The Ringses Camp on Beanley Moor (Hedgeley)
(NU09991860) Camp. (1)
Ringses: An old wall runs from the north-west quadrant of the camp, down hill to the north into the marsh known in the 15th century as 'Rochester Pool'. (NU09971865 to NU09971870). (2)
Not quite correctly drawn on 6 inch. Bracken covered in summer. Ramparts of earth and stone. Defences on the east and south sides very impressive, but decayed on the north and west. Original entrances probably where shown but the east one seems confused by a traverse bank across the outer and the middle ditches. In the western entrance the middle wall seems to have been turned outwards in order to seal its own and the outer ditches. No sign of interior occupation, but a hut-circle is visible in the inner ditch north of the west entrance. There seems to have been a trial coal-sinking plumb in the centre of the fort. The remains of a wall run downhill to the north-east (NU 10031863 to NU10081870). (3)
Circular camp with 3 ditches and the appearance of a well in the centre; about 60 paces without the outer ditch are the remains of a slight circumvallation of stone; to the south and east are small circular remains as if for videttes, or cooking places or shelters for shepherds. The west part of the camp is nearly obliterated. (a)(4)
This earthwork of very large proportions is situated on a non-defensive level area of moorland. It is triple ramparted and ditched with a small outer bank along the southern side; the central enclosed area is small compared with the whole. The ramparts vary in height from 0.5m (on internal rampart) to 4m (on outer bank) - the ramparts decrease in height and width from the outer to the inner - the average width of the inner bank is 4m and of the outer bank 8m.
The work is cut in two by an east-west footpath which utilises the east and west entrances of the earthwork in its transit. The former entrance is somewhat mutilated but the latter is well defined with transverse banks along north and south sides; a small bank of earth and stones running in a NNW/SSE direction from the outer side of the entrance helps to demarcate it.
Another entrance on south-west side is similar in style and construction to the latter but enters the earthwork at an oblique angle.
An odd feature about the construction of the earthwork is that the southern defences are not carried on in a continuous line to the northern defences, i.e. they are staggered somewhat to the east.
There are faint traces of two hut circles within the central enclosed area and four hut circles of average diameter of 9m outside the earthwork at north-west side; the latter are well defined with walls of stones and earth and with scooped interiors - the middle hut has a door jamb still standing. Owing to the depth of snow at time of investigation it is possible that other hut circles may have been missed: it is considered that the numerous circular pits to the north and north-west are modern quarrying and are similar to other scattered all over the adjacent moor.
Although the site is non-defensive in outlook, the earthwork is defensive in construction and character. It cannot be compared with any earthworks which have been investigated in Northumberland to date - an apt description of it would be a 'refuge' type of earthwork of probable native origin. (5)
Listed as pre-Roman Iron Age multivallate (forts, settlements and enclosures), with an overlying settlement of round stone huts. (6)
Also listed under Romano-British enclosed stone-built settlements. (7)
A well-preserved fort with complex entrances. Only vague traces of any internal huts survive, but two good external stone-founded circles with associated fragments of walling to the north-west are clearly secondary. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (8)
Survey work by Dave Cowley (ex-Newcastle University Archaeology Dept) around the Ringses fort has identified a field system covering c.1.5km square, may be Iron Age. Cord rigg has been identified from aerial photographs, c.NU 09851848. Small section through field bank and a core through peat to the south of the hill fort taken in 1988/9. (9)
[see NU 01 NE 41]
NU 099185 Fenton Hill. Cord rig, contemporary with fort. (10)
Site visible on infra-red imagery. (11)
The site was in good condition when visited during a survey in 1994. However, it has become badly obscured by bracken, which will have caused damage to archaeological remains through root penetration. The site is a spectacular example of an Iron Age settlement with clearly defined, well preserved ramparts which are visible from a considerable distance away. (12)
An Iron Age hillfort and an overlying settlement of Roman date, centred at NU 0999 1860, are visible as earthworks on air photographs. These features are situated in an area of open moorland looking north towards Eglingham. The Iron Age enclosure (known as Ringses) consists of three ditch and rampart circuits, with a probable entrance on the west side. The earthworks are much mutilated and no internal features could be seen on the air photographs available. Externally the enclosure is 102m in diameter and the area within the ramparts measures 1577m. The ramparts and ditch become progressiely narrower towards the centre.
Only one feature of the Roman settlement remains could be plotted from the air photographs available. It is a hut circle that lies to the north-west of the outer rampart. This feature consists of a single bank 10.5m in diameter and 1.4m wide. (13)
Scheduled. (14)
NU 100 186. The Ringses camp. Scheduled No ND/57. (15a)
An Iron Age hillfort and an overlying settlement of Roman date, centred at NU 0999 1860, are visible as earthworks on air photographs. These features are situated in an area of open moorland looking north towards Eglingham. The Iron Age enclosure (known as Ringses) consists of three ditch and rampart circuits, with a probable entrance on the west side. The earthworks are much mutilated and no internal features could be seen on the air photographs available. Externally the enclosure is 102m in diameter and the area within the ramparts measures 1577m. The ramparts and ditch become progressiely narrower towards the centre.
Only one feature of the Roman settlement remains could be plotted from the air photographs available. It is a hut circle that lies to the north-west of the outer rampart. This feature consists of a single bank 10.5m in diameter and 1.4m wide. (15b)
Ringses: An old wall runs from the north-west quadrant of the camp, down hill to the north into the marsh known in the 15th century as 'Rochester Pool'. (NU09971865 to NU09971870). (2)
Not quite correctly drawn on 6 inch. Bracken covered in summer. Ramparts of earth and stone. Defences on the east and south sides very impressive, but decayed on the north and west. Original entrances probably where shown but the east one seems confused by a traverse bank across the outer and the middle ditches. In the western entrance the middle wall seems to have been turned outwards in order to seal its own and the outer ditches. No sign of interior occupation, but a hut-circle is visible in the inner ditch north of the west entrance. There seems to have been a trial coal-sinking plumb in the centre of the fort. The remains of a wall run downhill to the north-east (NU 10031863 to NU10081870). (3)
Circular camp with 3 ditches and the appearance of a well in the centre; about 60 paces without the outer ditch are the remains of a slight circumvallation of stone; to the south and east are small circular remains as if for videttes, or cooking places or shelters for shepherds. The west part of the camp is nearly obliterated. (a)(4)
This earthwork of very large proportions is situated on a non-defensive level area of moorland. It is triple ramparted and ditched with a small outer bank along the southern side; the central enclosed area is small compared with the whole. The ramparts vary in height from 0.5m (on internal rampart) to 4m (on outer bank) - the ramparts decrease in height and width from the outer to the inner - the average width of the inner bank is 4m and of the outer bank 8m.
The work is cut in two by an east-west footpath which utilises the east and west entrances of the earthwork in its transit. The former entrance is somewhat mutilated but the latter is well defined with transverse banks along north and south sides; a small bank of earth and stones running in a NNW/SSE direction from the outer side of the entrance helps to demarcate it.
Another entrance on south-west side is similar in style and construction to the latter but enters the earthwork at an oblique angle.
An odd feature about the construction of the earthwork is that the southern defences are not carried on in a continuous line to the northern defences, i.e. they are staggered somewhat to the east.
There are faint traces of two hut circles within the central enclosed area and four hut circles of average diameter of 9m outside the earthwork at north-west side; the latter are well defined with walls of stones and earth and with scooped interiors - the middle hut has a door jamb still standing. Owing to the depth of snow at time of investigation it is possible that other hut circles may have been missed: it is considered that the numerous circular pits to the north and north-west are modern quarrying and are similar to other scattered all over the adjacent moor.
Although the site is non-defensive in outlook, the earthwork is defensive in construction and character. It cannot be compared with any earthworks which have been investigated in Northumberland to date - an apt description of it would be a 'refuge' type of earthwork of probable native origin. (5)
Listed as pre-Roman Iron Age multivallate (forts, settlements and enclosures), with an overlying settlement of round stone huts. (6)
Also listed under Romano-British enclosed stone-built settlements. (7)
A well-preserved fort with complex entrances. Only vague traces of any internal huts survive, but two good external stone-founded circles with associated fragments of walling to the north-west are clearly secondary. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (8)
Survey work by Dave Cowley (ex-Newcastle University Archaeology Dept) around the Ringses fort has identified a field system covering c.1.5km square, may be Iron Age. Cord rigg has been identified from aerial photographs, c.NU 09851848. Small section through field bank and a core through peat to the south of the hill fort taken in 1988/9. (9)
[see NU 01 NE 41]
NU 099185 Fenton Hill. Cord rig, contemporary with fort. (10)
Site visible on infra-red imagery. (11)
The site was in good condition when visited during a survey in 1994. However, it has become badly obscured by bracken, which will have caused damage to archaeological remains through root penetration. The site is a spectacular example of an Iron Age settlement with clearly defined, well preserved ramparts which are visible from a considerable distance away. (12)
An Iron Age hillfort and an overlying settlement of Roman date, centred at NU 0999 1860, are visible as earthworks on air photographs. These features are situated in an area of open moorland looking north towards Eglingham. The Iron Age enclosure (known as Ringses) consists of three ditch and rampart circuits, with a probable entrance on the west side. The earthworks are much mutilated and no internal features could be seen on the air photographs available. Externally the enclosure is 102m in diameter and the area within the ramparts measures 1577m. The ramparts and ditch become progressiely narrower towards the centre.
Only one feature of the Roman settlement remains could be plotted from the air photographs available. It is a hut circle that lies to the north-west of the outer rampart. This feature consists of a single bank 10.5m in diameter and 1.4m wide. (13)
Scheduled. (14)
NU 100 186. The Ringses camp. Scheduled No ND/57. (15a)
An Iron Age hillfort and an overlying settlement of Roman date, centred at NU 0999 1860, are visible as earthworks on air photographs. These features are situated in an area of open moorland looking north towards Eglingham. The Iron Age enclosure (known as Ringses) consists of three ditch and rampart circuits, with a probable entrance on the west side. The earthworks are much mutilated and no internal features could be seen on the air photographs available. Externally the enclosure is 102m in diameter and the area within the ramparts measures 1577m. The ramparts and ditch become progressiely narrower towards the centre.
Only one feature of the Roman settlement remains could be plotted from the air photographs available. It is a hut circle that lies to the north-west of the outer rampart. This feature consists of a single bank 10.5m in diameter and 1.4m wide. (15b)
N3145
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; R W Emsley
MANAGEMENT SURVEY, Beanley Estate Survey (CARR-ELLISON ESTATE, BEANLEY) 1994; NEWCASTLE CITY ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Till Tweed NMP 2003; English Heritage
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; R W Emsley
MANAGEMENT SURVEY, Beanley Estate Survey (CARR-ELLISON ESTATE, BEANLEY) 1994; NEWCASTLE CITY ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Till Tweed NMP 2003; English Heritage
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
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