On Holly Hill, within 2 miles NW of the village of Arnold, is part of a very extensive Ro camp, length 417yds by 240. An old farmer at Arnold remembers the camp as complete, and above twice the length of what is now distinguishable. It has had a double ditch and vallum; but, as this hill was formerly enclosed in a break, the plough has destroyed great part of it. ("Holly Hill" not identified, but the NE part of the hill centred at SK 596485 is called "Hollinwood Hill" on (3), and this corresponds fairly well with Hayman- Rooke's description.) (1)

In 1961 the area was unsuccessfully searched for the camp site. Ro pottery, inluding a C4 mortarium rim, was found at SK 59604810 and 59554800. (4)

2 parallel cropmarks at SK 597484 might agree with the SE double rampart of Hayman-Rooke's plan, but the scale of the photography makes it impossible to interpret, and they may be modern. Nothing visible on other available Aps. (5)

"Ramsdale Hill Enclosure" is being excavated by Sherwood AS. (6) (7)

Three areas of the enclosure were excavated in 1974-5. (Site 1 is M5262) At site 2 on the SE of the plateau a drainage ditch was discovered running down the slope of the hillside. This contained IA and Ro pottery. In 1975 site 3 was opened on the SW side of the plateau. Excavation exposed a ditch running at right angles to the slope of the hillside and this was traced for a distance of 7-8m to the edge of the wood, 2m wide and almost 2m deep below the ploughsoil. Contained in the infill were sherds of IA and Ro ware. Traces of charcoal were also found. Further trenches 30m to the NE exposed a parallel ditch of similar dimensions which also contained Ro pottery. Between these 2 ditches were 2 shallow curving channels which may indicate hut sites. They too contained IA and Ro sherds. (8)

Two trenches excavated --/05/1989, no significant results (see E387). (10)

The area outlined on the schedule map appears to be in the wrong place. It coincides exactly with a field containing a reservoir, property of Severn Trent, which is marked as a feature on the 1913 OS map. The area marked out as scheduled by Notts SMR is the E section of the area marked Ramsdale Hill encampment on the 1913 map. This area includes a walled garden, cottages and a section of a small wood containing a bank and ditch. (11)

It has been suggested that based on lack of evidence, this is not a Roman fort, but rather an Iron Age settlement surrounded by enclosure ditches. The Roman material is evidence of Roman settlement on the site, but it does not point towards it being a fort. (13)

Dorket Head, Arnold, Nottingham: the Roman Camp published by Rooke in 1792 has been re-examined. The site was first occupied in the Iron Age. Rooke's earthwork is no longer visible but seems to occupy c805 ha (21 acres). The SE and NW ditches are 240 yards (219.4 m) apart; Rooke gives the other dimension as over 417 yards (381.3 m). The NW ditch was found to be 1.2-1.5 m wide and 1.0-1.2 m deep; a hearth on its lip had spilled charcoal to the ditch bottom, in which lay First-Century pottery. The SW ditch was 1.2 m wide and 1.5 m deep with a cleaning-slot at the base. On the SE side aerial photographs show three ditches, the outer two close together to form a W profile 2.2 m wide overall and 1 m deep; the inner ditch, 26 m away, had a rounded base; it was 2.0 m wide and 1.4 m deep. These ditches are not on a scale expected of a hillfort and have yielded early Roman pottery. The north-eastward extension of the site suggested by Rooke would take it down a considerable slope where it has not been traced. (14)

The NW ditch was further examined. A narrow entrance 3 m wide was found 50 m from the W corner, and 21 m further on lay a gateway 7 m wide with post-settings on either side. The ditch here is 1.3 m deep and curves outwards at the entrance. A titulum-like feature 3.5 m long, 1 m wide and 0.67 m deep lay 5.5 m in front. The ditch yielded Roman sherds. (15)

SK 5905 4838 Current excavation of a possible hut circle ditch has produced sherds of Iron Age date and also an IA socketed sickle. SK 5976 4864 A short stretch of a shallow ditch with a stone-lined base was investigated and found to contain a saddle quern.Land adjoining the above site has been made into a golf course. Metal detectors were used here, and finds included a half/quarter stater (silver), a bronze axe, 5 brooches and a coin of M Aurelius. All finds are at Nottingham University Museum. (16)

See L8280 and L9053 for Neo finds, M5262 for cockpit, L5461 for supposed earthwork in Epperstone Wood.

OS, 1887, 6in 1887 (Map). SNT1059.

English Heritage, 1994-1995, SAM List, Nottinghamshire (County List of Scheduled Monuments: March 1994) (Published document). SNT6185.

Magnus Alexander, 2009, Pers Comms (Personal comment). SNT6308.

Historic England, 2021, National Record of Historic Environment (Digital archive). SNT5271.

<1> Rooke H, 1792, Archaeologia, pp 378 - 80 (Published document). SNT1210.

<2> VCH, 1906, Notts, pp 299-300 (Published document). SNT1383.

<3> OS, 1839, 1in 1839 (Map). SNT1040.

<4> EMAB eds, 1961, East Midlands Archaeological Bulletin, p 14 (Published document). SNT155.

<5> OS, Air photos (Aerial photograph). SNT983.

Other Refs: OS/60/60.049-50

<6> K. Barker?, 17/12/1974, LS Surveyor (Personal comment). SNT893.

<7> Barker K, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT446.

<8> Thoroton Society, 1978, TTS, pp 14-20 (Published document). SNT391.

<9> DOE (IAM), 1978, Anc Mons Eng, p 76 (Published document). SNT640.

<10> Garton D, 1989, Cockpit Hill, Ramsdale (Monograph). SNT706.

<11> Dodd A, 1988, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT620.

<12> Turner C & Turner J, 1997, Dorket Head, Nottinghamshire (Monograph). SNT1456.

<13> M. Alexander, 2009, Ramsdale Hill, Arnold, Nottinghamshire Scheduling Report: Archaeological Survey and Investigation (Unpublished document). SNT5171.

<14> Society for … Ro Studies, 1985, Britannia (A Journal of Romano-British and Kindred Studies), p.285 (Serial). SNT6287.

<15> C. Turner, 1991, Pers Comms (Personal comment). SNT6310.

<16> Society for … Ro Studies, 1986, Britannia, p.391 (Serial). SNT6309.