Highcliff (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Highcliffe Nab

In the civil parish of Guisborough.
In the historic county of Yorkshire.
Modern Authority of Redcar & Cleveland.
1974 county of Cleveland.
Medieval County of Yorkshire North Riding.

OS Map Grid Reference: NZ614138
Latitude 54.51579° Longitude -1.05305°

Highcliff has been described as a Pele Tower although is doubtful that it was such.

There are no visible remains.

Description

A camp situated in a fir wood to the east of Highcliffe Nab measured 300 ft on the east side, 86 ft on the west and 150 ft on the north side. The south slope was strongest and contained a stone tower 12 ft by 12 ft (Ord). Not an antiquity. This alleged earthwork is situated on relatively steep slope, running south to north, overlooked by the high ground at Potter's Ridge and on the east and in no way can it be deemed defensive. No trace of alleged tower mentioned in Ord. (See NZ 61 SW 15 for associated boundary banks) (Field Investigators Comments–F1 FDC 24-JUN-53). (PastScape)

Comments

Ord gives a extended and detailed description of this feature which is not consistent with it being natural so must have been an antiquity of some sort although Ord's interpretation as defensive and as pre-Roman are fanciful in both aspects. Probably agricultural and not as ancient as Ord thought. The 'stone bulwark or tower' was part of a larger feature. The description given by Ord suggests an unmortared feature. Unlikely to have been a medieval dwelling of any type.

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 28507.
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record.

Books
- Ord, J.W., 1846, The history and antiquities of Cleveland p. 122-3 online copy

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown. Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.

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