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Site Details

Mounthooly native settlement (Kirknewton)

Aerial view of the scooped settlement at Mounthooly. Photo © Tim Gates.
Aerial view of the scooped settlement at Mounthooly. Photo © Tim Gates.
(NT 8806224) A very large scooped homestead with suggestions of fairly recent additional hawking for stone. (1)

NT 88032243 Situated on an eastern slope. A near circular enclosure badly mutilated but consisting of a 'scooped' central area approx 50m in diameter maximum depth 3m, with a counterscarp bank of earth and stones, maximum height 1m. Outside this and concentric to it is another bank of earth and stones, maximum height 1m. There is a simple entrance on the east side from which a faint terrace way leads down towards the College Burn. The only visible trace of habitation is a possible hut circle forming a 'blister' in the outer bank in the south-east quadrant. The heavy bracken may conceal other traces of occupation. The northern edge of the enclosure is under new afforestation. A stream to the north is the nearest water supply. 'Scooped' enclosures are usually attributed to the native period. (2)

The enclosure measures c.42m in diam internally and fronted to the east side by an earth and stone bank c.4m broad and 1m high. An outer bank has been constructed c.8m distant and surrounds the whole site. An entrance 3m wide is in the south east segment. No definite hut foundations were noted due to dense bracken. Sketch plan as guide to field survey. (3)

The form and construction, together with 'scooping' on the uphill side are typical of the local native works. The double bank is an unusual feature, although it is not unknown, and the whole probably represents a homestead or minor settlement despite the lack of obvious habitation remains. Correctly published on 6 inch. (4)

NT 88052245. A scooped settlement as described by the previous field investigators. Resurveyed at 1:10,000. (5)

Settlement south-west of Mounthooly. Scheduling revised on 16th August 1994, new national monument number 24574. (6)

Enclosed native settlement south west of Mounthooly. Scheduling revised on 15th April 1997, as part of new national monument number 24593. The monument includes the remains of two Roman period native settlements (NT 82 SE 37) set within a series of cultivation terraces and an associated cairnfield (NT 82 SE 13). The site is situated on the lower east slopes of The Schil and c.100m west of the College Burn. (7)

The settlement is visible on aerial photographs. (8)

This settlement is situated on the lower W slopes of the College Valley 150m SW of Mounthooly, and roughly 100m W of the College Burn. The site comprises of a large sub-circular scooped settlement 52m in diameter overall, and defended by two concentric stone ramparts. The ramparts, which display some large boulder facing stones, have a maximum width of 5.2m and a maximum height of 0.6m. An interval on average 3m wide exists between the two ramparts. Opposing entrances exist in the E ramparts, the inner 2.1m wide, and the outer 2.9m. The interior is scooped on its W side to a depth of 3.6m below the ground surface creating a relatively level interior. A platform 0.7m high has retained in the N segment of the site upon which are located two shallow depressions no more than 0.4m deep and 5m in diameter, which must represent ephemeral evidence of house structures. A fragmentary arc of walling 1.3m wide and 0.3m high immediately N of the entrance may be the remains of a third house. A scarp and bank 1.6m wide and 0.4m high runs roughly E-W across the interior almost bisecting it, and could be the remains of a sub-division.
A hollow way 6m wide and 0.3m in depth runs from the entrance SE towards the College Burn, leading between a series of contemporary or earlier cultivation terraces (see NT 82 SE 13). Part of the N enclosure walls of this site are now overlain by a modern plantation. (9a)

Scheduled as a Roman period native settlement containing hut circles. (9b)
N667
Roman (43 to 410)
Scheduled Ancient Monument
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; E Geary
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1960; J L Davidson
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; R W Emsley
FIELD SURVEY, College Valley Survey. Mounthooly 1994; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS


Source of Reference
Local History of Kirknewton

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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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