Roman period native enclosed settlement 700m south of Ring Chesters defended settlement

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 700m south of Ring Chesters is substantially intact. It is one of a number of similar sites in this area and will contribute to any study of Romano-British settlement patterns in the north of England.

Details

The monument includes an enclosed settlement typical of the Roman period. It consists of an oval enclosure located on a south facing slope which encloses an area of about 0.07ha. The northern side of the enclosure is scooped into the south facing slope. The enclosure bank consists of earth and stone and encloses an area 30m by 25m. A number of large boulders in the bank protrude from the ground. The enclosure bank does not exist on the northern side where the enclosure is cut into the slope. The bank measures between 2m and 5m wide on the south side with a maximum height of 0.4m. The entrance into the enclosure is 3m wide and is located on the east side. The enclosure contains two hut circles. The largest hut circle is located in the north west corner and is 10m in diameter internally. The hut circle is visible as a ring of grass covered stones, some of which are positioned to create facing stones. The entrance to this hut circle is on the south west and is flanked by an upright jamb on the south side. The smaller hut circle is located in the southern half of the enclosure and has an internal diameter of 7m. The bank survives to a maximum height of 0.5m and is 2m wide.

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:

24619

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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