Monument record 833/1 - Kelsborrow promontory fort on Castle Hill 300m SW Castle Hill Frm

<1a> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), CH26 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<1b> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 25691 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

Kelsborrow is a univallate (single rampart) promontory hillfort situated on the central Cheshire Sandstone Ridge immediately south of Kelsall village. It is situated on Castle hill facing south over the valley of the Dee. The hillfort is comprised of a single curving bank with an external ditch to the north. The remaining sides of the enclosure utilise the steep cliffs of the Ridge for defence. The main enclosure is roughly triangular in shape and is approximately 2.94ha. As a result of plough damage the bank currently stands to height of just 0.4m high and has been spread so that it is 30m in width. A possible entrance way is noted at the eastern end of its 400m length.

Kelsborrow was Scheduled in 1973. It is one of a small group of forts in central Cheshire and despite extensive plough damage survives reasonably well. There is a strong potential for surviving below ground features across the hillfort.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 2/3 (N) (Book). SCH1389.

Although first recorded on Ordnance Survey maps in the late 19th century, it was visited by Ormerod in the early part of the century who included a plan of the hillfort that contradicts others. His plan identifies two breaks in the bank and ditch close to the either terminal and another mound within the hillfort itself.


There have been few finds of a prehistoric date from the area including a fragment from an iron sword and a bronze palstave in 1810. The bronze palstave was found inside the enclosure, measured 0.15m in length and weighed 0.56kg. In 1819 it was in the possession of M Barrit of Manchester

<3> Davey P & Forster E, 1975, Bronze Age Metalwork from Lancashire and Cheshire, p.39 (Monograph). SCH488.

An axe from the Barrit Collection in Manchester Museum is labelled "found in a Rabbit Warren on Delamere Forest - 1819

<4> Forde-Johnston J, 1962, The Iron Age Hillforts of Lancashire and Cheshire, p.20-21 (Article in Journal). SCH6913.

The site was subsequently surveyed by Forde-Johnston in the early 1960s, producing a more detailed plan of the fort. This plan identified a continuous bank surrounding the northern side of the hillfort with an external ditch running perhaps two-thirds of the way from the eastern end of the bank. At the time the bank survived to a maximum height of 1.8m with a combined width of 30m for the bank and ditch defences

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ56NW9 1976; SJ56NW9/1975 (Index). SCH2487.

An additional survey was carried out in 1976 by the Ordnance Survey who reported a bank 25m wide and 1m in height. The ditch was a further 15m and 0.3m deep. The northwest end of the rampart had been completely ploughed out by this point and it was suggested the original entrance was at the south-east end. A recent, water-filled pit was recorded on the northern side.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1976, Map of Southern Britain in the Iron Age (Book). SCH2113.

<7> Ferguson, A; Drinkwater D, 1977, Field survey of Kelsborrow hillfort (Unpublished Report). SCH7295.

<8> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/111-2 Longley D 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

Reported much of the site was now under grass but transected by field boundaries

<9> Coombs, D.G, 1988, A note on the rampart of the hillfort of Kelsborrow, Cheshire, 64-67 (Article in Journal). SCH7306.

The earliest excavation was carried out on site in 1973 by D.G.Coombs who excavated a single trench across the rampart and ditch in the north-east sector of the site. The excavations revealed much about the construction of the rampart with evidence of horizontal timber strapping and post-holes that formed part of the revetment to the front and rear. The post holes were recorded on a north-south alignment spaced approximately 1.5m apart indicating a rampart approximately 4m in width. The absence of a turf line below the rampart construction also suggested that the area was stripped in order to build the defences.

Only the inner edge of the ditch was encountered, cutting diagonally across the northern end of the trench and some 8.5m distant from the rampart. The lower fills of the ditch suggest several layers of dense red clay and sand was intentionally put down to level off the ditch. The only internal feature identified during the excavation was a patch of charcoal flecks some 6.8m behind the rampart

<10> Quarterman A J, 1996, Report on Resistivity Survey at Kelsborrow Castle (Written Communication). SCH2849.

There have been several geophysical surveys of the hillfort at Kelsborrow, the first in 1997 indicated possible anomalies in the north-west sector interpreted as a possible entrance and causeway, and other anomalies in the interior of the hillfort interpreted as a possible inner enclosure or structure and anomalies interpreted as occupation or industry

<11> University of Chester, 2010, Report on the Geopyhsical Survey at Kelsborrow Castle, Iron Age Hillfort, near Kelsall, Cheshire, R3178 (Client Report). SCH6547.

Geophysical surveys , carried out by the University of Chester concentrated on the interior of the hillfort, and identified several circular mounds. The most well-defined circular feature was recorded close to the northwest sector of the site with a second discrete feature close to the southern cliff face. A third grouping of circular features were noted close to the rampart in the northeast sector

<12> Archaeophysica, 2010, Kelsborrow Hillfort, Cheshire. Geophysical Survey Report, R3178 (Client Report). SCH6546.

A second survey was subsequently carried out in 2010 covering the entire site. On this occasion the results revealed more information regarding the defences rather than the interior of the hillfort. A number of anomalies of archaeological interest were identified. Anomaly [2] and [8] were interpreted as evidence of the former ditch associated with the hillfort, both anomalies read as low resistance linear features following a similar alignment to the rampart. The rampart itself was identified as high resistance linear features [3] & [10]. Two low resistance anomalies [4] & [9] were also recorded within the confines of the rampart that were tentatively interpreted as evidence of a palisade trench along the rampart. A number of low resistance features at the northwestern end of the rampart were interpreted as pits while several ditches and banks across the site may represent field boundaries.

<13> Cheshire West and Chester Historic Environment Service, 2012, Report on an archaeological evaluation at Kelsborrow Castle (DRAFT) (Report). SCH7286.

In 2012 archaeological investigations were carried out at Kelsborrow including a reinvestigation of the 1973 trench and the cutting of two new trenches to the south close to the cliff face and in the north-west sector of the site. Both new trenches were sited to investigate potential features identified during the 2009 geophysical survey. The excavations revealed several phases of activity from pre-hillfort activity to construction of the earth rampart through to medieval re-occupation and later agricultural use. (13)

Pre-hillfort activity was identified in trench 1 and trench 3 in the northern half of the site. The evidence comprised a layer of dark orange/brown sand [139] with rare flecks of charcoal interpreted as a pre-hillfort soil horizon. A similar layer of clean orange/brown sand [307] was also recorded in trench 3 from which a single early Neolithic flint leaf-shaped arrowhead was recovered. (13)

Only limited evidence of the hillfort itself was encountered during the investigations, primarily from trench 1 where the remains of the bank [139] was recorded. A sample taken from the material used to construct the bank produced a radiocarbon date of 1000-840 cal BC. No further evidence of prehistoric activity was encountered in any of the trenches. Furthermore, a more detailed investigation into the ditch feature previously recorded in 1973 suggested that it was not contemporary with the rampart bank and was in fact of a post medieval date.

<14> Garner, Dan and others, 2016, Hillforts of the Cheshire Ridge (Book). SCH8403.

LiDAR imagery shows how the Hillfort occupies a promontory with steep slpoes and cliff edges delimiting the small side. Oval pond is also a disticntive feature on Lidar and to the south is a flattened area of Romapart. For some time this rea had been thought to have caused bylivestock erosion byt the landowner prodcued documentation to suggest that this was the site of an formal excavation trench undertaken in the 8th April 1938, possibly by Varley. (Chapter 7)

Fieldwork at Kelsborrow comprised three excavation trenches, located to cause minimal disturbance to the surviving archaeological deposits by either targetting a previous excavation trench or by only removing demonstrabley recent surface litter and topsoil.

Excavation has served to increase knowledge of the from, character and level of archaeological preservation on the monument known as Kelsborrow Castle Hilfort. This has identified the monuments rare early type of hilltop enclosure, which owes its origins to the late Bronze Age rather than the previously suspected Iron Age. The hillfort interior has no above ground features to consider, however, sub surface structures in the form of postholes and pits have been identified within all three trenches. Sampling has demonstrated that, within the confimes of the excavation, artefact and ecofact recovery has been very low and only hardy materials such as stone tools and charred plant remains being identified from the prehistoric period.

The excavation has also helped to identify the monument as a multi-period site with relatively plentiful evidence for a phase of early medieval use that was previously unsuspected. Sampling has again demonstrated that within the confines of the excavation, artefact recovery has been entirely negative whilst ecofact recovery has been very low with only hardy materials such as charred plant remains beign identified formt he early medieval period. (Chapetr 12)

<15> Various, Aerial photographs, Higham N J & Williams S R 1983 (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

For air photos, see SRW Kelsall 1 and CUCAP GI73

<16> Longley D, 1979, Prehistoric Sites in Cheshire, /52 (Report). SCH2719.

<17> Challis A.J. & Harding D.W., 1975, Later Prehistory from the Trent to the Tyne: Catalogue and illustrations., 20/ii/p.47 Challis A J & Harding D W (Monograph). SCH7282.

<18> Varley, W. J. & Jackson, J. W., 1940, Prehistoric Cheshire, /Schedule V (Book). SCH2692.

<19> Shone W, 1911, Prehistoric Man in Cheshire, /63-64 + 96 (Book). SCH2710.

<20> Cheshire County Council, 2000, Kelsborrow Castle Promontory fort, Kelsall, Cheshire (Unpublished Report). SCH7307.

<21> Oxford Archaeology North, 2008, Habitats and Hillforts of the Cheshire sandstone Ridge: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, R2893 (Client Report). SCH5259.

<22> Oxford Archaeology North, 2007, Habitats and Hillforts of the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, Cheshire: Archaeological Condition Survey, R2894 (Client Report). SCH5260.

<23> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.452 & 483 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<24> Roeder, C, 1951, Prehistoric Glimpses of Eddisbury Hundred (Cheshire) (Article in Journal). SCH7313.

<25> Higham N J, 1984-9, Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs, 1987/E/24-34 (Aerial Photograph). SCH7659.

<26> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, 1989, Jill Collens' Aerial Photographs, 6.0542, 6.0594, 6.0596-7 (Aerial Photograph). SCH9711.