Reasons for Designation
Medieval rural settlements in England were marked by great regional diversity
in form, size and type, and the protection of their archaeological remains
needs to take these differences into account. To do this, England has been
divided into three broad Provinces on the basis of each area's distinctive
mixture of nucleated and dispersed settlements. These can be further divided
into sub-Provinces and local regions, possessing characteristics which have
gradually evolved during the past 1500 years or more.
The Borders local region comprises the great slope of land between the high
Cheviots and the Solway, where hamlets and scattered farmsteads predominate,
and where bastles and tower houses recall the social conditions of the Anglo-
Scottish borders before the mid-7th century. The eastern part of the region,
containing the wastes of the Bewcastle Fells and Spadeadam, can be seen as a
separate subdivision; it was occupied by shieling grounds during the Middle
Ages and the Tudor period, and preserves the remains of associated settlement
sites.
Details
The monument includes the earthworks and buried remains of a medieval
dispersed settlement at Askerton Park, located on level ground 170m WSW of
Parkgate Bridge immediately above the steep declevity to Cam Beck. It includes
the turf-covered remains of a cluster of four sub-rectangular enclosures, one
of which has been interpreted as a dwelling, together with the remains of two
stock enclosures.
The cluster of four enclosures has its long axis aligned north east-south
west and has overall measurements of approximately 42m by 30m with clay and
rubble walls up to 2.5m wide and 1m high. Limited excavation by Hodgson in
1938 found that the north eastern enclosure contained remains of a building
interpreted as the main dwelling of the settlement; medieval pottery dated
from the late 12th to the early 15th century was found on the cobbled floor of
the building together with burnt and unburnt bones, an iron knife and an oven
or hearth. The wall of an outbuilding was found in an adjacent enclosure and
the flagged floor of another outbuilding was found in the westernmost
enclosure. Immediately to the north east of these buildings is a rectangular
stock enclosure measuring c.25m by 17m with walls 2m wide and up to 0.4m high.
The enclosure has entrances on the north and south sides and internal
subdivisions. A second stock enclosure is situated approximately 50m WSW of
the buildings; it is half-moon shaped in plan and has maximum measurements of
c.32m by 24m with earth and rubble walls 2.5m wide and up to 0.5m high. There
are entrances at the north east and south west sides, and adjacent to the
latter there is a circular mound c.9m in diameter by 0.8m high. Limited
excavation of this mound found a patch of flagstones and two channels cut into
the subsoil which were filled with ash and charcoal. An iron object resembling
a large blunt pin was found, leading the excavator to interpret the mound as
the site of a crude forge.
A later field dyke running between the remains of the buildings and the stock
enclosure to the WSW is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath it is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27780
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
