Norham Castle, Northumberland. Survey Report
Author(s): T Pearson, Stewart Ainsworth
In March 2002, English Heritage carried out an archaeological survey and investigation of Norham Castle in Northumberland. The 2002 fieldwork revealed that the medieval castle is situated within an earlier, possibly Iron Age, fortification defined by a rampart on the east side of the promontory. The castle itself consists of a keep situated within an inner bailey, which is itself enclosed by an outer bailey with gates on the west and south. There are the remains of a third bailey on the south-east which extends beyond the road into the pasture field to the south. The road is a relatively recent intrusion, probably no more than 250 years old and before it there is no clear evidence that there was ever an east-west route across the promontory. The field to the south of the modern road has a section of the possible Iron Age rampart on its east side and to the west is a previously unrecognised line of 16th-century earthwork defences on the crest of the promontory. There are also the earthwork remains of a small settlement in this field flanking the approach to the south gate. (This was report 25/2002 in a previous series)
- Report Number:
- 123/2002
- Series:
- Other
- Pages:
- 45
