Hamilton Hill Topographic Survey

Ursilla Spence

Contents

Summary
1. Introduction, geology and topography

2. Methodology

3. Results

4. Conclusions

Appendix 1: Survey Peg Data

Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to Tim Allen and English Heritage for the commission, and to the site
owners Robert and Jane Thompson for their help and encouragement.

Report and Archive

The site work was undertaken by Andy Gaunt and Emily Gillott of Nottinghamshire
Community Archaeology. The archive is held by Nottinghamshire County Council. The report
was written by Ursilla Spence, with contributions from Emily Gillott.

Written By

Read by

Signed off

Report date and

Revisions

UMS

EG

UMS

2010, 2012, 2015

Summary
This report forms one part of a wider project using a range of techniques to investigate
Hamilton Hill and should be read in conjunction with the reports on the other work. A first
part of the programme of investigation into Hamilton Hill was detailed topographic survey.
This was followed by geophysical investigation and test pitting. The topographic survey
provided valuable new observations on the earthworks on and around the hill, as well as
giving clear evidence on the patterns of soil movement in the areas affected by ground
slippage. 6 heavy duty survey pegs were driven in to the hill top to allow monitoring of rates
of ground movement.

1. Introduction, geology and topography

Hamilton Hill is a prominent landscape feature in the District of Ashfield and the parish of
Sutton in Ashfield. It is centred on OS NGR SK 52055894. The hill is ovoid, with steep sides
and a generally level top, except to the east where the hill-top has been excavated in a
roughly triangular area. In this lowered area, a circular mound has been raised. There are
signs that there have been excavations into the top of the mound. The hill is pocked with a
few small pits, while long the sides of the hill there are a series of slumped areas. These are
worse on the south and east. The underlying geology is the Nottingham Castle formation of
the Sherwood sandstones. The surface of the hill is a scheduled monument (NT133317).
This report focuses upon the mapped results of the topographic survey, and in particular on
the 3d modelling which is possibly the most valuable of the outputs of this piece of work. To
avoid repetition between this and the other reports, only selected information from those
other reports is included in this one. A full bibliography may be found in the main Hamilton
Hill report (Spence, 2010, (b))

2. Methodology.
The topographic survey was undertaken by Andy Gaunt and Emily Gillott in August 2008.
The topographic survey recorded tops and bottoms of slopes for the mound and hollow, and
also for the bank and ditch which encircles the bottom of the hill. A hachure plan was
produced to show these features (Fig 1).

Fig. 1. Hachure Plan

Areas where there appeared to be slumping were given a higher density of recorded points,
and the rest of the hill was covered in a grid of points 3m apart, to provide a systematic
coverage of the hill. The work was undertaken to the appropriate standards and guidance.
The point data was converted into 3d models using MapInfo GIS, the results of which can be
seen in the body of this report below. 6 heavy duty survey pegs were fixed, as shown on Fig.
2, and their NGR and height data recorded, to allow for monitoring purposes. These were
resurveyed in 2011, at which point there had been no additional movement.

Fig. 2. Hachure plan showing locations of test pits and the survey pegs

3. Results.
As with any set of earthworks, it can be difficult to assess their form from a visual
assessment on the ground. Certainly, as all who have visited the site can affirm, the
earthworks at Hamilton Hill are difficult to read, or, alternatively, easy to misinterpret. The 3d
plots (Figs 3-6) offer an opportunity to see with far more clarity what is actually there, though
they provide little additional assistance with its interpretation.
The base of the hill is almost completely encircled by a substantial bank which on its
northern flank is associated with an internal ditch. The bank has occasional breaks, one of
which on the eastern end of the hill may be related to ground slippage.
The generally level nature of the hill top is apparent. The area which has been dug into the
hill top is shown to have a roughly triangular shape, although there is an indication that the
south-western corner of this is the result of a second phase of activity, possibly relating to
localised sand quarrying (see main report). If this area is one of a later phase of excavation
the earlier shape would be more circular, suggesting a generally circular hollow around a
circular mound. The hill top around the hollowed area is generally level, except on the
south-eastern side. Here the ground dips away where a trackway from the base of the Hill
has formed. This dip allows the central mound to be seen when looking up at the Hill from
the south/south-east. Slight depressions in the top of the mound suggest potential

antiquarian activity, presumably following an assumption that this is a burial mound. The
mound, however, is not the highest point of Hamilton Hill. The highest point, at just over
169m AOD, lies to the west of the hollow, close to the edge of the hill. The topographic
survey indicates a pronounced edge along the northern side of the hilltop. As the test pitting
indicates1, there is considerable variability in the nature of the underlying bedrock, and the
well defined edge on this northern side may indicate a relatively hard layer of sandstone
beneath.

4. Conclusions

The survey has provided useful baseline data about the current topography of the site, and
has added new insights into the nature of the mound and its surrounding depression. The
survey pegs have been fixed will allow monitoring of the ground slippage into the future. The
topographic survey has not provided a decisive answer as to the purpose and function of the
mound, but does seem to positively indicate that it is unlikely to be a barrow or a motte, both
of which have been postulated. As the main report will indicate, this information can possibly
be usefully compared with a number of sites from the county and which have been identified
as Early Medieval meeting places.

Spence, 2010 (a)

Fig 3. 3d Model of eastern elevation

Fig 4. 3d Model of northern elevation

Fig 5. 3d Model of northern elevation

Fig 6. 3d Model of western elevation

Appendix 1
Test Pit and Survey Peg Data (by A Gaunt)
Pit 1
Pit 2
Pit 3
Pit 4
PEG1
PEG2
PEG3
PEG4
PEG5
PEG6

452108.621
452035.554
452036.219
451999.772
452064.175
452072.452
452081.412
452089.726
452105.439
452114.026

358954.710
358946.910
358946.220
358932.570
358913.310
358921.010
358929.180
358936.630
358950.390
358958.360

163.336
164.939
164.957
166.837
163.210
163.108
162.501
161.843
163.246
163.753

Bibliography
Spence, U, 2010, (a), Test Pitting at Hamilton Hill, NCC unpublished report
Spence, U, 2010, (b), Hamilton Hill, Sutton in Ashfield, NCC unpublished report