In 2008, AOC Archaeology was commissioned to undertake a watching brief for Phase 1 of a watching brief at Castle Hill hillfort, Almondbury. Castle Hill is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM 13297) incorporating evidence for Neolithic, late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Medieval and post-medieval occupation. It is also the site of Victoria Tower, a Grade II listed building constructed between 1897 and 1899. The fieldwork was undertaken on 22nd April and 1st May, 2008. The work was commissioned by Kirklees Metropolitan Council on the site of the Scheduled Monument that was undergoing enhancement works. The objective of the work was to monitor all excavation/ground reduction works within the scheduled area. The ground-breaking works monitored involved: the excavation of a new access route for wheelchair users at the west of the site; a new access route between two already existing paths at the north-eastern end of the site; a small area around an existing path at the south of the site. Phase 2 of the watching brief was undertaken between 6th July and 9th December, 2009, and was also to monitor site enhancement works. The ground-works comprised: post-holes and ground reduction for a bin store at the northern extant of the car park; ground reduction for three footpaths on the summit; groundworks to insert a pump house; the excavation of two lengths of sewer pipe trench; post-holes for a car barrier and litter bins; and lifting and re-setting of flagstones around Victoria Tower. Phase 1 of the watching brief uncovered no significant archaeological features or finds were encountered in the areas excavated on this site. Fragments of modern white ceramic, modern glass and plastic were encountered throughout the site but not retained, and no earlier material was observed. Phase 2 of the watching brief provided no additional information on the prehistoric phases of occupation at Castle Hill. A stone revetment, thought to relate to the medieval augmentation of the defences, was recorded in a service trench on the south-western face of the hill. Twelfth century pottery fragments were also recovered from a subsoil deposit within the middle bailey of the medieval castle. The watching brief also demonstrated that there was a considerable amount of post-medieval made ground within the inner bailey, particularly in the vicinity of Victoria Tower. The watching brief also confirmed that other parts of the summit have been subject to 19th and 20th century ground disturbance through the construction of the car park and the cutting of service trenches, manholes and pathways.
Stephen Potten (Fri,) studied this question.