Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/194

 lOU PRE-HISTOEIC ARCHAEOLOGY OF EAST DEVON". treated of with ample detail's by Mr. P. 0. Ilutcliiiison ' and his descriptions are accompanied by accurate plans ; a very perfect idea can thus be formed of the original design of these works ; his careful researches can therefore be supplemented by little worth recording. ^Ir. Strahan has lately called my attention to the remains of one of these strongholds situate at lliiili Peak, about a mile and a half west of the town of Sidmouth. Its lofty site at an elevation of 500 feet above the sea-level has secured it against the inroads of the aggressive ploughshare of the agriculturist ; but the action of the sea, ever exerted in undermining the base of the cliff, the summit of which is crowned by the fort, has secured for it a fate no less inexor- able. By this agency the destruction of the entire stronghold has been effected with the exception of a small portion of the northern agfjer, which is about 90 paces in length, 20 feet in perpendicular height on its northern escarpment, and averages 35 feet in breadth at the base. The remains of an outwork can be traced at the eastern extremity, which perhaps formed a redoubt to defend the gateway on that side. Beyond the rampart there is a plateau on the slope of the hill, about 4U feet wide, formed by the removal of the earth used in filling up the vallum. So complete has been the demolition of the fort, that we have not sufffcient material left to afford a con- jecture of its probable size ; we can only point to the skill, which in this instance also appears to have been shown in turning to the best account the natural aptitude for defensive purposes that the headland presents ; the embankment or rampart which formed the wall of the fort on its northern side, and which stands on the crest of the hill, is sloped away so as almost exactly to coincide with the angle at which the latter rises from the valle}', thereby securing a commanding defensive position with ;i relatively small e.xjxMiditure of Iab(iM". 1 have said that the acticjii of the sea, by wearing away ' Ti-anHacliouH of the Dt^vmiHliire Am ivIatinR to Ancioiit Camps, Ivulli works, Hoci;ition, vol. ii. p. Wll. Seo uImd Mr. tui'l l-'urtilicHtionH in Dovoii. AliHtof tho fiutchinHon'a Morrioir in tho Journal of Ktr<»nnholilM that oxiHt in tlio country, or tilt! liritiMli Arcliicojiij^ical AHHottiation. in adjaci-nt partM of SunutrMot, c:oin|>riHing March, 1 S'J'J, |> W<, with nuniiiroUM f;roun(l, plan>i, iVc. in tliu Coiirctani.'a Archii'o- with >v{ clcncriptionn and roforcnco to i'l^ici, pnhliHJuHl by tlxj Ari;haoiogi(!al >ii'Mi;ri|>lionn niven by l'oiwh(?i(!, liysons, AMxociation, vol. ii. p. 18, n memoir by and in varioiiH to|>ii;;ra|ihii;al works. Mr. 'I. VcH! Irving ban aI«o b<jtn givn,