Middle Golden Pot (Rochester and Byrness)
(NT 81250634) Middle Golden Pot (NR). (1)
Golden Pot (one of three in the region - see NT 80 NW 3 and NT 80 NW 6). (2)
Five or more of the stones called Golden Pots remain on the western edge of the Roman way between Redesdale and Chew Green. They are about two feet cube with a square or octagonal hole in their upper surface. These pedestals resemble the bases of crosses but were probably erected by the Romans as milestones. (No accompanying plan to show the position of these stones). (3)
A small heap of sandstone fragments a short distance to the south east of the spot shown by the Ordnance Survey may be the remains of the Middle Golden Pot. Supposed to be Roman milestones, these stones are more probably the sockets of crosses and are said to be mentioned in 1228. (4)
A charter of 1228 mentions the 'Goldingpottes' and 'Goldingpot'. It is probable that these stones were erected as boundary stones between the parish of Elsdon and the chapelry of Halystone and as guides for the travellers. (5)
The Middle Golden Pot, hidden among long grass, is similar in size to the Outer Golden Pot (NT 80 NW 6 Stone 38 inches x 32 inches x 13 inches high with socket 15 inches c.10 inches x 7-1/2 inches deep), but now broken. The stone is possibly the remains of a late 14th century wayside cross. The reference to a 'Goldingpottes' in a charter of 1228 (authority 5) would appear to apply to a place name and not specifically to the series of features now called 'Golden Pots'. (See also NT 80 NW 3 and 6 NT 80 SW 4). (6)
At Foulplay Head, the Roman road makes a slight curve and heads towards Chew Green. About 200 yards in advance (north) there is a green spot in the way, called the Galley or Galley Knowl. About 50 yards to the east lies the Inner Golden Pot, evidently not in its original position, which was probably on the knoll in question. (Although referred to above as the Inner Golden Pot, the description and the position given in the associated survey (authority (2)) evidently refer to the feature now called the Middle Golden Pot). (7)
Remains of a cross-base, 30m to the north east of Dere Street, and 8m south of a modern road, lying, apparently no 'in situ', among some reeds upon the top of a pasture moorland ridge. The stone, a corner of which has broken off and is missing, originally measured 0.7m by 0.6m. It is not embedded into the ground and is 0.3m high. A socket centrally placed, measures 0.4m by 0.2m and is 0.15m deep. There are no traces of inscription or ornamentation. (8)
The first descriptive reference to this specific base is made by MacLauchlan in 1852. It is not described by Hodgson in 1827 or shown on Armstrong's map of 1765. It seems possible therefore that this stone was moved to its present position from the south between 1827 and 1852 and is actually the base referred to as the Inner Golden Pot. (9)
Condition unchanged. Correctly published on 6 inch. (10)
Scheduled. (11)
NT 8122 0632. Middle Golden Pot medieval wayside cross. Scheduled RSM No 25026. (12a)
Golden Pot (one of three in the region - see NT 80 NW 3 and NT 80 NW 6). (2)
Five or more of the stones called Golden Pots remain on the western edge of the Roman way between Redesdale and Chew Green. They are about two feet cube with a square or octagonal hole in their upper surface. These pedestals resemble the bases of crosses but were probably erected by the Romans as milestones. (No accompanying plan to show the position of these stones). (3)
A small heap of sandstone fragments a short distance to the south east of the spot shown by the Ordnance Survey may be the remains of the Middle Golden Pot. Supposed to be Roman milestones, these stones are more probably the sockets of crosses and are said to be mentioned in 1228. (4)
A charter of 1228 mentions the 'Goldingpottes' and 'Goldingpot'. It is probable that these stones were erected as boundary stones between the parish of Elsdon and the chapelry of Halystone and as guides for the travellers. (5)
The Middle Golden Pot, hidden among long grass, is similar in size to the Outer Golden Pot (NT 80 NW 6 Stone 38 inches x 32 inches x 13 inches high with socket 15 inches c.10 inches x 7-1/2 inches deep), but now broken. The stone is possibly the remains of a late 14th century wayside cross. The reference to a 'Goldingpottes' in a charter of 1228 (authority 5) would appear to apply to a place name and not specifically to the series of features now called 'Golden Pots'. (See also NT 80 NW 3 and 6 NT 80 SW 4). (6)
At Foulplay Head, the Roman road makes a slight curve and heads towards Chew Green. About 200 yards in advance (north) there is a green spot in the way, called the Galley or Galley Knowl. About 50 yards to the east lies the Inner Golden Pot, evidently not in its original position, which was probably on the knoll in question. (Although referred to above as the Inner Golden Pot, the description and the position given in the associated survey (authority (2)) evidently refer to the feature now called the Middle Golden Pot). (7)
Remains of a cross-base, 30m to the north east of Dere Street, and 8m south of a modern road, lying, apparently no 'in situ', among some reeds upon the top of a pasture moorland ridge. The stone, a corner of which has broken off and is missing, originally measured 0.7m by 0.6m. It is not embedded into the ground and is 0.3m high. A socket centrally placed, measures 0.4m by 0.2m and is 0.15m deep. There are no traces of inscription or ornamentation. (8)
The first descriptive reference to this specific base is made by MacLauchlan in 1852. It is not described by Hodgson in 1827 or shown on Armstrong's map of 1765. It seems possible therefore that this stone was moved to its present position from the south between 1827 and 1852 and is actually the base referred to as the Inner Golden Pot. (9)
Condition unchanged. Correctly published on 6 inch. (10)
Scheduled. (11)
NT 8122 0632. Middle Golden Pot medieval wayside cross. Scheduled RSM No 25026. (12a)
N126
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; A S Phillips
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; B H Pritchard
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; B H Pritchard
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