Medieval fishpond (Simonburn)
Various remains of enclosures or shielings on the ridge between Fozy Moss and Sewingshields Castle. Shown by MacLauchlan at NY 81427060. (1)(2)
Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
Survey of 18.1.62 unchanged. A group of small, earthen enclosures, and part of a dam, centred at NY 81357058. All are in poor condition; but appear to be pastoral remains of uncertain date. (4)
The remains are interpreted as a medieval fishpond, similar in size and shape to those at Sewingshields (HER 7837). It is aligned north-south. (5)
Site visited as part of a Farm Environment Plan, where assessed as in a medium condition. (6)
The features described as shielings by authorities 1-2 are small embanked enclosures, which are common throughout this area and are interpreted as post medieval stack stands, rather than shielings. Their form varies between rectangular and curvilinear forms. One stack stand abutts a sod cast boundary bank (recorded in NY 87 SW 292). Adjacent to the stack stands, there is a substantial L-shaped bank, interpreted as a dam of a possible fishpond, which may be contemporary with those further to west that have been recorded as medieval (see NY 87 SW 20). (7a)
General association with HER 7837 (fishponds), HER 32057 (field boundaries), HER 32060 (trackway). (7)
Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
Survey of 18.1.62 unchanged. A group of small, earthen enclosures, and part of a dam, centred at NY 81357058. All are in poor condition; but appear to be pastoral remains of uncertain date. (4)
The remains are interpreted as a medieval fishpond, similar in size and shape to those at Sewingshields (HER 7837). It is aligned north-south. (5)
Site visited as part of a Farm Environment Plan, where assessed as in a medium condition. (6)
The features described as shielings by authorities 1-2 are small embanked enclosures, which are common throughout this area and are interpreted as post medieval stack stands, rather than shielings. Their form varies between rectangular and curvilinear forms. One stack stand abutts a sod cast boundary bank (recorded in NY 87 SW 292). Adjacent to the stack stands, there is a substantial L-shaped bank, interpreted as a dam of a possible fishpond, which may be contemporary with those further to west that have been recorded as medieval (see NY 87 SW 20). (7a)
General association with HER 7837 (fishponds), HER 32057 (field boundaries), HER 32060 (trackway). (7)
N7840
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1962; W D Johnston
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1965; R W Emsley
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, Hadrian's Wall Landscape from Chesters to Greenhead 1999; T GATES
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Hadrian's Wall WHS Mapping Project, NMP 2008; English Heritage
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1965; R W Emsley
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, Hadrian's Wall Landscape from Chesters to Greenhead 1999; T GATES
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Hadrian's Wall WHS Mapping Project, NMP 2008; English Heritage
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