Scheduled MonumentsScotlandBroomhillbank Hill, fort
Iron Age · Fort

Broomhillbank Hill, fort

Scotland
HES SM12660
Period
Iron Age
Site type
Fort
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland

Overview

History & significance

Broomhillbank Hill is an Iron Age fort located in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The fort sits on bedrock of the Hawick Group, a fine-grained wacke formed during the Wenlock period of the Silurian, providing a naturally stable foundation for its defensive earthworks. This geological setting is characteristic of south-western Scotland, where such sedimentary rocks form the underlying landscape across the region.

The fort comprises defensive ramparts typical of Iron Age hillforts of the period, strategically positioned to command views of the surrounding terrain. The Hawick Group wacke, whilst resistant, would have required determination to work with iron tools when constructing the fortifications, though the solid geology would have ensured their longevity. The site reflects the settlement patterns and defensive strategies of Iron Age communities in the Scottish Borders region.

The fort is protected by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument under reference SM12660, recognising its archaeological significance. Such Iron Age forts served multiple functions including settlement, refuge and territorial display for the communities that built and maintained them across the Scottish landscape during the first centuries BC and early centuries AD.

Broomhillbank Hill, fort is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12660. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Broomhillbank Hill, fort?

Broomhillbank Hill is an Iron Age fort located in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12660.

What period does Broomhillbank Hill, fort date from?

Broomhillbank Hill, fort dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a fort. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Broomhillbank Hill, fort?

Broomhillbank Hill, fort is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM12660.

What other scheduled monuments are near Broomhillbank Hill, fort?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Applegarth House, motte 65m S of (7.4 km), Gallaberry Hill, fort (7.4 km), Torwood, enclosure 270m SW of (8 km).

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Broomhillbank Hill, fort

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Broomhillbank Hill, fort's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.
Monuments
The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.
Battlefields
The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.
Roman Britain
The Roman roads, forts and towns near here, and the Iron Age people who held the land before Rome arrived.
Stat Accounts
The parish Statistical Accounts of the 1790s and 1830s, describing life, work and population here.
Civil War
The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.
Local Names
What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.
Historical Maps
Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.
Literature
The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Legal
The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Target Zones
For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.
First month just £4.99, then £9.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Broomhillbank Hill, fort report
Or see a real report first
The ground beneath

The bedrock under Broomhillbank Hill, fort

Broomhillbank Hill, fort stands on Hawick Group, bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is wacke.