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 medieval bloomery,
building and track, and a charcoal making pit, at Keld Smithy Green, on
Holwick Fell.
The settlement consists of an irregularly shaped enclosure, three hut circles,
at least two small clearance cairns, and a short length of rubble bank. The
enclosure walls are heather covered rubble banks up to 2.5m wide and 0.6m
high. The three hut circles are between 6m and 8m in diameter, with rubble
walls up to 2m wide and 0.6m high. All three hut circles are attached to the
rubble bank forming the north side of the enclosure. Two small clearance
cairns about 4m in diameter lie east of the enclosure, near a line of stone
grouse butts, and a short stretch of rubble bank is visible as a stony crest
east of the grouse butts.
The medieval bloomery is visible as a conspicuous grass covered heap of iron
slag about 9m in diameter and 1m high.
The medieval building survives as low rubble walls 1.5m wide and 0.5m high,
forming a rectangle 5m by 7m. A sunken track leads from the building towards
the bloomery.
The charcoal making pit is about 120m ESE of the bloomery. It is visible as a
hollow, 2m in diameter and 0.2m deep, with an overgrown ring of spoil 1.5m
wide round the hollow. Charcoal can be seen in and around the pit, in animal
upcast.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33487
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
