Reasons for Designation
The Pennine uplands of northern England contain a wide variety of prehistoric
remains, including cairns, enclosures, carved rocks, settlements and field
systems. These are evidence of the widespread exploitation of these uplands
throughout later prehistory. During the last millennium BC a variety of
different types of enclosed settlements developed. These include hillforts,
which have substantial earthworks and are usually located on hilltops. Other
types of enclosed settlement of this period are less obviously defensive, as
they have less substantial earthworks and are usually in less prominent
positions. In the Pennines a number of late prehistoric enclosed settlements
survive as upstanding monuments. Where upstanding earthworks survive, the
settlements are between 0.4ha and 10ha in area, and are usually located on
ridges or hillside terraces. The enclosing earthworks are usually slight, most
consisting of a ditch with an internal bank, or with an internal and external
bank, but examples with an internal ditch and with no ditch are known. They
are sub-circular, sub-rectangular, or oval in shape. Few of these enclosed
settlements have been subject to systematic excavation, but they are thought
to date from between the Late Bronze Age to the Romano-British period (c.1000
BC-AD 400). Examples which have been excavated have presented evidence of
settlement. Some appear to have developed from earlier palisaded enclosures.
Unexcavated examples occasionally have levelled areas which may have contained
buildings, but a proportion may have functioned primarily as stock enclosures.
Enclosed settlements are a distinctive feature of the late prehistory of the
Pennine uplands, and are important in illustrating the variety of enclosed
settlement types which developed in many areas of Britain at this time.
Examples where a substantial proportion of the enclosed settlement survives
are considered to be nationally important.
Details
The monument includes an oval late prehistoric enclosed settlement known as
the Old Bull Ring. It is situated near Holme, 500m north of Meal Hill and is
approximately 70m south east of the junction between Lumbank Lane and Further
End Lane.
The earthwork enclosure measures 82m by 70m overall, and is bounded by a ditch
with an inner and an outer bank. The enclosure ditch is about 5m wide and 0.2m
deep. The inner bank is barely discernible, but can be seen to reach a maximum
of approximately 0.2m high and 6m wide. The outer bank is more substantial and
reaches a height of about 0.3m and a width of approximately 7m.
The enclosure is bisected by a field wall, a ditch and a fence which run
south west to north east, a little west of the centre. The enclosure is less
well-preserved to the south east of this boundary, as this field is regularly
ploughed.
The wall and fence which cross the monument are excluded from the scheduling,
although the ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31495
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
