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.
Details
The monument includes the remains of a settlement of Romano-British date, and
a field of cord rig, situated on level ground in a commanding position above
the River Rede. The settlement, sub-rectangular in shape measures a maximum of
50m east-west by 57m north-south within a prominent ditch 5m wide and 1m deep
below an inner bank 2m wide. The ditch is surrounded by a counter-scarp bank
of stone and earth on average 3m wide and 0.4m high above the exterior ground
level. There is an entrance 5m wide in the eastern side of the enclosure.
Within the enclosure there are two circular depressions which are the remains
of two sunken yards situated either side of the entrance. Each of the yards is
crossed by a linear bank running east-west which are thought to be further
sub-divisions of the yard space. Facing onto these yards are the remains of
four stone founded circular houses ranging in diameter from 6m to 8m. Limited
excavation carried out in 1957 by Professor Jobey to determine the nature of
the settlement uncovered two of the circular houses and an area of one of the
scooped yards which was shown to be paved.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
25078
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
