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Site Details

Possible Romano-British or earlier enclosure near Whitelee (Rochester and Byrness)

A programme of fieldwalking has identified a possible Romano-British homestead near Whitelee. It consists of a D-shaped enclosure about 50m north west to south east by about 36m north east to south west. The enclosure wall is is built of stone and is visible mainly as a turf-covered mound and stands to a height of at least 1m. There is an entrance 2.6m wide through the north east wall. An earthen bank runs parallel to the north east wall of the enclosure and may define an outer yard. Around the west, south west and south sides of the enclosure is a double ditch, possibly a drainage feature for run-off from the the hillslope above.
Examination of aerial photographs suggests traces of a hut circle at the north end of the enclosure and an extensive field system on the hillside to the south. (1)

A very well-defined oval-shaped enclosure with double ramparts, c70m N-S, clearly visible on lidar imagery. Looks potentially earlier than Romano-British, perhaps a small Iron Age hillfort. Interesting landscape location relating to the natural routeway now occupied by the A68. Low earthen banks visible on lidar imagery, notably to the S, may represent contemporary fields but are probably of later date. (2)
N57
Roman (43 to 410)
Iron Age (800BC to 43AD)
AERIAL INVESTIGATION AND MAPPING, Redesdale Lidar Landscapes project ; Oracle Heritage Services


Source of Reference
Local History of Rochester and Byrness

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Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.

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