer defence is formed by a single ram-
part which at the best preserved part meas-
ures 18 feet in width, 2 feet in height on the
inside and rises 4 feet above the bottom of a
ditch outside 5 feet wide, and 1 foot deep on the
counterscarp. The rampart and ditch com-
mence on the edge of the scree on the southern
end and swing round the western flank and
northern end. Facing the north-west is an
entrance 10 feet in width, the rampart on
either side recurving inwards and extending
towards the interior, so as to form a walled
passage for a distance of about 30 yards.
About 50 yards towards the north beyond this
entrance there is a break in the alinement of the
rampart and ditch, which are projected for-
wards about 15 yards and which slightly
overlap. From this point these works are
carried towards the east, the ditch being
crossed by a number of traverses, the best
preserved being towards the eastern end ; these
measure 5 feet in width, and the most easterly
five are placed at distances varying from 20
to 33 feet apart, measured from crest to crest.
The rampart and ditch terminate on the edge
of another ditch or sunken way in places 5 feet
deep and 30 feet wide between the crests of
the ramparts by which it is bordered. This