Chester Hill enclosure (Netherton with Biddlestone)
About 200 yards north-west of a farmhouse called Larkhall or Burrowden East Bank is a field called Chesters ('Larkhall' at NT 991049 and 'Chesters' at NT 98980516 on (2)). Adjoining it to the west, in the next farm, and sloping towards the stream, are three other fields, also called Chesters. That on the summit of the hill, commanding an extensive prospect is probably the spot where Mr Smart found an encampment, nearly square and occupying about two acres. (1)(2)
A little to the eastward of the village of Sharperton, on an eminence called Chester Hill is an encampment nearly square, and occupying about two acres. Nothing visible on available aerial photographs (RAF 1946)). (3)
The site falls upon the highest part of a ridge, at approximately 570 feet above sea-level, within a pasture field. It is a very commanding situation, overlooking great stretches of low-lying ground in the Coquet valley to the south-east, south and west. In the east and north the ground falls away gently.
There are now no traces of an earthwork to be seen. The nearest present water supply is a spring to the north-east.
The name Chesters is now confined to one field (centred NT 98650535) to the north-west, bordering the modern road along its east side, through which passes the course of the Roman Road.
The proximity of the Roman Road and the description of the earthwork suggest the possibility of a Roman date. (4)
A little to the eastward of the village of Sharperton, on an eminence called Chester Hill is an encampment nearly square, and occupying about two acres. Nothing visible on available aerial photographs (RAF 1946)). (3)
The site falls upon the highest part of a ridge, at approximately 570 feet above sea-level, within a pasture field. It is a very commanding situation, overlooking great stretches of low-lying ground in the Coquet valley to the south-east, south and west. In the east and north the ground falls away gently.
There are now no traces of an earthwork to be seen. The nearest present water supply is a spring to the north-east.
The name Chesters is now confined to one field (centred NT 98650535) to the north-west, bordering the modern road along its east side, through which passes the course of the Roman Road.
The proximity of the Roman Road and the description of the earthwork suggest the possibility of a Roman date. (4)
N1118
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; A S Phillips
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