Romano-British settlement, 580m north west of Biddleston Home Farm

Overview

Location

Reasons for Designation

In Cumbria and Northumberland several distinctive types of native settlements dating to the Roman period have been identified. The majority were small, non- defensive, enclosed homesteads or farms. In many areas they were of stone construction, although in the coastal lowlands timber-built variants were also common. In much of Northumberland, especially in the Cheviots, the enclosures were curvilinear in form. Further south a rectangular form was more common. Elsewhere, especially near the Scottish border, another type occurs where the settlement enclosure was `scooped' into the hillslope. Frequently the enclosures reveal a regularity and similarity of internal layout. The standard layout included one or more stone round-houses situated towards the rear of the enclosure, facing the single entranceway. In front of the houses were pathways and small enclosed yards. Homesteads normally had only one or two houses, but larger enclosures could contain as many as six. At some sites the settlement appears to have grown, often with houses spilling out of the main enclosure and clustered around it. At these sites up to 30 houses may be found. In the Cumbrian uplands the settlements were of less regimented form and unenclosed clusters of houses of broadly contemporary date are also known. These homesteads were being constructed and used by non-Roman natives throughout the period of the Roman occupation. Their origins lie in settlement forms developed before the arrival of the Romans. These homesteads are common throughout the uplands where they frequently survive as well-preserved earthworks. In lowland coastal areas they were also originally common, although there they can frequently only be located through aerial photography. All homestead sites which survive substantially intact will normally be identified as nationally important.

The settlement north west of Biddlestone Home Farm is well preserved and retains significant archaeological deposits. It is one of a group of later prehistoric and Romano-British settlements in the area and will contribute to any study of the settlement pattern at this time.

Details

The monument includes the remains of a stone-built settlement of Romano-British date, situated on a shoulder of land overlooking the steep south east slopes of Loundon Hill, above the Biddlestone Burn. The settlement comprises two sub-circular embanked enclosures situated 5m apart and the remains of two circular stone founded houses. The most westerly enclosure measures 21m east-west by 18m north-south and is bounded by a wall of earth and stone up to 4m wide which stands to a maximum height of 1.0m. The foundations of two external circular houses abutt the enclosure on the northern side: the houses measure 7m and 5m in diameter and their surrounding walls stand to a height of 1m. The most easterly enclosure measures 25m north-south by 21m east-west and is surrounded by stone and earth walls standing to a maximum height of 0.5m. The two enclosures are linked at their northern ends by a low earthen bank.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

25047

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Jobey, G, 'Archaeologia Aeliana, 4 ser 42' in Enclosed Stone Built Settlements in Northumberland, (1964), 63
Other
NT 90 NW 30,

Legal

This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.