A close group of four Bronze Age short cists were found when ploughing at Broomhouses; they were seen by the Rev (Canon) W Greenwell. Two contained cremations: one had charcoal only and the fourth was empty. Nearby were two Bronze Age inverted urns: one held a cremation. The other contained charcoal and a flint knife. Both urns, one a food vessel and the other an encrusted urn are in the British Museum. (cf Abercromby's FV type 2 fig 183; and cinerary urn type 6 fig 497). (1)(2)

The approximate site of the burials, as pointed out to me by Mr Bell, the farmer at Broom House, is at NZ 09706353. He said that his father was with the ploughman when the discoveries were made in a field known as Carr's Close. No other finds have turned up since.
The site is on a slight rise in a field still under plough. (3)

[NZ 09706350] Bronze Age Cists Found. (4)

Two Bronze Age vessels from Broomhouses, inverted over a cremation with a whinstone boulder on top. i) bipartite with shoulder cavetto zone; 242mm high, 203mm rim diameter, 115mm base diameter; in British Museum (BM 79.12-9.1468). ii) encrusted urn; 383mm high, 331mm rim diameter, 100mm base diameter; in British Museum (BM 79.12-9.1467). (5)

A gradiometer survey by Geophysical Surveys of Bradford was carried out in December 1997 in the presumed area of Bronze Age cist sites (Area A (Field 1)). A number of ditch type anomalies were located in the sample area (centred at c.NZ 09706345) as well as an area of 'noise' in the south east part of the sample area which is assumed may also be of archaeological significance. (6)

A watching brief was carried out by Tyne and Wear Museums in 1999, monitoring construction in this area of potential prehistoric burials. In previous work an evaluation of geophysical anomalies indicated that although some were due to differences in the natural topography or make up of soil, some linears were undoubtedly man made. One sherd of Roman mortarium was produced. However during the watching brief no archaeological fetaures or finds were discovered. This suggests that either the NGR of the original location report was significantly incorrect or that the burials have been ploughed out over the years, or even removed in order to avoid interference with the farming practise.(7)