Abberwick medieval village, tower house and field system (Edlingham)
(NU 12551315) Dunkirk (Site of). (1)
A lease of 1572 mentions a tower at Abberwick, and another dated 1689 refers to a house called 'The Tower'.
In the hollow of the field called 'Dunkirk-Field' is a stone, supposed to be the step of a church door. This is no evidence that a chapel ever existed at this place, but the spot, around which are many mounds, may possible have been the site of the tower of Abberwick. (2)
The site of an ancient church. (3)
The OS siting symbol occurs on a prominent rectangular mound measuring 12m WSW-ENE by 7m NNW-SSE, with a maximum height of 1.5m. Around the upper edges of the mound are low banks containing undresses stones, representing the foundations of a building. Another bank divides the area into two compartments. There is no trace of the stone referred to.
The small size of the building and the lack of literary evidence regarding a church support the statement that the site is possibly that of the tower.
Centred NU 125131. Around the mound are other mounds and banks representing the remains of a depopulated village. The banks vary in width from 2m to 4m, and in height from 0.3m to 1m and divide the area into small crofts, some of which are ridge and furrow ploughed.
Smaller enclosures, mounds and platforms represent the buried foundations of buildings. The whole area is under pasture. There are no traces of antiquity to be seen in any of the existing buildings of the hamlet.
Although there is no evidence of dating the remains are probably those of a medieval village contemporary with the tower mentioned in 1572. Reason for depopulation not known. (4)
Listed as the deserted medieval village of Abberwick. (5)
Remains visible on aerial photographs. (6)
Surveyed at 1:2500. (7)
Abberwick deserted medieval village, NU 128132. Abberwick was a member of the barony of Wark on Tweed. 1296: 14 taxpayers. 1336: six tax-payers. 1377 Poll Tax: 15 adults. 1665 Hearth Tax: 17 households.
Early 18th century depopulation and dispersal of farms. Armstrong's map of 1769 shows Abberwick as a farm.
Extensive earthworks of the former village survive around the modern farm (NU 130133 to NU 124130. Substantial remains to the west of the farm, including house platforms with enclosures - known as 'Dunkirk'. No evidence to support this area as the site of a chapel. (8)
NU 128132. Deserted medieval village of Abberwick. (9)
Abberwick Tower. [Details as above]. (10)
Abberwick deserted medieval village visible on infra-red line scan. (11)
Scheduled. (12)
NU 125 131. Abberwick deserted village. Scheduled No ND/559. (13a)
Little is known of the village in the Mediaeval period, although a township in the Ros Barony was possessed in the 13th and 14th centuries by the Knights Hospitallers, the centre of which was Abberwick. In 1560 the township was split into several estates. Robert Collingwood built a tower before he was punished for taking oart in the Rising of the Northern Earls in 1569. It was documented in deeds of 1572 and 1689. (13b-c)
A lease of 1572 mentions a tower at Abberwick, and another dated 1689 refers to a house called 'The Tower'.
In the hollow of the field called 'Dunkirk-Field' is a stone, supposed to be the step of a church door. This is no evidence that a chapel ever existed at this place, but the spot, around which are many mounds, may possible have been the site of the tower of Abberwick. (2)
The site of an ancient church. (3)
The OS siting symbol occurs on a prominent rectangular mound measuring 12m WSW-ENE by 7m NNW-SSE, with a maximum height of 1.5m. Around the upper edges of the mound are low banks containing undresses stones, representing the foundations of a building. Another bank divides the area into two compartments. There is no trace of the stone referred to.
The small size of the building and the lack of literary evidence regarding a church support the statement that the site is possibly that of the tower.
Centred NU 125131. Around the mound are other mounds and banks representing the remains of a depopulated village. The banks vary in width from 2m to 4m, and in height from 0.3m to 1m and divide the area into small crofts, some of which are ridge and furrow ploughed.
Smaller enclosures, mounds and platforms represent the buried foundations of buildings. The whole area is under pasture. There are no traces of antiquity to be seen in any of the existing buildings of the hamlet.
Although there is no evidence of dating the remains are probably those of a medieval village contemporary with the tower mentioned in 1572. Reason for depopulation not known. (4)
Listed as the deserted medieval village of Abberwick. (5)
Remains visible on aerial photographs. (6)
Surveyed at 1:2500. (7)
Abberwick deserted medieval village, NU 128132. Abberwick was a member of the barony of Wark on Tweed. 1296: 14 taxpayers. 1336: six tax-payers. 1377 Poll Tax: 15 adults. 1665 Hearth Tax: 17 households.
Early 18th century depopulation and dispersal of farms. Armstrong's map of 1769 shows Abberwick as a farm.
Extensive earthworks of the former village survive around the modern farm (NU 130133 to NU 124130. Substantial remains to the west of the farm, including house platforms with enclosures - known as 'Dunkirk'. No evidence to support this area as the site of a chapel. (8)
NU 128132. Deserted medieval village of Abberwick. (9)
Abberwick Tower. [Details as above]. (10)
Abberwick deserted medieval village visible on infra-red line scan. (11)
Scheduled. (12)
NU 125 131. Abberwick deserted village. Scheduled No ND/559. (13a)
Little is known of the village in the Mediaeval period, although a township in the Ros Barony was possessed in the 13th and 14th centuries by the Knights Hospitallers, the centre of which was Abberwick. In 1560 the township was split into several estates. Robert Collingwood built a tower before he was punished for taking oart in the Rising of the Northern Earls in 1569. It was documented in deeds of 1572 and 1689. (13b-c)
N4458
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; E Geary
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
FIELD SURVEY, Deserted Medieval Villages of North Northumberland 1978; P J Dixon
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
FIELD SURVEY, Deserted Medieval Villages of North Northumberland 1978; P J Dixon
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