Woodhouses, Kielder Water (Falstone)
NY 68808822. A Deserted Village situated upon a south facing slope of pastureland, above the banks of the Pot Burn, which would give copious supply of fresh water to the site. A sheltered position with rising ground to the west, east and north, and overlooking the River North Tyne 100m to the south east.
There are foundation remains of at least four steadings, and remains of three adjacent steadings whose walls stand to a maximum height of 2m. The surrounding ground is broken up by field banks, and the hillsides on the south west side of the Pot Burn are covered with traces of rig and furrow plough lines. Two hollow ways lead down to the Burn from the south west side, and one up the north east side towards the site. There is a fording place, still used, on the river North Tyne where the Pot Burn joins it.
There are no field names, and the reason for depopulation cannot be ascertained, but was probably industrial. There are no architectural features by which the structures can be dated. (1)
Local enquiries revealed no knowledge of this early village and its name could not be ascertained. (2)
The three adjacent steadings (published at NY 68808822) were farm-workers cottages occupied until at least 1835, according to Mr J Cowan of Wellhaugh, who remembers an old lady who lived there as a child. The four other less well-defined steadings are probably the remains of associated out-buildings, the whole enclosed by the remains of a dry-stone wall. (3)
Woodhouses. NY 688883. Three ruined and mainly demolished stone buildings.
Buildings may be identified with those built by 'Robson, to whose father Tarset Castle belonged'. Hodgson described it as the first good house that high up the valley. Plan of the house indicates a working farmer. C.1795 George Sumner of Homehill in Cumberland became the owner of Woodhouses and let to a tenant at Emmethaugh. In 1814 Hodgson noted the buildings dilapidated and field walls fallen down. Woodhouses was included in Belling Farm c.1818.
The main building consists of a series of three rooms, there is no internal connection between them, each having an external entrance in the south west wall. (4)
Now flooded by Kielder Reservoir. (5)
Additional Reference (6)
There are foundation remains of at least four steadings, and remains of three adjacent steadings whose walls stand to a maximum height of 2m. The surrounding ground is broken up by field banks, and the hillsides on the south west side of the Pot Burn are covered with traces of rig and furrow plough lines. Two hollow ways lead down to the Burn from the south west side, and one up the north east side towards the site. There is a fording place, still used, on the river North Tyne where the Pot Burn joins it.
There are no field names, and the reason for depopulation cannot be ascertained, but was probably industrial. There are no architectural features by which the structures can be dated. (1)
Local enquiries revealed no knowledge of this early village and its name could not be ascertained. (2)
The three adjacent steadings (published at NY 68808822) were farm-workers cottages occupied until at least 1835, according to Mr J Cowan of Wellhaugh, who remembers an old lady who lived there as a child. The four other less well-defined steadings are probably the remains of associated out-buildings, the whole enclosed by the remains of a dry-stone wall. (3)
Woodhouses. NY 688883. Three ruined and mainly demolished stone buildings.
Buildings may be identified with those built by 'Robson, to whose father Tarset Castle belonged'. Hodgson described it as the first good house that high up the valley. Plan of the house indicates a working farmer. C.1795 George Sumner of Homehill in Cumberland became the owner of Woodhouses and let to a tenant at Emmethaugh. In 1814 Hodgson noted the buildings dilapidated and field walls fallen down. Woodhouses was included in Belling Farm c.1818.
The main building consists of a series of three rooms, there is no internal connection between them, each having an external entrance in the south west wall. (4)
Now flooded by Kielder Reservoir. (5)
Additional Reference (6)
N6199
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; A S Phillips
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
FIELD SURVEY, Excavation and Survey in North Tynedale, 1973-1975 1975
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
FIELD SURVEY, Excavation and Survey in North Tynedale, 1973-1975 1975
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