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You are here: Home / Glossary

Glossary

Shieling

sometimes called a shiel
Shielings are temporary summer settlements used in the Medieval period especially by shepherds grazing their flocks on upland pastures, as part of transhumance. They are usually roughly rectangular buildings with two portions built in stone. The name shieling occurs in various place-names, such as Shiel-on-theWall, Northumberland. Many are known - though undated and unnamed in Northumberland. These may be arranged in groups as near Wholehope, Upper Coquetdale. They are called hafods in Northern Wales.

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