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 a Roman period native settlement, a prehistoric cup-
marked rock and an iron-smelting site. It is situated on Knott Hill in Marwood
Park, 750m south of Stone Cross. The 1:10000 map incorrectly identifies it as
the site of a medieval village.
The Roman period native settlement consists of a complex of mainly sub-
rectangular enclosures on the south east end of the hill. The enclosures have
rubble banks up to 5m wide and 0.7m high, with occasional orthostats. There is
a track leading to the settlement from the north. On the south and west sides
of the complex the rubble banks are more fragmentary, and have been disturbed
by quarrying, and on the west side, by agricultural improvement.
The prehistoric carved rock is near the north western extremity of the
settlement, 20m north west of a sinuous rubble bank. The carving on the rock
consists of three cups.
The iron smelting site is visible as three heaps of iron slag, now grassed
over, at the east edge of the settlement. The location of the smelting site
and its relationship to the settlement indicate that it is Roman or medieval
in date, but not later.
Several stretches of modern fieldwall which cross the settlement, are excluded
from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31822
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
