Heatherwick (Otterburn)
Visible on aerial photographs. (1)(2)
Centred at NY 901923 are fragmentary remains of earth and stone banks and, within a greatly disturbed area, vague traces of building platforms. The whole is consistent with minor depopulation, though unsurveyable. Within the area the remains of the so called Monkridge Hall can be recognised (NY 99 SW 21). (3)
The remains of a number of buildings lie west south west of the present Monkridge Hall, on open moorland on a spur between two small valleys. The site appears to have been a defended hamlet or village. Several building platforms, some with rubble masonry visible, can be traced, but only two retain any structural detail. One is Monkridge Old Hall (NY 99 SW 21). Only footings survive of a later 17th century(?) building which is shown to have a cross passage at its east end (PSAN), built against the west wall of an earlier bastle with a central byre doorway; a drawing shows this to have been a plain unchamfered square headed opening with megalithic jambs and lintel. Nothing of the bastle is now visible above the turf. A short distance to the north is a second bastle of which the lower courses of the west end and north east corner survive, showing it to have measured 11.6m by 6.8m externally, with walls c.1m thick; the central doorway in the west wall retains the lower part of its drawbar tunnel. (4)
Centred at NY 901923 are fragmentary remains of earth and stone banks and, within a greatly disturbed area, vague traces of building platforms. The whole is consistent with minor depopulation, though unsurveyable. Within the area the remains of the so called Monkridge Hall can be recognised (NY 99 SW 21). (3)
The remains of a number of buildings lie west south west of the present Monkridge Hall, on open moorland on a spur between two small valleys. The site appears to have been a defended hamlet or village. Several building platforms, some with rubble masonry visible, can be traced, but only two retain any structural detail. One is Monkridge Old Hall (NY 99 SW 21). Only footings survive of a later 17th century(?) building which is shown to have a cross passage at its east end (PSAN), built against the west wall of an earlier bastle with a central byre doorway; a drawing shows this to have been a plain unchamfered square headed opening with megalithic jambs and lintel. Nothing of the bastle is now visible above the turf. A short distance to the north is a second bastle of which the lower courses of the west end and north east corner survive, showing it to have measured 11.6m by 6.8m externally, with walls c.1m thick; the central doorway in the west wall retains the lower part of its drawbar tunnel. (4)
N9749
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; B H Pritchard
Disclaimer -
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.