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Site Details

Whitchester (Heddon-on-the-Wall)

'NZ 100683' Whitchester, listed as a deserted medieval village. (1)

There are no indications of a deserted medieval village around the present farmstead at Whitchester though a small area of disturbed ground at NZ 09936833, is suggestive of minor depopulation. Inspection of available aerial photographs (RAF 1946) proved negative. (2)

Whitchester was a vill within the barony of Bolbec. Five taxpayers are listed in the 1296 Subsidy, and eighteen appeared in the 1377 Poll Tax. By the early 19th century it had declined to a farmhouse and two cottages. The farmhouse site was called 'Whitchester Town' on a map of 1472 (NRO 624/2). A small area of disturbed ground on the south side of the present steading may indicate depopulation, and an aerial photograph shows possible earthworks to the north east of the farm, across the present road (aerial photograph NCB/6762/8305). (3)

Only three sides of a possible rectilinear enclosue, possibly of Medieval or Post Medieval date, were seen immediately south of the present farmstead at Whitchester, seen as levelled earthworks and mapped from air photographs. The possible enclosure which is ditch-defined measures 46 m north-south and is at least 40 m wide. A bank is visible to the east, outside the ditch. (4)
N10021
Post Medieval (1540 to 1901)
Medieval (1066 to 1540)
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; R Lewis
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Hadrian's Wall WHS Mapping Project, NMP 2008; English Heritage


Source of Reference
Local History of Heddon-on-the-Wall

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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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