Settlement on Hawkhirst Peninsula, Kielder Water (Falstone)
(NY66098941) Camp. (1)
Half a mile south west of Hall Knowe (Kennel) (NY 68 NE 1) and 350 yards south of the Tyne are traces of a five-sided camp enclosing about 3/4 acre. It lies on Wellhaugh Moor and close to the west side of the road. The ditch is visible and possibly two ramparts, and the entrance appears to have been on the north side. The only trace of occupation is in the south angle where there are very faint traces of the foundation of a building. The ditch is about 25 feet wide.
' ... at the south east angle without the work, but adjoining thereto, are the remains of foundations 15 paces long by 8 wide ......... the camp may have been nothing more than an entrenched fold or homestead'. (a)(2)
Type C (Under Prehistoric Section-Rectangular Works or Enclosures). (3)
Wellhaugh. Rectangular earthwork with multiple ramparts enclosing approx 3/4 acre. (Listed under native sites). (4)
Situated on the north-east facing slopes of a hill, about 150m from its summit the earthwork is approximately 620 feet above sea level. The view to the south is restricted by higher ground, but to the north and north-east the camp overlooks the valley of the river North Tyne and to the north-west, that of a small stream which flows into the river. The stream, 90m away is the nearest present water supply.
Being within the boundary of Kielder Forest (owned by the Forestry Commission) the earthwork has suffered severe mutilations. Only the surrounding ditch survives, and even that is infringed upon by a modern road. The internal surface has been spared, but the whole area surrounding it is closely planted with young conifer right up to the outer edge of the ditch.
Consequently, nothing remains of the ramparts or the external 'foundations' referred to by Authority 2. There are indications of two entrances, directly opposite one another on the east and west sides. No suggestion of an entrance on the north side, as claimed by authority 2, now exists. Neither are there traces of building foundations in the south angle. But the latter may be concealed by the thick ferns and bracken at the angle. A boggy depression situated internally, near the east entrance may be the site of a pond or a well. There are no other surface indications of internal occupation.
The camp may have been nothing, more than an entrenched fold or homestead as suggested by Authority 2, but is sub rectangular shape, rounded corners and directly opposing entrances suggest a possible Roman influence.
Local enquiries revealed no significant field names. (5)
Listed under rectilinear sites of the Roman period, but unclassified. (6)
A much-mutilated sub-rectangular work as described by F1. In form and construction it is in the local Romano-British tradition, and probably represents the remains of a minor domestic enclosure. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (7)
A sub-rectangular enclosure measuring 95m east-west by 100m north-south surrounded by a ditch. Internally there is a large shallow depression near the east entrance, possibly a sunken yard and towards the centre the remains of a hut circle. Scheduled. (8)
Surveyed at 1:500 scale by RCHME in November 1997/January 1998. An enclosed settlement of the late prehistoric period within a medial ditch with vestigial inner and outer banks. Hand-cut drainage ditches cross parts of the site and measure between 2m and 5m apart and about 0.2m deep.
From field examination, it appears the enclosure has never been a perfect or near-perfect geometric shape, which suggests that a Roman influence is unlikely. Its dimensions are 80m ENE/WSW by c.70m; the ditch is c.5m wide and measures between 0.3m and 0.9m deep. At the north east corner it is considered that the ditch has been recut at some unknown date, possibly to improve drainage within the enclosure. There are two opposing entrances in the east (4m wide) and west sides and both appear to be original. The interior of the enclosure is covered with broad low banks and shallow depressions. Amongst these features are hints of enclosures and the northern arc of a ring-groove hut, probably c.7.5m in diameter. (9)
Additional Reference (10)
Half a mile south west of Hall Knowe (Kennel) (NY 68 NE 1) and 350 yards south of the Tyne are traces of a five-sided camp enclosing about 3/4 acre. It lies on Wellhaugh Moor and close to the west side of the road. The ditch is visible and possibly two ramparts, and the entrance appears to have been on the north side. The only trace of occupation is in the south angle where there are very faint traces of the foundation of a building. The ditch is about 25 feet wide.
' ... at the south east angle without the work, but adjoining thereto, are the remains of foundations 15 paces long by 8 wide ......... the camp may have been nothing more than an entrenched fold or homestead'. (a)(2)
Type C (Under Prehistoric Section-Rectangular Works or Enclosures). (3)
Wellhaugh. Rectangular earthwork with multiple ramparts enclosing approx 3/4 acre. (Listed under native sites). (4)
Situated on the north-east facing slopes of a hill, about 150m from its summit the earthwork is approximately 620 feet above sea level. The view to the south is restricted by higher ground, but to the north and north-east the camp overlooks the valley of the river North Tyne and to the north-west, that of a small stream which flows into the river. The stream, 90m away is the nearest present water supply.
Being within the boundary of Kielder Forest (owned by the Forestry Commission) the earthwork has suffered severe mutilations. Only the surrounding ditch survives, and even that is infringed upon by a modern road. The internal surface has been spared, but the whole area surrounding it is closely planted with young conifer right up to the outer edge of the ditch.
Consequently, nothing remains of the ramparts or the external 'foundations' referred to by Authority 2. There are indications of two entrances, directly opposite one another on the east and west sides. No suggestion of an entrance on the north side, as claimed by authority 2, now exists. Neither are there traces of building foundations in the south angle. But the latter may be concealed by the thick ferns and bracken at the angle. A boggy depression situated internally, near the east entrance may be the site of a pond or a well. There are no other surface indications of internal occupation.
The camp may have been nothing, more than an entrenched fold or homestead as suggested by Authority 2, but is sub rectangular shape, rounded corners and directly opposing entrances suggest a possible Roman influence.
Local enquiries revealed no significant field names. (5)
Listed under rectilinear sites of the Roman period, but unclassified. (6)
A much-mutilated sub-rectangular work as described by F1. In form and construction it is in the local Romano-British tradition, and probably represents the remains of a minor domestic enclosure. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (7)
A sub-rectangular enclosure measuring 95m east-west by 100m north-south surrounded by a ditch. Internally there is a large shallow depression near the east entrance, possibly a sunken yard and towards the centre the remains of a hut circle. Scheduled. (8)
Surveyed at 1:500 scale by RCHME in November 1997/January 1998. An enclosed settlement of the late prehistoric period within a medial ditch with vestigial inner and outer banks. Hand-cut drainage ditches cross parts of the site and measure between 2m and 5m apart and about 0.2m deep.
From field examination, it appears the enclosure has never been a perfect or near-perfect geometric shape, which suggests that a Roman influence is unlikely. Its dimensions are 80m ENE/WSW by c.70m; the ditch is c.5m wide and measures between 0.3m and 0.9m deep. At the north east corner it is considered that the ditch has been recut at some unknown date, possibly to improve drainage within the enclosure. There are two opposing entrances in the east (4m wide) and west sides and both appear to be original. The interior of the enclosure is covered with broad low banks and shallow depressions. Amongst these features are hints of enclosures and the northern arc of a ring-groove hut, probably c.7.5m in diameter. (9)
Additional Reference (10)
N6194
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; D A Davies
FIELD SURVEY, Rectilinear earthworks in Northumberland: some Medieval and Later settlements 1960
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Hawkhirst: Prehistoric Enclosed Settlement. An archaeological survey report 1998; RCHME
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Kielder SAMs Survey
FIELD SURVEY, Rectilinear earthworks in Northumberland: some Medieval and Later settlements 1960
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Hawkhirst: Prehistoric Enclosed Settlement. An archaeological survey report 1998; RCHME
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Kielder SAMs Survey
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