[3] The Victoria County History describes the location of the fort as follows: 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 WearAn earlier description gives more detail: 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.

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.

[4] Although the entire site has been overgrown with trees for over a century,[5] there are remains of earthworks at the western end.

[3] Only limited excavation has been carried out on the site, but there is some evidence that the interior of the bank was strengthened with a stone wall; the excavation unearthed at least one stone bearing a stonemason's mark, which dates the work to the Middle Ages.