Reasons for Designation
Ringworks are medieval fortifications built and occupied from the late
Anglo-Saxon period to the later 12th century. They comprised a small defended
area containing buildings which was surrounded or partly surrounded by a
substantial ditch and a bank surmounted by a timber palisade or, rarely, a
stone wall. Occasionally a more lightly defended embanked enclosure, the
bailey, adjoined the ringwork. Ringworks acted as strongholds for military
operations and in some cases as defended aristocratic or manorial settlements.
They are rare nationally with only 200 recorded examples and less than 60
with baileys. As such, and as one of a limited number and very restricted
range of Anglo-Saxon and Norman fortifications, ringworks are of particular
significance to our understanding of the period.
Details
The monument includes the medieval Tower Tye ringwork, also known as Tortie.
It is located on a local high point, a short distance north of the main A69
Carlisle - Newcastle road, from where there are extensive views in all
directions. The ringwork includes a circular earthwork having well defined
defences which consist of an inner bank, a ditch and an outer bank. The
ringwork's flat interior measures approximately 40m in diameter and would
originally have contained buildings. The inner bank running around the edge of
the interior measures approximately 6m wide by 1m high. It is flanked by a
ditch measuring c.2.5m wide by 0.5m deep which in turn is flanked by an outer
bank measuring up to 5m wide by 0.5m high.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27697
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
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 Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
