'NZ 182855' Highhouse Dean. Crop-mark of a rectangular enclosure with two ditches situated on a scarp to the south of, and immediately above the River Wansbeck, about 200 yards north of High House West 1 (NZ 18 NE 21). The inner enclosure is rectangular in shape with rounded corners, but some distance beyond, to the south, are traces of a curvilinear ditch cutting off the promontory, so giving the impression of an adaptation of the form shown at Mitford Steads (Roman fortlet NZ 18 SE 4) to a different topographical situation. There could be other explanations, however, and more than one phase may be represented. (Listed under rectangular enclosures some of which may fall into the pattern of Romano-British rectilinear settlements). (1)(2)

The site has been extensively cultivated and there are no visible remains on the ground. As seen on the photograph its single ditch and rectangular form place it in the broad context of Romano-British rectilinear sites. (3)

This rectilinear enclosure and possible associated features are visible as cropmarks, soilmarks and earthwork on air photos and on lidar imagery at NZ1815 8554.
The central feature is the rectilinear enclosure with rounded corners, defined by a ditch and with possible internal and external banks. The southern and western side sit in a long-ploughed field and they are visible only as cropmarks or soilmarks. The lidar digital terrain model confirms that these two sides have been completely levelled. The lidar imagery also reveals the northern and eastern side of the enclosure in the woodland beyond the field edge, on the narrow ledge before the land falls sharply away to the river.
This enclosure occupies a natural elevated promontory between the River Wansbeck and Highhouse Dean and the shape of the modern field is clearly influenced by the northern and eastern edge of the enclosure. The enclosure measures approximately 57x48m (internal to the ditch). A little to the south-west of the enclosure a faint band of lighter toned crop suggests an outer bank lying approximately 25m outwith the enclosure ditch. Also within the modern field, a very slightly curving ditch runs between the outer bank and the enclosure but it may be of considerably later date and not associated with these features.
On the wooded slopes to the north and east of the enclosure one ditch runs from the north-west corner of the enclosure down to the river, this may be a trackway but could be of any date and is not necessarily contemporary with the enclosures. Another ditch skirts around the eastern edge of the enclosure, appears to align with the outer bank and then takes a more gradual descent to the same point on the river bank as the first. It is perhaps more likely that this ditch or trackway is more closely related to the enclosure. (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)