(NU 01141577) Camp. (1)

The native settlement at Ingram Hill consists of a circular enclosure about 160ft in diameter containing the remains of several small rectangular houses (see plan - fig 1). Partial excavation by the Durham University Excavation Committee under the direction of A H A Hogg in 1939, and further examination by the latter in 1948 indicated a possible three-phase situation: a 1st century BC palisade contemporary with, or superseded by, a walled enclosure, followed by a post-Roman settlement of seven or eight houses.
Sections across the enclosing feature revealed an outer ditch of blunt 'V' profile generally 5ft wide and 2-3ft deep separated by a narrow berm from a wall of partly orthostatic masonry with rubble or clay infilling 7ft wide and 3ft high. At distances varying from 3ft to 10ft from the inner face of the wall was a palisade trench about 1ft wide and the same deep with an entrance corresponding with that through the wall (see plan - fig 2). The only habitational remains associated with this phase were traces of the palisade trench of a possible hut. Finds were limited to a third of a ?3rd century AD pot, and a few sherds of coarse ware. The houses, built mainly in contact with the enclosure wall, adhered to a fairly uniform plan of one large rectangular room with a smaller one adjacent. One (No 2) when cleared showed the large room to be 20ft long and 10ft tapering to 8ft wide, and the smaller one 10ft by 8ft. Construction of the side walls was of large and small stones, and two post holes against the east wall suggested a penthouse roof (see fig 3). The one free-standing house (no 8) was also examined and found to be of similar construction but paved (see fig 5). There were no dateable finds from either. The houses have no parallel in Great Britain, but are similar in plan to some found near Stavanger which date from the 6th to 8th centuries AD (see fig 6). (2)(3)

A univallate palisaded enclosure is known to precede the ditch and internal revetted mound on the settlement at Ingram Hill. (4)

No surface indications of the palisade trench survive, and the enclosure presents the typical form and construction of the local native settlement. There are no visible internal remains earlier than the rectangular house sites (see photograph of excavated house 8). Resurveyed at 1:2500. (5)

Radiocarbon assay on material collected from the later bank gave a date of 220BC - 90 (I-5316 half-life 5568). (6)

Any evidence of contemporary cultivation has probably been destroyed by the later rig and furrow which surrounds this settlement. (7)

NU 011158. Palisaded and embanked settlement on Ingram Hill, of three structural phases:
(1) Enclosure formed by single palisade.
(2) Perimeter consisting of a slight ditch and upcast bank revetted in stone, surmounted by a palisade, of possible 3rd century BC date.
(3) Rectangular stone buildings, of later date. (8)(9)

NU 0114 1577. The remains of the Ingram Hill enclosed settlement are located on a gentle north-east-facing slope at roughly 160m OD; they are overlooked by Ingram Hill to the west, with extensive views down the valley to the east. The settlement takes the form of a near circular low enclosing bank up to 4.5 m wide and 1.1 m in height, surrounding an area roughly 42m in diameter. Only slight traces of an outer ditch are evident. The later entrance in the south-east is now obscured by disturbance from earlier excavations. Little evidence of occupation contemporary with the palisaded east inner faces of the enclosure wall. One detached shieling is located near the centre of the enclosure.
A later prehistoric enclosed settlement containing Medieval rectangular buildings, centred at NU 0113 1576, is visible as an earthwork on air photographs. The perimeter is formed by a circular bank, 1.5m wide, with an internal diameter of 44m (enclosing an area of 0.16ha). It is very disturbed and not completely visible. To the north-west and east there are possible sections of the narrow outer ditch mentioned by previous authorities. Internal features include the mutilated remains of up to five rectangular buildings; the most complete being at NU 0114 1578. This latter structure has two compartments. The largest measures 4.7m by 2.7m, and the smaller measures 3.5m by 2.5m. (10)

Part of Scheduled Monument 32782: Ingram Farm prehistoric to post-medieval settlement, agricultural and funerary remains. (11)

NU 0114 1577. The remains of the Ingram Hill enclosed settlement are located on a gentle NE-facing slope at roughly 160 m OD; they are overlooked by Ingram Hill to the W, with extensive views down the valley to the E. The settlement takes the form of a near circular low enclosing bank up to 4.5 m wide and 1.1 m in height, surrounding an area roughly 42 m in diameter. Only slight traces of an outer ditch are evident. The later entrance in the SE is now obscured by disturbance from earlier excavations. Little evidence of occupation contemporary with the palisaded settlement remains , and the interior now contains the foundations of a group of shielings mostly adjoining the N and E inner faces of the enclosure wall. One detached shieling is located near the centre of the enclosure. (12a)

NU 011 158; NU 011 156. Ingram Hill camp and lynchets. Scheduled No ND/182. (12b)