Old Sheepfold Settlement (Kirknewton)
Yeavering Bell. Photo by Harry Rowland.
Homestead with stell (modern) superimposed. (Old sheepfold published at NT 93892921). (1)
The present fold partially overlies a smaller and roughly circular enclosure visible externally at the south-west corner as an earth and stone bank with a number of upright retaining stones, and internally as a well spread bank with slight scooping. It probably constitutes part of the adjoining complex of small ruined folds and field walls (NT 92 NW 69) associated with the sheep runs, which are of no great age, now superseded by the larger modern unit. (2)
The earth and stone bank referred to by Authority 2 is approximately 2m thick between visible facing stones where best preserved in the south-west corner, the maximum 'scooping' at this point 1.5m. The north side appears to have been built up to give a platform effect, but the large amounts of stone on the scarp may be the residue from a fallen wall, there having been much mutilation on the north, north-west and north-east sides. There is possible original entrance in the south-west but the remains are inconclusive.
There are numerous amorphous scarps and hollows within the enclosure which are difficult to interpret and which may be the result of stone robbing, but there are two conjoined crescentic scarps which may represent the remains of partially 'scooped' hut sites, average estimated diameter 5m (see 1:625 enlargement).
On the north-west of the enclosure are several stony lynchets which are the possible contempory remains of an associated field system. (Part of NT 92 NW 58). The whole is probably a modern sheepfold overlying a much earlier, undateable enclosure, but one which shows similar characteristics to other Iron Age/Romano-British type enclosures in this area. Surveyed at 1:10,000. (3)
Romano-British settlements east of Yeavering, formerly scheduled monument 508 - Old Sheepfold settlement, now combined under Northum 602 - Romano-British settlements east of Yeavering Bell containing the Old Sheepfold settlement and settlements to west and south of it.
The settlement consists of four circular enclosures with diameters of 60ft, 60ft, 75ft and 100ft. The !old sheepfold! is the largest of these and is superimposed on an 8ft wide wall. The walls are mostly 2ft to 3ft high and there are remains of circular huts, as well as other walls in their vicinity. Bracken and rough grazing. (4)(5)
Scheduled. (6)
NT 937295 Romano-British settlements east of Yeavering Bell containing the Old Sheepfold settlement and settlements to the west and south of it; scheduled. (7a)
The present fold partially overlies a smaller and roughly circular enclosure visible externally at the south-west corner as an earth and stone bank with a number of upright retaining stones, and internally as a well spread bank with slight scooping. It probably constitutes part of the adjoining complex of small ruined folds and field walls (NT 92 NW 69) associated with the sheep runs, which are of no great age, now superseded by the larger modern unit. (2)
The earth and stone bank referred to by Authority 2 is approximately 2m thick between visible facing stones where best preserved in the south-west corner, the maximum 'scooping' at this point 1.5m. The north side appears to have been built up to give a platform effect, but the large amounts of stone on the scarp may be the residue from a fallen wall, there having been much mutilation on the north, north-west and north-east sides. There is possible original entrance in the south-west but the remains are inconclusive.
There are numerous amorphous scarps and hollows within the enclosure which are difficult to interpret and which may be the result of stone robbing, but there are two conjoined crescentic scarps which may represent the remains of partially 'scooped' hut sites, average estimated diameter 5m (see 1:625 enlargement).
On the north-west of the enclosure are several stony lynchets which are the possible contempory remains of an associated field system. (Part of NT 92 NW 58). The whole is probably a modern sheepfold overlying a much earlier, undateable enclosure, but one which shows similar characteristics to other Iron Age/Romano-British type enclosures in this area. Surveyed at 1:10,000. (3)
Romano-British settlements east of Yeavering, formerly scheduled monument 508 - Old Sheepfold settlement, now combined under Northum 602 - Romano-British settlements east of Yeavering Bell containing the Old Sheepfold settlement and settlements to west and south of it.
The settlement consists of four circular enclosures with diameters of 60ft, 60ft, 75ft and 100ft. The !old sheepfold! is the largest of these and is superimposed on an 8ft wide wall. The walls are mostly 2ft to 3ft high and there are remains of circular huts, as well as other walls in their vicinity. Bracken and rough grazing. (4)(5)
Scheduled. (6)
NT 937295 Romano-British settlements east of Yeavering Bell containing the Old Sheepfold settlement and settlements to the west and south of it; scheduled. (7a)
N1437
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; R W Emsley
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; S Ainsworth
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; S Ainsworth
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