Haw Hill Camp, Kielder Water (Falstone)
(NY 66778974) Haw Hill. Ancient Earthwork. (1)
About 500 yards south by east of Plashetts Station, on ground called Kennel Hall Knowe, are the remains of a five sided camp, nearly square, with sides of about 90 yards. It has the Tyne on the south, the Plashetts Burn water on the west, and a bog surrounding it on the other sides. The interior contains about 1-1/4 acres and 'bears the usual marks of excavation, supposed to be for dwellings'.
The entrance appears to have been on the higher north west side. The shape of the camp suggests a Roman influence. There appears to have been a spring inside the camp.
'Nothing can be traced at present but the ditch, which is nearly filled ... There is a circular remain opposite to an opening in the lower side without the work, and another within it at one of the angles next to the river'. (a)(2)
Rectangular earthwork with multiple ramparts enclosing approx 1-1/4 acres. (3)
Only the ditch survives to show the perimeter of the earthwork, the size and shape of which is correct as described by Authority 2. The 'circular remains' appear to be hut circles, and the spring, if one existed would no doubt have been within the 'scooped', marshy area situated centrally within the earthwork. There are no other surface evidence of internal occupation.
In addition to the indication of two possible entrances referred to by Authority 2 are those of another one on the north east side. The former pair lie directly opposite to one another. This is suggestive of a Roman influence, as are the rounded corners and 'nearly square' shape of the earthwork.
A modern drain occupies the centre of the ditch on all except the south east side where only traces of the ditch remain. The south west side is impinged upon by a modern bank and is also badly mutilated.
Situated on the flat top of a hill in open moorland at approximately 550 feet above sea level the earthwork is in a very favourable defensive position and commands an extensive view to the north, south and east. It overlooks a sharp bend in the river North Tyne to the south east. Its view of the narrow valley of the Plashetts Burn on the west is restricted by its distance from the latter's east bank which is steep and deep. Situated almost centrally between the earthwork and the bank, however are traces of a ditch which would have provided additional protection
to the west side. The nearest present source of water is the Plashetts Burn, near its confluence with the river North Tyne, 150m south west of the earthwork.
The name 'Kennel Hall Knowe' mentioned by authorities (2) and (3) is unknown locally, and no other significant field names appear to have survived. The remains themselves are too fragmentary to suggest a possible purpose. (4)
Listed under rectilinear sites of the Roman period, but unclassified. (5)
Resurveyed at 1/2500. The work is a fair example of rectilinear type of minor native domestic enclosure found locally. Its single ditch construction is a departure from the more usual bank/double bank and ditch form, but it is not unknown, and an east or south-east facing entrance is general (other gaps noted in this case are modern mutilations).
No habitational remains survive other than the two alleged hut circles, which consist of sharply defined earthen banks enclosing, in the case of the external one, a slightly raised platform. This is not in the normal 'stone-founded' tradition, and it seems likely that these are recent agricultural features, probably stack stands. (6)
Kennel Hall Knowe Iron Age and Romano-British settlement excavated in advance of Kielder Reservoir in 1976. Mesolithic and Neolithic flint and stone artifacts found in the immediate area. (7)
Two circular stack stands overlay an earlier Romano-British settlement. Fragment of 18th century clay pipe stem recovered from the bottom of the ditch. (8)
Rectilinear palisade enclosure at Kennel Hall Knowe. Size, alignment and internal arrangement not significantly altered from 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. (9)
Flooded in Kielder Water. (10)
Kennel Hall Knowe, NY 667897. Rectilinear settlement excavated prior to flooding of Kielder Reservoir. Three structural phases of rectangular stockaded enclosures, each with a timber round house, succeeded by a larger enclosure and stone round houses. Typical Romano-British settlement. (11)
Kennel Hall Knowe, NY 667897. Prehistoric occupation evidence found in 1976 - pits, flint scrapers, Neolithic polished stone axe head, leaf-shaped arrowhead and some beaker sherds.
Romano-British rectilinear settlement excavated, radiocarbon date of 160+/-80BC for the earliest timber phase. (12)
Excavation summary, ahead of reservoir. (13)
Radiocarbon date of timber-built house, probably associated with second of three palisade perimeters of 100+/-90bc. Radiocarbon date of material from earliest of a group of timber structures later than phase 1 palisade enclosure 162bc+/-180, 250BC-AD60 (HAR-1943). (14)
Additional Reference (15)
About 500 yards south by east of Plashetts Station, on ground called Kennel Hall Knowe, are the remains of a five sided camp, nearly square, with sides of about 90 yards. It has the Tyne on the south, the Plashetts Burn water on the west, and a bog surrounding it on the other sides. The interior contains about 1-1/4 acres and 'bears the usual marks of excavation, supposed to be for dwellings'.
The entrance appears to have been on the higher north west side. The shape of the camp suggests a Roman influence. There appears to have been a spring inside the camp.
'Nothing can be traced at present but the ditch, which is nearly filled ... There is a circular remain opposite to an opening in the lower side without the work, and another within it at one of the angles next to the river'. (a)(2)
Rectangular earthwork with multiple ramparts enclosing approx 1-1/4 acres. (3)
Only the ditch survives to show the perimeter of the earthwork, the size and shape of which is correct as described by Authority 2. The 'circular remains' appear to be hut circles, and the spring, if one existed would no doubt have been within the 'scooped', marshy area situated centrally within the earthwork. There are no other surface evidence of internal occupation.
In addition to the indication of two possible entrances referred to by Authority 2 are those of another one on the north east side. The former pair lie directly opposite to one another. This is suggestive of a Roman influence, as are the rounded corners and 'nearly square' shape of the earthwork.
A modern drain occupies the centre of the ditch on all except the south east side where only traces of the ditch remain. The south west side is impinged upon by a modern bank and is also badly mutilated.
Situated on the flat top of a hill in open moorland at approximately 550 feet above sea level the earthwork is in a very favourable defensive position and commands an extensive view to the north, south and east. It overlooks a sharp bend in the river North Tyne to the south east. Its view of the narrow valley of the Plashetts Burn on the west is restricted by its distance from the latter's east bank which is steep and deep. Situated almost centrally between the earthwork and the bank, however are traces of a ditch which would have provided additional protection
to the west side. The nearest present source of water is the Plashetts Burn, near its confluence with the river North Tyne, 150m south west of the earthwork.
The name 'Kennel Hall Knowe' mentioned by authorities (2) and (3) is unknown locally, and no other significant field names appear to have survived. The remains themselves are too fragmentary to suggest a possible purpose. (4)
Listed under rectilinear sites of the Roman period, but unclassified. (5)
Resurveyed at 1/2500. The work is a fair example of rectilinear type of minor native domestic enclosure found locally. Its single ditch construction is a departure from the more usual bank/double bank and ditch form, but it is not unknown, and an east or south-east facing entrance is general (other gaps noted in this case are modern mutilations).
No habitational remains survive other than the two alleged hut circles, which consist of sharply defined earthen banks enclosing, in the case of the external one, a slightly raised platform. This is not in the normal 'stone-founded' tradition, and it seems likely that these are recent agricultural features, probably stack stands. (6)
Kennel Hall Knowe Iron Age and Romano-British settlement excavated in advance of Kielder Reservoir in 1976. Mesolithic and Neolithic flint and stone artifacts found in the immediate area. (7)
Two circular stack stands overlay an earlier Romano-British settlement. Fragment of 18th century clay pipe stem recovered from the bottom of the ditch. (8)
Rectilinear palisade enclosure at Kennel Hall Knowe. Size, alignment and internal arrangement not significantly altered from 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. (9)
Flooded in Kielder Water. (10)
Kennel Hall Knowe, NY 667897. Rectilinear settlement excavated prior to flooding of Kielder Reservoir. Three structural phases of rectangular stockaded enclosures, each with a timber round house, succeeded by a larger enclosure and stone round houses. Typical Romano-British settlement. (11)
Kennel Hall Knowe, NY 667897. Prehistoric occupation evidence found in 1976 - pits, flint scrapers, Neolithic polished stone axe head, leaf-shaped arrowhead and some beaker sherds.
Romano-British rectilinear settlement excavated, radiocarbon date of 160+/-80BC for the earliest timber phase. (12)
Excavation summary, ahead of reservoir. (13)
Radiocarbon date of timber-built house, probably associated with second of three palisade perimeters of 100+/-90bc. Radiocarbon date of material from earliest of a group of timber structures later than phase 1 palisade enclosure 162bc+/-180, 250BC-AD60 (HAR-1943). (14)
Additional Reference (15)
N6193
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; D A Davies
FIELD SURVEY, Rectilinear earthworks in Northumberland: some Medieval and Later settlements 1960
EXCAVATION, Iron Age and Romano-British settlements on Kennel Hall Knowe, North Tynedale, Northumberland (1976) 1976
FIELD SURVEY, Rectilinear earthworks in Northumberland: some Medieval and Later settlements 1960
EXCAVATION, Iron Age and Romano-British settlements on Kennel Hall Knowe, North Tynedale, Northumberland (1976) 1976
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