The Chesters
Site type: fort
Parish: Cockburnspath
County: Berwickshire
Grid reference: NT 80140 67550
Lat / long: 55.900654, -2.3191846
Alternative names: Penmanshiel
The Chesters once consisted of a fort and an associated settlement, but much of it has been obliterated by ploughing over the centuries.
Measuring around 60m by 50m, this fort was surrounded by a single rampart and ditch. The rampart is said to have been very strong, and was removed in 1831 along with two or three cists. The fort was apparently split into two compartments, perhaps one for human habitation, and the other for cattle.
Around 55m to the south-west of the fort are the remains of a second earthwork with stone bank which has been interpreted as a settlement.
