Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A multivallate Iron Age hillfort. Excavations at the site in 1940 and between 1957-61 found two main phases of construction: c.150-100 BC and the early 1st century BC (derived from the pottery assemblages). Amongst the features of the fort were inner and outer bank structures with stone revettments, ditches, a gate, palisading, an approach road and a guard house. There was some indication of Romano-British use of the site and the earliest activity in the area dated to the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, identified from flint and waste materials found in nearby rock shelters (see TR 53 NE 9)

Monument Types

• ROCK SHELTER (Early Mesolithic to Late Neolithic - 10000 BC to 2351 BC (at some time))
• MULTIVALLATE HILLFORT (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 150 BC to 42 AD (at some time))
• SITE (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD? (at some time))

Associated Finds

• LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
• LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Middle Iron Age to Roman - 150 BC to 409 AD?)

Full description

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[TQ 561 382] Camp [NR] (1)

An Iron Age hillfort of some 20 acres at High Rocks, comprising a double bank and ditch to south and east, and a rock escarpment to west and north. [See plan (2) AO/63/182/8.] The entrance was on the east.Excavations 1940 (2) and in 1958-60 (4), showed two phases of construction. (Cf. Oldbury Hill, Ightham (see TQ 55 NE 21) - AC. 51, 137-79(3).)

Firstly a single bank and ditch with simple entrance, where there was also evidence of a gate and palisading. Secondly, the addition of an inner bank, which was revetted with stone on its outer face as was the outer bank. A Guard house, or turret, with outer wall and paved approach road were also added. Pottery late Iron Age "A", Belgic and Wealden (Hawkes "Southern Second "B"") shows occupation, probably B.C. 150-100 and again, early in the 1st century A.D. A late Roman occupation site was found in the eastern part of the camp. (2-5) High Rocks: a hill-fort that takes advantage of a rocky promontory rather than a promontory fort. Generally as described by Money except that the multiple defences at the E. end were carried around the N.E. side to a junction with a steep natural slope. Only very faint traces of this survives. Surveyed at 1:2500. The site of the Roman occupation site within the enclosure was not identified. (6) A series of excavations were undertaken between 1957 and 1961 and the following conclusions were reached: Earliest occupation was by Mesolithic and Neolithic peoples who were probably based on the rock shelters and left a scatter of flint implements and waste material. The Period I fort was built by Wealden people with a Southern Second B culture c. 100 B.C. or possibly earlier. it appears to have been a hill-refuge rather than a continuously occupied site. The construction of the Period II defences is difficult to date, but probably between A.D. 25-40, when a bivallate promontory fort was created with an improved and stronger E. entrance. Pottery evidence in the shape of part of a Samian bowl or Claudio-Neronian date, two Romano-British fragments and pieces of Patch Grove pots suggests that the site was occupied or at least visited during early Romano-British times. (See Plan) Site A identifies a section cut through the south-eastern defences in the area of the East Entrance in 1940. Sites B to E are minor trenches cut at the same time. Work on the fort was resumed in 1957 when a section, site F, was cut through the southern defences. Two sites, G and H, were also explored in the interior of the fort. In 1958-9 sections were cut through the defences north and south of the East Entrance, sites J and K, and sections explored in the inner rampart, sites L to N. Sites O to BB represent areas noticed as anomalies in proton magnetometer readings, in sites V and BB two hearths were recorded. Site E was thoroughly explored in 1960 and 1961. (7) No change: 1:2500 survey of 12.1.65 still correct. (8) High Rocks, a multivalliate fort, listed in group II, forts in promentory and semi-contour situations. High Rocks being a mixture of these two characteristics and having easy or relatively easy approach on one side. (9) [TQ 559 380 - TQ 563 383] High Rocks Camp, scheduled. (10) Additional bibliography. (11-13)

From the National Heritage List for England
Details
The monument includes prehistoric rock shelters, with evidence of Mesolithic and Neolithic occupation and an Iron Age multivallate hillfort. It is situated on a hill top, with a rocky promontory on the north-west side, overlooking the valley of the River Grom. The site lies a short distance to the west of Royal Tunbridge Wells and straddles the East Sussex and Kent border. The rock shelters, surviving as below-ground archaeological remains, are situated in gullies between the projecting High Rocks. The hillfort above measures about 470m north west to south east and 350m north east to south west. There is a double bank and ditch on the north east, south east and south west sides, while the north west side is defined by the High Rocks escarpment. The entrance to the hillfort lies at the south end of the south east side. The site was partially excavated in 1940 and between 1954 and 1961. A variety of Mesolithic and Neolithic material was found in association with the rock shelters. This included numerous flint implements and waste material, sandstone hearths, charcoal, Neolithic pottery sherds and arrowheads. The flints included micro-cores, micro-blades, microliths, blade cores, blades and blade tools. The Iron Age hillfort yielded evidence for two phases of construction. Initially a univallate hillfort is thought to have been constructed with a single bank and ditch and simple entrance, for which evidence of a gate and palisading were found. An inner bank, revetted with stone on its outer face, a guardroom with outer wall and a paved south-east approach road were later added. The pottery uncovered included late Iron Age 'A', Belgic and Wealden (Hawkes 'Southern Second 'B'') type. These indicate that the fort was occupied in about 150 BC - 100 BC and again in the 1st century A.D. Evidence for later Romano-British occupation site was also found in the eastern part of the hillfort. The monument excludes all modern fences and fence posts, gates and gate posts, and the surfaces of modern pathways but the ground beneath these features is included.

Reasons for Designation
Rock shelters such as these, with evidence of Mesolithic (10,000 BC - 4,000 BC) and Neolithic (4000 BC - 2200 BC) occupation, represent an early form of human activity. Evidence for occupation is often located close to the rock walls or on exterior platforms. The interiors sometimes served as special areas for disposal and storage or were places where material naturally accumulated from the outside. Rock shelters are of major importance for their comparative rarity, their considerable age and their longevity as a monument type. Small multivallate hillforts are fortified enclosures of varying shape, generally between 1 and 5ha in size and located on hilltops. They are defined by boundaries consisting of two or more lines of closely set earthworks spaced at intervals of up to 15m. These entirely surround the interior except on sites located on promontories, where cliffs may form one or more sides of the monument. They date to the Iron Age period, most having been constructed and occupied between the sixth century BC and the mid-first century AD. Earthworks may consist of a rampart alone or of a rampart and ditch which, on many sites, are associated with counterscarp banks and internal quarry scoops. Access to the interior is generally provided by one or two entrances, which either appear as simple gaps in the earthwork or inturned passages, sometimes with guardrooms. The interior generally consists of settlement evidence including round houses, four and six post structures interpreted as raised granaries, roads, pits, gullies, hearths and a variety of scattered post and stake holes. Small multivallate hillforts are rare with around 100 examples recorded nationally. The hillfort at 'High Rocks', 309m ESE of High Rocks Inn survives well and is a good example. Partial excavation has indicated that the earthwork defences will retain evidence for construction techniques employed during the Iron Age whilst the interior will retain evidence for the occupation of the hillfort, the economy of its inhabitants and subsequent Romano-British occupation. The prehistoric occupation site within the bounds of the later Iron Age hillfort represents an unusual occurrence, and will retain archaeological information and environmental evidence relating to the occupation of the rock shelters and the surrounding landscape at the time of occupation.

Sussex Archaeological Society, Sussex archaeological collections : relating to the history and antiquities of the counties of East , 15, 1958 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6337.

<1> OS 6" 1962 (OS Card Reference). SKE48371.

<2> Sx AC 82 1941 104-9 plan (J H Money) (OS Card Reference). SKE49787.

<3> PPS 25 1959 276 (OS Card Reference). SKE48587.

<4> Arch Cant 76 1961 LIV-LV 8 (OS Card Reference). SKE35601.

<5> Sx N and Q 15 May 1958 34 (Research Committee) (OS Card Reference). SKE49788.

<6> F1 ASP 12-JAN-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42069.

<7> Sx AC 106 1968 158-212 plan figs photos full excavation report (J H Money) (OS Card Reference). SKE49784.

<8> F2 ASP 22-APR-70 (OS Card Reference). SKE43148.

<9> Hillforts of the Iron Age in England and Wales 1976 23 62-73 figs (J Forde-Johnston) (OS Card Reference). SKE43760.

<10> DOE (IAM) AMs England 2 1978 87 (OS Card Reference). SKE40701.

<11> SE England 1970 153 (Ronald Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE49427.

<12> CBA RR 29 1978 Arch in Suss to AD 1500 6 38 -40 59 fig (P L Drewett ed) (OS Card Reference). SKE38931.

<13> CBA RR 48 1982 Arch in Kent to AD 1500 40 43 49 fig (Peter E Leach ed) (OS Card Reference). SKE38933.

<14> Field report for monument TQ 53 NE 8 - January, 1965 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2706.

<15> Field report for monument TQ 53 NE 8 - April, 1970 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2707.

<16> PLAN OF HIGH ROCKS HILL FORT AT ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS / FRANT. (Photograph). SKE2530.

<17> Sussex Archaeological Society, Sussex archaeological collections : relating to the history and antiquities of the counties of East , 82/1942/104-109 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6337.

<18> Sussex Archaeological Society, Sussex archaeological collections : relating to the history and antiquities of the counties of East , 98/1960/173-221 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6337.

<19> Sussex Archaeological Society, Sussex archaeological collections : relating to the history and antiquities of the counties of East , 100/1962/149-51 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6337.

<20> Sussex Archaeological Society, Sussex archaeological collections : relating to the history and antiquities of the counties of East , 8:2/1940/33-40 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6337.

<21> Sussex Archaeological Society, Sussex archaeological collections : relating to the history and antiquities of the counties of East , 15:6/1960/205 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6337.

Sources and further reading

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