Older Golden Pot (Alwinton; Rochester and Byrness)
Outer Golden Pot medieval cross base. Photo by Northumberland County Council.
(NT 80460722) Outer Golden Pot (NR). (1)
Golden Pot (one of three in the region - see NT 80 NW 3 and 5. (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. The 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)
Roy (authority (3)) mentions 'five or more' Golden Pots and MacLauchlan (authority (2)) shows three. Only one, the Outer Golden Pot, now remains. It is a rectangular block of sandstone 3ft long, 2ft 8ins wide with a socket hole measuring 10ins x 16ins. 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 traveller. (5)
(Symbol apparently intended to represent a cross socket and stump of shaft thus:- <> shown in position corresponding approximately with that in authority (1). Two similar features to the south are annotated 'Golden Pots'). (6)
The outer 'Golden Pots' measures 38 inches x 32 inches x 13 inches high with a socket 15 inches x 10 inches x 7-1/2 inches deep. The stone is possibly the remains of a late 14th century wayside cross. The reference in a charter of 1228 (authority 5) to 'Goldingpottes' would appear to apply to a placename and not specifically to the series of features now called 'Golden Pots' (NT 80 NW 3 and 5 80 SW 4). (7)
The only one of the Golden Pots remaining in situ is on a height called Pepperside about 1600 feet above sea level. A cross-base lying in pasture adjacent to the south west side of the course of the Roman road, Dere Street. It measures 0.9m by 0.8m; it is embedded into the ground, but stands to 0.2m height above ground level. A socket non-centrally placed, measures 0.4m by 0.3m, and is 0.1m deep. There are no traces of inscription or ornamentation. (8)
Condition unchanged. Correctly published on 6 inch. (9)
Outer Golden Pot, Grade II listed building. Medieval crossbase, possibly the base of a wayside funerary cross to Sir James Douglas, killed in the Battle of Otterburn 1388. Measures 38ins by 13ins high with regular socket. (10)
Scheduled. (11)
The cross base was moved, with the ground underneath and surrounding it excavated. This revealed a Modern George VI coin of 1946 from below the central point of the stone, suggesting it to have been moved before the 2002 to 2005 move to the west of the road. The small excavation carried out provided no precise location for the original location of the stone. (12)
NT 8044 0723. Outer Golden Pot medieval wayside cross. Scheduled RSM No 25024. (13a)
This is a Scheduled Monument and Grade II Listed Building protected by law.
Golden Pot (one of three in the region - see NT 80 NW 3 and 5. (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. The 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)
Roy (authority (3)) mentions 'five or more' Golden Pots and MacLauchlan (authority (2)) shows three. Only one, the Outer Golden Pot, now remains. It is a rectangular block of sandstone 3ft long, 2ft 8ins wide with a socket hole measuring 10ins x 16ins. 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 traveller. (5)
(Symbol apparently intended to represent a cross socket and stump of shaft thus:- <> shown in position corresponding approximately with that in authority (1). Two similar features to the south are annotated 'Golden Pots'). (6)
The outer 'Golden Pots' measures 38 inches x 32 inches x 13 inches high with a socket 15 inches x 10 inches x 7-1/2 inches deep. The stone is possibly the remains of a late 14th century wayside cross. The reference in a charter of 1228 (authority 5) to 'Goldingpottes' would appear to apply to a placename and not specifically to the series of features now called 'Golden Pots' (NT 80 NW 3 and 5 80 SW 4). (7)
The only one of the Golden Pots remaining in situ is on a height called Pepperside about 1600 feet above sea level. A cross-base lying in pasture adjacent to the south west side of the course of the Roman road, Dere Street. It measures 0.9m by 0.8m; it is embedded into the ground, but stands to 0.2m height above ground level. A socket non-centrally placed, measures 0.4m by 0.3m, and is 0.1m deep. There are no traces of inscription or ornamentation. (8)
Condition unchanged. Correctly published on 6 inch. (9)
Outer Golden Pot, Grade II listed building. Medieval crossbase, possibly the base of a wayside funerary cross to Sir James Douglas, killed in the Battle of Otterburn 1388. Measures 38ins by 13ins high with regular socket. (10)
Scheduled. (11)
The cross base was moved, with the ground underneath and surrounding it excavated. This revealed a Modern George VI coin of 1946 from below the central point of the stone, suggesting it to have been moved before the 2002 to 2005 move to the west of the road. The small excavation carried out provided no precise location for the original location of the stone. (12)
NT 8044 0723. Outer Golden Pot medieval wayside cross. Scheduled RSM No 25024. (13a)
This is a Scheduled Monument and Grade II Listed Building protected by law.
N127
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; B H Pritchard
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Otterburn Training Area, 2002-2005 2005; Archaeological Services Durham University
EXCAVATION, Otterburn Training Area, 2002-2005 2005; Archaeological Services Durham University
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Otterburn Training Area, 2002-2005 2005; Archaeological Services Durham University
EXCAVATION, Otterburn Training Area, 2002-2005 2005; Archaeological Services Durham University
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