NY 73368548 Camp. (1)

About 380 yards SSE of Smalesmouth farmhouse is a very slightly rounded four-sided camp consisting of two ramparts and medial ditch c.18 feet wide. The mean length of the inner rampart is c.50 yards. The defences are almost destroyed on the north and east sides. There are two entrances opposite each other, the principal one being on the east side near the north-east angle. From this entrance a bank runs SSE, possibly leading to a spring (cf Tregonning Hill, Cornwall, and Chesters on the River Breamish). On the north side of the principal entrance is a compartment about 20 feet wide, which possibly served as a guardhouse. There are traces within the camp suggestive of former dwellings towards the river. The ground around slopes gently towards the river. The north rampart curves inwards to conform with the ground, while the west curves outwards. (2)

Type C (under Prehistoric Section - Rectangular Works and Enclosures). (3)

Smalesmouth. Single banked rectangular earthwork (approximately 1-1/4 acres in area) (Listed under native sites). (4)

Remains of an earthwork at approximately 530 feet above OD, situated upon the north-east facing slope of a pasture-covered hill and just below the highest part. Commanding a wide stretch of the River North Tyne valley to the north-west, north and north-east. A dry valley to the south cuts off the site from overlooking high ground; to the west there is dead ground, to the east it is low lying. The nearest present fresh water supply is a small stream 200m to the south-west.
The earthwork consisted of double earth and stone ramparts with a medial ditch, with entrances, causewayed with flanking banks, in the east and west sides. The outer rampart and ditch are fully extant, the inner rampart reduced to a scarp on the north and east sides. North of the east entrance a circular enclosure has been superimposed upon the levelled-down inner rampart, the !possible guardhouse! referred to by Authority 2. The bank running SSE from this entrance (Authority 2 refers) is an old field bank unassociated with the site.
The approach to the central area of the site is bounded by parallel ditch-like depressions extending from the west entrance. A rectangular area centrally placed has been scooped into the south-west slope and retaining wall of stone constructed against the south side. There are
no indications of occupation within this area, but its boggy nature, and the inclusion of a further scooped area against the east side which is very marshy, suggests this compartment to have been constructed for the retention of water, for a water supply and/or fishpond.
In the northern half are two hut circles of 6m and 7m diameter respectively, and traces of two possible hut circles. A further possible hut circle is near the south-east corner of the site.
The earthwork is of the homestead type, probably providing shelter for several families and their stock. The rectangular shape and rounded corners suggest a Roman influence. Similar earthworks in the region have been dated to the Romano-British or post-Roman period. (5)

A small rectilinear type Romano British settlement consisting of a rectangular-shaped area enclosed by the remains of what seems to have originally been a substantial stone wall. The entrance is in the south-east. An overgrown stone-surfaced causeway can be traced internally between two flanking depressions or yards. Although no stone circular huts are now visible, there are three slightly hollowed areas which could be sites of such.
A stone enclosure at the entrance (MacLauchlan's guard-house) is probably no more than an old lambing pen. (6)

In fair condition. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (7)

There are two phases of occupation at this site. The inner enclosure is a rectilinear Romano-British settlement; the outer enclosure is likely to be an Iron Age settlement with timber houses. An inner rectangular stone-walled enclosure, about 50m north-south by 42m east-west, with an entrance in the east. The wall is now much reduced and visible as an internal scarp in the west and south, and in the north has almost disappeared where it is overlaid by a wood, but its approximate boundary is just discernible as a slight outerscarp. The enclosure has been subdivided by a scarp into two levels; the upper on the west containing two definite hut circles and possibly three more; the lower level to the east (which has been sub-divided by a probable
causeway to the entrance in the east) was almost certainly for stock. There is another possible hut circle site just outside the south-east corner of this enclosure. (In plan this enclosure is almost identical to NY 78 NE 1).
The outer enclosure is clearly visible as a near rectangular earthwork, consisting of double earth and stone ramparts with a medial ditch and measuring 76m north-south by 76m east-west between the centres of the inner-ramparts. The ramparts and ditch are almost fully extant apart from a portion of inner rampart in the north-west and along the north side which is reduced to outer scarp only. There are two well-defined entrance in the west and east, but the latter has been mutilated on its north side by a later (possibly medieval?) enclosure and bank, and it is not clear which, if any, was the main entrance. Inside the west entrance there is a turf-covered stone causeway and outside the entrance are traces of an outer scarp to the an outer scarp to the south but this could be later drainage. Surveyed at 1:2500. (8)

Smaleswood Camp. A Romano-British rectangular settlement, defined by a stone wall, contained within an Iron Age rectangular bi-vallate enclosure. (9)