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.
The late prehistoric enclosed settlement on Royd Edge survives well, and will
contribute to the understanding of late prehistoric settlement and land use in
this area of northern England.
Details
The monument includes a late prehistoric enclosed settlement, situated in
pasture fields at Royd Edge, Meltham. The enclosure is sub-rectangular and
extends into two fields. The enclosure ditch is approximately 5m wide and
0.3m deep. The ditch has an external bank approximately 5m wide and typically
0.3m high. Gaps occur in these earthworks on the east and west sides and at
the south east corner. Some or all of these may be entrances.
Partial excavation by Huddersfield Archaeology Society revealed a
stone-revetted rampart and a building interpreted as a hut. Finds from the
excavation included a spindle whorl, a quern fragment and sandstone discs.
A wall which crosses the site is excluded from the scheduling, although the
ground beneath is included.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
