ANCIENT EARTHWORKS vvf i;j>><» "o^ jodr^ &CAt-c or rccT o loe to* 300 Newton Tump, Clifford shaped base-court upon the south defended by a fosse and rampart not now in perfect condition. (3) An outer court on the west defended by a scarp, along the summit of which doubtless a wall or timber stockade was placed. On the south-east of the base-court the land falls gently but does not appear to have formed a fourth inclosure. This and nine other mount strongholds within 4 miles testify to the dangerous exposure of the district to incursions from the wild west. Clifford : Newton Tump. — This interesting little work, situated 4 miles east-north-east of Hay, stands upon ground falling gently towards the north- north-west, about 400 ft. above sea level. Within a mile to the east and south -south -west the land reaches the height of 1,000 ft. above sea level. The entrenchments are now in a weak state, as will be seen by the sections, but no doubt they were better defined in their original condition. The mount is small in circumference and only 18 ft. above the deepest part of its surrounding moat, with a summit uneven in surface. The court is defended by a moat and rampart, but the latter is now wanting on the west side. The stream, or what would be a stream under heavy rains, apparently flooded the moats when they were perfect. The outlying trench upon the south-west, now only about a foot and a half deep, may or may not have formed part of the original works. There is some stone on the mount, perhaps the remains of masonry. Cusop : Mouse Castle. — This little earthwork, situated a mile and a quarter east of Hay, is of somewhat unusual form, and, unlike most of the class, which are upon low lands, this Castle Tump, as it is called locally, stands upon the highest part of a hill, 800 ft. above sea level. A glance at the levels given in the plan will show the steepness of the hill on the south and / west of the work, affording great pro- tection there ; while the north and east sides are slightly aided by lesser slopes. The Rev. C. J. Robinson mentions Mouse Castle as ' perhaps
the strongest in the county.' " The mount is now about 16 ft. high, the
/■ sides being very steep and rough, with /■ a fosse upon the east or weaker side." The court surrounding is wider upon the east, and its defences vary considerably in strength according to "'■■•••.. the requirements of each portion to Mouse Castle, Cusop be defended. " CaKlej ofHerefs. (1869), 40. " The fosse may possibly have been continued completely around the mount. 235 ""'ioo/w ».. %r^" % ■■^p. ■•^. 9CALX or ntt o 100 zoo MO
