Medieval Farms (Ingram)
('A' NT 99021641) Group of long houses. (1)
('B' NT 99111645) Two long houses, 80 yards from the road and 80 yards apart by the burnside. (2)
Centred NT 990164. Remains of a group of steadings lie upon a gentle south-east moorland pasture slope above the confluence of two burns, at approximately 550 feet above sea-level. Also remains of two enclosures.
'A' Foundations upon a flat-topped spur measure 9m by 8m, with an entrance in the south side. The tumbled walls of earth and stones are 0.6m thick and stand to 0.5m. The proportions of these foundations suggest them to be those of a stock enclosure.
'B' Steading foundations, situated upon a river terrace below steep south-west slopes measuring 12m by 4m, orientated north-south, with an entrance in the east side. The walls, 0.6m thick stand to 0.5m, and are of large unhewn stones. There are traces of garths at both ends of the steading.
'C' About 86m north-west of 'B', in a similar position, steading foundations, 8m by 5m, of large stones, turf covered, 1.5m thick in their fallen state, standing to 0.3m height. The entrance is in the south end.
'D' Foundations of steading, lying east-west, 13.5m by 4m. Mutilated by the road and stream, and showing no traces of an entrance. Bounded by a stony bank 2m to 3m wide, maximum height 0.2m to 0.6m.
'E' Steading foundations 17.5m by 4.5m. Orientated east-west. Possible entrance to the west. Walls 2m wide, maximum height 0.7m.
'F' Rectangular garth 15m by 12m bounded by a stony bank 2m to 3m wide, 0.2m to 0.6m high. No traces of an entrance.
'G' Steading foundations, lying east-west, measuring 20.5m by 4.5m. Cross-bank divided it into two roughly equal compartments. Two entrances to the south. Banks 2m to 3m wide, maximum height 0.5m.
'H' A steading and garth, the steading 21m by 4m is orientated east-west with remains of the garth on the south side. (3)
The complex is part of an extensive pattern of medieval and later cultivation, and probably represents outlying homesteads of the deserted hamlet or farming community to the north. (See NT 91 NE 16) Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
No change to report of 15.5.69. Does not warrant survey action at 1:10,000. (5)
Centred at NT 991 163. Dispersed around the confluence of the Greensidehill Burn and the Knock Burn and spilling over into the W side of the Breamish Valley at roughly 170 m OD, are the remains of a deserted medieval village comprising of the turf and bracken-covered footings of seven roughly rectangular buildings [NT 9916/1-2, 4-9, 9 and NT 9816/1], six small enclosures [NT 9916/3, 6, 10-11, 19 and NT 9816/2], two hollow ways [NT 9916/7-8 and NT 9816/3], and several low rubble field walls [NT 9916/20-22].
Building NT 9916/1 (NT 9905 1654): 7.3m x 2.5m internally, constructed of a boulder wall, 1 m wide and 0.7 m high. The NW end appears to be rounded. A lowering of the wall tumble in the SE may indicate the site of an entrance.
Building NT 9916/2 (NT 9910 1648): 9.8 m x 2.7 m internally with wall foundations 1.1-1.4 m wide and 0.6 m high is faced internally with boulders. The N and S ends are distinctly rounded and a gap towards the S end of the E wall may have been an entrance. Immediately to the N is a further and possibly earlier building or enclosure, of which only three sides have survived, there being no trace of the S. It measures approximately 3.7 m x 3 m,, within an insubstantial wall c 1.3 m wide and 0.3 m in maximum height. There are slight traces of a further putative enclosure to the SE, and the eroded footings of a rubble field wall [NT 9916/21] between the building and the stream to the W.
Building NT 9916/4 (NT 9900 1641) is 3.5m wide within a wall 1 m thick and surviving to a height of 0.7 m; some inner facing stones are still exposed. The E end wall appears to be square, but the W counterpart is obscured by bracken-covered tumble; overall the building may have been about 20.2 m long. The only gap in the fabric of the wall is at the overgrown W end.
Internally building NT 9916/5 (NT 9904 1640) is 13 m long and 3 m wide at the W end broadening to 3.5 m at the E. The ruinous walls are spread to a width of 1.3 m and are now 0.4 m high. Both end walls appear to be rounded, and the position of the entrances cannot be determined. Unusually the building is a mere 1 m above the present level of Greensidehill Burn.
Building NT 9916/6 (NT 9908 1634) is the most substantial of the seven comprising the village. Internally it is 20.7 m long with rounded end-walls, and varies from 2.9 m wide in the W to 3.2 m in the E. The walls are 1.3 m wide and up to 0.8 m high, and there is evidence of both inner and outer faces of boulders protruding through the turf. Cross walls subdivide the building into three roughly equal parts; the only entrance gap discernible is in the N wall of the E compartment. The remains of an incomplete enclosure [NT 9916/6] adjoins the S side of the building and to the N a rubble wall partially encloses a natural river terrace [NT 9916/20].
Building NT 9916/9 (NT 9926 1629) is situated at the base of one of the steep rocky slopes of the valley, and debris from this slope has overwhelmed its W end; the original length of the building cannot now be determined, though it must have been at least 21 m. At the east end the building is 2.8 m wide within a wall 1.2 m wide and 0.5 m high, with several large stones representing both wall faces still exposed. No entrance is discernible. From the SE of the building a crudely built retaining wall [NT 9916/22] extends SE then S along the base of the rocky slope for a distance of about 200 m.
Building NT 9816/1 (NT 9896 1641) (see sheet NT 9816 for continuation of village) is rectangular with rounded end-walls 19.3 m x 3.2 m internally within a wall now spread to 1.2 m wide and 0.5 m high which has no visible facing stones. There are vague traces of a cross wall, and two gaps in the S wall probably indicate entrances.
Of the enclosures, NT 9916/3 at NT 9906 1644 is the best preserved. It measures 7.7 m x 6.8 m internally within a wall 1.3 m wide and 0.7 m high, with occasional large blocks of the inner and outer faces exposed. There are the remains of an insubstantial, stone-built extension to the E surviving to a maximum height of 0.2 m. In contrast to no. 3, NT 9916/10 (NT 9931 1616) is lightly-built with a wall constructed of fairly large blocks, 0.7 m wide and 0.2 m high. It has internal dimensions of 6.7 m x 3.7 m. Enclosure NT 9916/11 (NT 9935 1603) at the base of the boulder-strewn valley slope is 13.5 m long and comprises of three sides only, the E being open. The wall is built of a single line of rubble, presumably collected from the adjacent rock slope. Enclosure NT 9816/2 (NT 9897 1642) measures 14 m x 10 m internally within wall footings surviving to 0.5 m high and spread to 1.2 m. No. 19 (NT 9936 1600) is a rubble-walled, circular enclosure about 3.5 m in diameter, open on the E side. The wall is
0.4 m high and spread to 0.9 m wide.
The suitable sites for occupation in this area are limited to the river terraces between the valley slopes and the floodplains. The buildings have similarities, notably in their construction, as far as this can be ascertained, their distribution, state of preservation and the preponderance of rounded end-walls, though their size can vary considerably. They are probably broadly contemporary and presumably most if not all were originally conceived as dwellings. The existence of small enclosures in the vicinity of the village, probably for stock use and the absence of evidence for cultivation in the form of ridge and furrow and clearance cairns would seem to indicate at least a strong pastoral element in the economy. However ridge and furrow does occur extensively to the NW of the village [NT 9916/18], and on the summit area of Hartside Hill up the considerable slopes to the SW of the village. A hollow-way [NT 9916/7] does extend from the village close to building 6 diagonally westwards and upwards to this summit area, but it follows a logical route up the slope which could have been in use at any period in history or prehistory; it is not necessarily linking the village with ontemporary fields. A further hollow-way [NT 9916/8] ascends the valley side from the vicinity of building 9, but this is very steep and appears little more than a well-worn path. (6a)
('B' NT 99111645) Two long houses, 80 yards from the road and 80 yards apart by the burnside. (2)
Centred NT 990164. Remains of a group of steadings lie upon a gentle south-east moorland pasture slope above the confluence of two burns, at approximately 550 feet above sea-level. Also remains of two enclosures.
'A' Foundations upon a flat-topped spur measure 9m by 8m, with an entrance in the south side. The tumbled walls of earth and stones are 0.6m thick and stand to 0.5m. The proportions of these foundations suggest them to be those of a stock enclosure.
'B' Steading foundations, situated upon a river terrace below steep south-west slopes measuring 12m by 4m, orientated north-south, with an entrance in the east side. The walls, 0.6m thick stand to 0.5m, and are of large unhewn stones. There are traces of garths at both ends of the steading.
'C' About 86m north-west of 'B', in a similar position, steading foundations, 8m by 5m, of large stones, turf covered, 1.5m thick in their fallen state, standing to 0.3m height. The entrance is in the south end.
'D' Foundations of steading, lying east-west, 13.5m by 4m. Mutilated by the road and stream, and showing no traces of an entrance. Bounded by a stony bank 2m to 3m wide, maximum height 0.2m to 0.6m.
'E' Steading foundations 17.5m by 4.5m. Orientated east-west. Possible entrance to the west. Walls 2m wide, maximum height 0.7m.
'F' Rectangular garth 15m by 12m bounded by a stony bank 2m to 3m wide, 0.2m to 0.6m high. No traces of an entrance.
'G' Steading foundations, lying east-west, measuring 20.5m by 4.5m. Cross-bank divided it into two roughly equal compartments. Two entrances to the south. Banks 2m to 3m wide, maximum height 0.5m.
'H' A steading and garth, the steading 21m by 4m is orientated east-west with remains of the garth on the south side. (3)
The complex is part of an extensive pattern of medieval and later cultivation, and probably represents outlying homesteads of the deserted hamlet or farming community to the north. (See NT 91 NE 16) Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
No change to report of 15.5.69. Does not warrant survey action at 1:10,000. (5)
Centred at NT 991 163. Dispersed around the confluence of the Greensidehill Burn and the Knock Burn and spilling over into the W side of the Breamish Valley at roughly 170 m OD, are the remains of a deserted medieval village comprising of the turf and bracken-covered footings of seven roughly rectangular buildings [NT 9916/1-2, 4-9, 9 and NT 9816/1], six small enclosures [NT 9916/3, 6, 10-11, 19 and NT 9816/2], two hollow ways [NT 9916/7-8 and NT 9816/3], and several low rubble field walls [NT 9916/20-22].
Building NT 9916/1 (NT 9905 1654): 7.3m x 2.5m internally, constructed of a boulder wall, 1 m wide and 0.7 m high. The NW end appears to be rounded. A lowering of the wall tumble in the SE may indicate the site of an entrance.
Building NT 9916/2 (NT 9910 1648): 9.8 m x 2.7 m internally with wall foundations 1.1-1.4 m wide and 0.6 m high is faced internally with boulders. The N and S ends are distinctly rounded and a gap towards the S end of the E wall may have been an entrance. Immediately to the N is a further and possibly earlier building or enclosure, of which only three sides have survived, there being no trace of the S. It measures approximately 3.7 m x 3 m,, within an insubstantial wall c 1.3 m wide and 0.3 m in maximum height. There are slight traces of a further putative enclosure to the SE, and the eroded footings of a rubble field wall [NT 9916/21] between the building and the stream to the W.
Building NT 9916/4 (NT 9900 1641) is 3.5m wide within a wall 1 m thick and surviving to a height of 0.7 m; some inner facing stones are still exposed. The E end wall appears to be square, but the W counterpart is obscured by bracken-covered tumble; overall the building may have been about 20.2 m long. The only gap in the fabric of the wall is at the overgrown W end.
Internally building NT 9916/5 (NT 9904 1640) is 13 m long and 3 m wide at the W end broadening to 3.5 m at the E. The ruinous walls are spread to a width of 1.3 m and are now 0.4 m high. Both end walls appear to be rounded, and the position of the entrances cannot be determined. Unusually the building is a mere 1 m above the present level of Greensidehill Burn.
Building NT 9916/6 (NT 9908 1634) is the most substantial of the seven comprising the village. Internally it is 20.7 m long with rounded end-walls, and varies from 2.9 m wide in the W to 3.2 m in the E. The walls are 1.3 m wide and up to 0.8 m high, and there is evidence of both inner and outer faces of boulders protruding through the turf. Cross walls subdivide the building into three roughly equal parts; the only entrance gap discernible is in the N wall of the E compartment. The remains of an incomplete enclosure [NT 9916/6] adjoins the S side of the building and to the N a rubble wall partially encloses a natural river terrace [NT 9916/20].
Building NT 9916/9 (NT 9926 1629) is situated at the base of one of the steep rocky slopes of the valley, and debris from this slope has overwhelmed its W end; the original length of the building cannot now be determined, though it must have been at least 21 m. At the east end the building is 2.8 m wide within a wall 1.2 m wide and 0.5 m high, with several large stones representing both wall faces still exposed. No entrance is discernible. From the SE of the building a crudely built retaining wall [NT 9916/22] extends SE then S along the base of the rocky slope for a distance of about 200 m.
Building NT 9816/1 (NT 9896 1641) (see sheet NT 9816 for continuation of village) is rectangular with rounded end-walls 19.3 m x 3.2 m internally within a wall now spread to 1.2 m wide and 0.5 m high which has no visible facing stones. There are vague traces of a cross wall, and two gaps in the S wall probably indicate entrances.
Of the enclosures, NT 9916/3 at NT 9906 1644 is the best preserved. It measures 7.7 m x 6.8 m internally within a wall 1.3 m wide and 0.7 m high, with occasional large blocks of the inner and outer faces exposed. There are the remains of an insubstantial, stone-built extension to the E surviving to a maximum height of 0.2 m. In contrast to no. 3, NT 9916/10 (NT 9931 1616) is lightly-built with a wall constructed of fairly large blocks, 0.7 m wide and 0.2 m high. It has internal dimensions of 6.7 m x 3.7 m. Enclosure NT 9916/11 (NT 9935 1603) at the base of the boulder-strewn valley slope is 13.5 m long and comprises of three sides only, the E being open. The wall is built of a single line of rubble, presumably collected from the adjacent rock slope. Enclosure NT 9816/2 (NT 9897 1642) measures 14 m x 10 m internally within wall footings surviving to 0.5 m high and spread to 1.2 m. No. 19 (NT 9936 1600) is a rubble-walled, circular enclosure about 3.5 m in diameter, open on the E side. The wall is
0.4 m high and spread to 0.9 m wide.
The suitable sites for occupation in this area are limited to the river terraces between the valley slopes and the floodplains. The buildings have similarities, notably in their construction, as far as this can be ascertained, their distribution, state of preservation and the preponderance of rounded end-walls, though their size can vary considerably. They are probably broadly contemporary and presumably most if not all were originally conceived as dwellings. The existence of small enclosures in the vicinity of the village, probably for stock use and the absence of evidence for cultivation in the form of ridge and furrow and clearance cairns would seem to indicate at least a strong pastoral element in the economy. However ridge and furrow does occur extensively to the NW of the village [NT 9916/18], and on the summit area of Hartside Hill up the considerable slopes to the SW of the village. A hollow-way [NT 9916/7] does extend from the village close to building 6 diagonally westwards and upwards to this summit area, but it follows a logical route up the slope which could have been in use at any period in history or prehistory; it is not necessarily linking the village with ontemporary fields. A further hollow-way [NT 9916/8] ascends the valley side from the vicinity of building 9, but this is very steep and appears little more than a well-worn path. (6a)
N1283
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; A S Phillips
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; D Smith
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; B H Pritchard
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: SE Cheviots Project ; RCHME
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; D Smith
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; B H Pritchard
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: SE Cheviots Project ; RCHME
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