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Symonds Yat

Gloucestershire, England · Atlas EN4147

Symonds Yat is a promontory fort in English Bicknor, Gloucestershire, England.

It is recorded as extant, with a partial multivallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank, and an enclosed area of 6 hectares.

Banks or ramparts are the remains most likely to be visible.

The topographic record places it on an inland promontory, at 148 m, and facing southeast.

Recorded land use includes woodland, pasture, and scrub or bracken.

Dating evidence is recorded for 400 BC–AD 50 (Artefactual and Morphology/Earthwork/Typology). Reliability is recorded as C - Low.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (1016760).

Location

Atlas number
EN4147 (4147)
Country
England
Current county or unitary authority
Gloucestershire
Historic county
Gloucestershire
Parish, community, or townland
English Bicknor
National Grid reference
SO56371569
Latitude
51.83806
Longitude
-2.63467
Altitude
148 m

Form and condition

Type
promontory fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
partial multivallate
Complete rampart circuit
No
Number of ramparts
5
Ramparts by quadrant
NE 0, SE 5, SW 5, NW 0
Number of ditches
4
Possible original entrances
1
Breaks through the ramparts
0
Enclosed area
6 ha
Footprint
4.4 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank
Also recorded
ditches
Entrance forms
Simple Gap (East)

Landscape

Topographic position
inland promontory
Aspect
southeast
Land use
woodland, pasture, and scrub or bracken

Dating

Dating
400 BC–AD 50
Dating evidence
Artefactual and Morphology/Earthwork/Typology
Dating reliability
C - Low

Interior and investigation

Finds
pottery and metalworking
Investigations
1st Identified Written Reference (1297); 1st Identified Map Depiction (1881); Other (1958); Other (1994); Other (1996); Other (2005); Other (2009); Geophysical Survey (2009); Excavation (1990-1991); Other (2002-2006)

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
1016760
HER
Gloucestershire 19
National record
record SO 51 NE 3; monument 109563
Wikidata
Q31116321

Sources

References

  1. Darvill, T. 2011. Prehistoric Gloucestershire. Forests and vales and high blue hills, 2nd Edition, Stroud: Amberley Publishing.
  2. Hoyle, J. 1997. Symonds Yat Promontory Fort, Management Plan, Gloucestershire Archaeology Service Archaeology Service.
  3. Hoyle J. 2005. A report on a watching brief at Symonds Yat Promontory Fort, Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire County Council.
  4. Parry, c. 1994. Symonds Yat promontory fort, English Bicknor, Gloucestershire: Excavations 1990-91, Trans Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeol Soc, 112, 59-72.
  5. Parry, C. 1994. Symonds Yat Promontory Fort, English Bicknor, Gloucestershire: report on a watching brief undertaken February 1994, Gloucestershire County Council Arcahology Service unpublished report.
  6. Roberts, T. 2009. A geophysical survey report at Symonds Yat Promontory Fort, English Bicknor, Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire County Council Archaeological service unpublished report.
  7. Williams, B. 2009. Archaeological monitoring during resurfacing and drainage along the main pedestrian access at Symonds Yat, English Bicknor, Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire County Council Archaeological service unpublished report.