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 Romano-British settlement located on
the gritstone margins of the Peak District and visible remains include a
series of terraces revetted by large orthostats (upright boulders). The site
occupies sloping unimproved ground overlooking the Hood Brook to the north
west on the northern margin of the present cultivated land. In addition, there
are small irregular enclosures bounded by wide stone walls and also platforms
indicating probable buildings. The present ruinous boundary wall to semi-
improved fields to the south of the settlement is constructed from large
orthostats and clearance material, indicating that the wall is also of Romano-
British origin.
The settlement contains a series of nearly level rectangular terraces facing
downslope to the west and oriented north-south. Each of the terraces is
revetted at the long downslope side by a row of substantial orthostats behind
which are smaller stones and earth. A trackway passes through the south of the
site. In addition to the rectangular terraces there are irregular enclosures,
most of which appear to form small yard areas which are likely to have been
associated with the domestic buildings of the settlement. The entire complex
measures approximately 200m by 150m. A minor 20th century excavation revealed
the probable site of a domestic building with Roman period pottery, a
gritstone quern and pieces of chert, slag and burnt material. Traces of
coursed stonework, revealed by the excavation, are visible and the excavation
also exposed the careful setting of the row of othostats in the revetment
wall.
The small, irregular enclosures are bounded by either orthostat walls (where
terraced) or by wide walls of double orthostats infilled with smaller stones
which may well have been from the original clearance of the land. The walls
are variable in width, but typically between 1m and 1.5m wide. The ground to
the immediate south east of the site appears to have been partially cleared,
leaving the more earthfast boulders in place.
The now ruinous boundary wall to the south of the settlement complex is
irregular and consists of a bank of cleared stones containing large
orthostats, some forming a revetment to the embankment, others arranged as a
double alignment. This wall is of similar construction to those within the
settlement complex and to others found elsewhere in the region. In some
instances, the wall respects features extending from the main settlement area
and demonstrates that the boundary wall is also part of the Romano-British
settlement.
The site is interpretated as that of a farmstead of the Romano-British period.
A few similar sites have also been discovered in the Peak District, for
example, at Rainster Rocks, Brassington. However, farmsteads of this period
are comparatively rare on the gritstone margins of the Peak. The site may
originally have been more extensive as some of the field boundaries to the
south and outside of the area of protection exhibit some of the
characteristics of Romano-British construction.
Excluded from the scheduling are all modern walls, gates, posts and fencing,
although the ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
29811
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
