Deserted medieval village west of Quickening Cote (Alwinton)
Chapel at Aldensheles (Quickening Cote). (1)
(Area NT 887063) In 1317 Richard Horsley had licence to alienate in mortmain a messuage, 100 acres of arable, 60 acres of meadow and 20s rent in Lynnshields and Alwinton to maintain a chaplain for daily service in the Chapel of St Nicholas in his manor of Aldensheles, in which year the chapel was founded. (a)
Aldensheles, afterwards Aydon Shields, was the farm now called Quickening Cote. (b)
The site of the chapel may be marked by a modern sheepfold on the north side of Ridlees Burn about 3/4 mile east of Quickening Cote. An elevated flood plain is bisected by a small stream, and to the east of this there remain foundations of three small cottages, probably medieval, with their enclosures.
West of the stream there is an enclosure about 300 yards long bounded by the remains of an earth and stone rampart, a rectangular annex projects southwards from the main enclosure, and near its east end a branch rampart runs down to the steep bank above Ridlees Burn.
In the south-east corner of the great enclosure there is a smaller one, and within it are marks which seem to indicate a little building with axis east-west.
The Sheepfold is astride the main rampart's return northwards and everything within it is much obliterated. The eastern part of the south rampart of the great enclosure terminates in a row of ten boulders artificially arranged.
Appearances suggest a Celtic settlement reoccupied in the early medieval period and abandoned after destruction in the Scottish Wars. (2)
In 1903 it was reported that 2 or 3 stones had been recovered from the foundations of the 'old Kirk near Linbriggs'. During July of the same year Adam Dagg, shepherd of Linbriggs, pointed out the foundations of old buildings on the right bank of the R Coquet; he said the foundations were called Aydon Sheles, or Aydonsheles Kirk. Many years previously an inscribed stone which could not be deciphered was found (suggested to be a grave-cover) and later reburied.
There seems no doubt that this is the site of the ancient manor of Aldensheles held by R Horsley in 1317. In 1318 the lands were laid waste; the Chapel of St Nicholas may have been demolished at the same time. (3)
Centred NT 88700631. Remains of a deserted hamlet lie upon gentle south-east slopes of moorland pasture at approx 670 feet above sea-level. The site over-looks the valley of the Ridlees Burn from the north, and is sheltered from the north by high ground and from the east by a low ridge.
Seven steading foundations were located. Six lie east of a small burn flowing southwards to the Ridlees burn, the seventh to the west; all lie to the north of an east-west footpath from Linsheeles. Their lengths range from 10m to 20m. All are 40m in width, and all are orientated east-west except the most north-westerly one, which lies north-south with an entrance in the east side. The others probably had entrances in their south sides. Several have traces of garths adjoining them. The foundations are grass-covered banks of earth and stone, 1m to 3m wide, with a maximum height of 0.3m.
To the west of the modern sheepfold are remains of a large enclosure extending westwards. Adjoining the sheepfold on the same side is a small scooped area and, beyond, a small enclosure. The marks indicating a little building with axis east-west (Authority 2 refers) could not be located. None of the foundation remains located with east-west axes, could be certainly associated with the site of the chapel. (4)
The 'great enclosure' noted by authority 2 and commented upon by F1 merges into, and is contemporary with travelling moorland enclosure banks which in these hills run for many miles and date from the 18th/19th centuries. There are no physical indications to suggest that the enclosure formed a part of the 14th century village, nor are there any traces of a 'Celtic settlement' as suggested by authority 2. (5)
The depopulation remains are generally as described by F1. Sketch survey at 1:2500 scale. (6)
The evidence linking this site with that of St Nicholas' Chapel is nebulous, and the foundations and cross base at NT 87950615 on Heathery Hill (NT 80 NE 10) seem more likely remains. (7)
13th century references to outfields in the hopes and valleys of north Tynedale have been noted by Harbottle and Newman. It appears to have diminished after the Scottish incursions of the early 14th century and not recovered until the 16th century. Documentation relating to Aldenshiels suggests a similar use and decline. (8)
Scheduled. (9)
Visible on aerial photographs. (10)
Archaeological survey of ten structures and 35 features, including associated enclosures and outlying field systems. The medieval settlement comprises three clusters of structures broadly laid out in an inverted T-shape, bisected by a stream running roughly north-south. The remains have been grouped into two broad phases: the earliest phase is based on a tentative interpretation of the sub-circular enclosure as part of an Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed farmstead; the second phase includes the medieval and post-medieval settlement and field system.
The main medieval settlement included between 10 and 12 possible structures or building platforms, with associated enclosures and outlying field systems. The structures to the east of the stream are better preserved with upstanding banks; to the west features are generally represented by poorly-defined hollows and faint banks. The reason for this difference is unknown but it may be the result of two seprate chronological phases of settlement, a reduction in size of settlement, or a different construction style. The structures all have roughly similar sub-rectangular plans and range between 22m to 9m long by 8m to 5m wide.
The settlement may have emerged as a group of seasonal shielings and expanded into a more permanent settlement given the number of buildings and evidence of cultivation. (11)
NT 8873 0632. Deserted medieval village 320m W of Quickening Cote. Scheduled RSM No 20921. Documentary evidence supports the tradition that this is the settlement of Aldensheles for which there are copious records between 1242 and 1430 and again in the 17th century. The pattern elsewhere in upland Northumberland suggests a similar picture of settlement expansion in the 13th and 14th centuries which was then curbed by Scottish raids for several centuries. (12)
(Area NT 887063) In 1317 Richard Horsley had licence to alienate in mortmain a messuage, 100 acres of arable, 60 acres of meadow and 20s rent in Lynnshields and Alwinton to maintain a chaplain for daily service in the Chapel of St Nicholas in his manor of Aldensheles, in which year the chapel was founded. (a)
Aldensheles, afterwards Aydon Shields, was the farm now called Quickening Cote. (b)
The site of the chapel may be marked by a modern sheepfold on the north side of Ridlees Burn about 3/4 mile east of Quickening Cote. An elevated flood plain is bisected by a small stream, and to the east of this there remain foundations of three small cottages, probably medieval, with their enclosures.
West of the stream there is an enclosure about 300 yards long bounded by the remains of an earth and stone rampart, a rectangular annex projects southwards from the main enclosure, and near its east end a branch rampart runs down to the steep bank above Ridlees Burn.
In the south-east corner of the great enclosure there is a smaller one, and within it are marks which seem to indicate a little building with axis east-west.
The Sheepfold is astride the main rampart's return northwards and everything within it is much obliterated. The eastern part of the south rampart of the great enclosure terminates in a row of ten boulders artificially arranged.
Appearances suggest a Celtic settlement reoccupied in the early medieval period and abandoned after destruction in the Scottish Wars. (2)
In 1903 it was reported that 2 or 3 stones had been recovered from the foundations of the 'old Kirk near Linbriggs'. During July of the same year Adam Dagg, shepherd of Linbriggs, pointed out the foundations of old buildings on the right bank of the R Coquet; he said the foundations were called Aydon Sheles, or Aydonsheles Kirk. Many years previously an inscribed stone which could not be deciphered was found (suggested to be a grave-cover) and later reburied.
There seems no doubt that this is the site of the ancient manor of Aldensheles held by R Horsley in 1317. In 1318 the lands were laid waste; the Chapel of St Nicholas may have been demolished at the same time. (3)
Centred NT 88700631. Remains of a deserted hamlet lie upon gentle south-east slopes of moorland pasture at approx 670 feet above sea-level. The site over-looks the valley of the Ridlees Burn from the north, and is sheltered from the north by high ground and from the east by a low ridge.
Seven steading foundations were located. Six lie east of a small burn flowing southwards to the Ridlees burn, the seventh to the west; all lie to the north of an east-west footpath from Linsheeles. Their lengths range from 10m to 20m. All are 40m in width, and all are orientated east-west except the most north-westerly one, which lies north-south with an entrance in the east side. The others probably had entrances in their south sides. Several have traces of garths adjoining them. The foundations are grass-covered banks of earth and stone, 1m to 3m wide, with a maximum height of 0.3m.
To the west of the modern sheepfold are remains of a large enclosure extending westwards. Adjoining the sheepfold on the same side is a small scooped area and, beyond, a small enclosure. The marks indicating a little building with axis east-west (Authority 2 refers) could not be located. None of the foundation remains located with east-west axes, could be certainly associated with the site of the chapel. (4)
The 'great enclosure' noted by authority 2 and commented upon by F1 merges into, and is contemporary with travelling moorland enclosure banks which in these hills run for many miles and date from the 18th/19th centuries. There are no physical indications to suggest that the enclosure formed a part of the 14th century village, nor are there any traces of a 'Celtic settlement' as suggested by authority 2. (5)
The depopulation remains are generally as described by F1. Sketch survey at 1:2500 scale. (6)
The evidence linking this site with that of St Nicholas' Chapel is nebulous, and the foundations and cross base at NT 87950615 on Heathery Hill (NT 80 NE 10) seem more likely remains. (7)
13th century references to outfields in the hopes and valleys of north Tynedale have been noted by Harbottle and Newman. It appears to have diminished after the Scottish incursions of the early 14th century and not recovered until the 16th century. Documentation relating to Aldenshiels suggests a similar use and decline. (8)
Scheduled. (9)
Visible on aerial photographs. (10)
Archaeological survey of ten structures and 35 features, including associated enclosures and outlying field systems. The medieval settlement comprises three clusters of structures broadly laid out in an inverted T-shape, bisected by a stream running roughly north-south. The remains have been grouped into two broad phases: the earliest phase is based on a tentative interpretation of the sub-circular enclosure as part of an Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed farmstead; the second phase includes the medieval and post-medieval settlement and field system.
The main medieval settlement included between 10 and 12 possible structures or building platforms, with associated enclosures and outlying field systems. The structures to the east of the stream are better preserved with upstanding banks; to the west features are generally represented by poorly-defined hollows and faint banks. The reason for this difference is unknown but it may be the result of two seprate chronological phases of settlement, a reduction in size of settlement, or a different construction style. The structures all have roughly similar sub-rectangular plans and range between 22m to 9m long by 8m to 5m wide.
The settlement may have emerged as a group of seasonal shielings and expanded into a more permanent settlement given the number of buildings and evidence of cultivation. (11)
NT 8873 0632. Deserted medieval village 320m W of Quickening Cote. Scheduled RSM No 20921. Documentary evidence supports the tradition that this is the settlement of Aldensheles for which there are copious records between 1242 and 1430 and again in the 17th century. The pattern elsewhere in upland Northumberland suggests a similar picture of settlement expansion in the 13th and 14th centuries which was then curbed by Scottish raids for several centuries. (12)
N205
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; A S Phillips
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, Otterburn Training Area 1996
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Aldenshiels deserted medieval settlement 2008; Northern Archaeological Associates
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, Otterburn Training Area 1996
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Aldenshiels deserted medieval settlement 2008; Northern Archaeological Associates
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