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| - On the right and left the steep sides of the mount are covered with a thick forest of oaks: The crown of the mount consists of a level area or plain, forty paces wide on the summit of the scar, in the front or north east side, one hundred and sixty paces long on the left-hand side, and one hundred and seventy paces on the right. The approach is easy on the land side, from the south-west, fortified with a ditch and breast work: The entrance or passage over the ditch is not in the middle, but made to correspond with the natural rise of the outward ground ... The ditch is twelve paces wide, and runs with a little curvature to each edge of the slope, ... on one hand being fifty paces in length, and the other eighty paces. After passing the ditch there is a level parade or platform, twenty paces wide, and then a high earth fence, now nine feet perpendicular ... A breast work has run from the earth fence on each hand along the brink of the hill, to the edge of the cliff or scar. The earth fence closes the whole neck of land, and is in length one hundred paces, forming the south-west side of the area.
- This is a lofty promontory of great natural strength, to the east of the city [of Durham], and approached from the west side. The north, south and east slopes are very steep, especially the last, which rises about 100 feet above the river Wear
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