Medieval Farmstead (Alnham)
NT 962125. A type of medieval enclosed farmstead containing rectangular stone buildings lies at the foot of Hogdon Law. The circular extra mural structure is possible a drying kiln. (1)(2)
NT 96441175. Surveyed at 6 inch scale. (3)
NT 96491173. As described by Jobey. The collapsed stone walling of the farmstead averages 1m in width and 0.5m in height. Surveyed at 1:10,000. (4)
Spartley Burn 2, post-medieval steadings, NT 966119: A series of post-medieval, rectangular stone buildings were discovered during field walking at Spartley Burn. A sub-circular stone structure at the west end of the largest building could be a kiln in which case this might have been an illicit whiskey still of the type known locally in the 18th century. Surveyed at 1:500. (5)
NT 9649 1174. At about 330 m OD, sheltered below a low crag on a gentle E-facing slope, is a group of five or possibly six rectangular or sub-rectangular houses [NT 9611/2-7], which form the remains of a
medieval farmstead. The houses are reduced to their footings and overgrown with turf. House NT 9611/2 is 7.5 m by 3.2 m within a wall up to 0.45 m high in which intermittent facing stones are exposed
indicating an original width of 0.8 m. The W end wall is flat and the E rounded. The structure is sub- ivided into two interconnecting rooms, but no entrance can be positively identified. NT 9611/3 measures 8.5 m by 2.4 m within a wall 0.8 m wide between faces; the wall is 0.4 m high on average, but the N side appears more massive and incorporates a triangular, upright boulder, 1.1 m high. The
house is entered from the S into the smaller of two rooms at the E end; the latter is flat whereas the W end wall is rounded. A crude, later shelter has been erected immediately to the W. There may have
been a further roofed structure [NT 9611/4] adjoining house 3 at right angles, but little remains other than two lines of boulders and no dimensions are recoverable. There is an abnormally large amount
of stone debris associated with houses NT 9611/5-7. No 5 is 5.1 m by 2.5m defined by a discontinuous line of boulders up to 0.3m high with a slight bank connecting them. House 6 is 9.5 m by 1.9 m; the W end is well-preserved and flat with an inner face 0.6 m high and a wall width of 0.9 m, but the E end is vague and obscured by stone debris. Finally NT 9611/7 is 2.4 m by 1.6 m within a substantial wall, 0.8 m thick. There is an entrance in the E choked with stones as is the interior. Less turf overlies this structure giving the impression that it is later than the others. These five or six houses are arranged roughly in an arc, which, with the crag and escarpment to the W, form an incomplete enclosure
approximately 30 m in diameter. Already noted is the large volume of stone debris around houses 5, 6 and 7 and in the N wall of no 2; this is not commensurate with the relatively, lightly-built medieval farm
buildings common in this area. Also numerous large stones and boulders lie about the "enclosure" suggesting further constructions. The disposition of the houses and the quantity of stone suggest that
there was an earlier enclosure, probably a prehistoric enclosed settlement on this particularly favourable site (for details see NT 9911/51; also NT 9611/1). A modern sheep stell is built against the
base of the crag (see NT 9611/8), and to the S, E and W of the farmstead are the scant remains of former cultivation (NT9611/9), comprising lynchets, stone clearance heaps and linear clearance.
Though the evidence is limited, the random dispositions of these cultivation remains tends to indicate a prehistoric rather than a medieval context. (6a)
NT 96441175. Surveyed at 6 inch scale. (3)
NT 96491173. As described by Jobey. The collapsed stone walling of the farmstead averages 1m in width and 0.5m in height. Surveyed at 1:10,000. (4)
Spartley Burn 2, post-medieval steadings, NT 966119: A series of post-medieval, rectangular stone buildings were discovered during field walking at Spartley Burn. A sub-circular stone structure at the west end of the largest building could be a kiln in which case this might have been an illicit whiskey still of the type known locally in the 18th century. Surveyed at 1:500. (5)
NT 9649 1174. At about 330 m OD, sheltered below a low crag on a gentle E-facing slope, is a group of five or possibly six rectangular or sub-rectangular houses [NT 9611/2-7], which form the remains of a
medieval farmstead. The houses are reduced to their footings and overgrown with turf. House NT 9611/2 is 7.5 m by 3.2 m within a wall up to 0.45 m high in which intermittent facing stones are exposed
indicating an original width of 0.8 m. The W end wall is flat and the E rounded. The structure is sub- ivided into two interconnecting rooms, but no entrance can be positively identified. NT 9611/3 measures 8.5 m by 2.4 m within a wall 0.8 m wide between faces; the wall is 0.4 m high on average, but the N side appears more massive and incorporates a triangular, upright boulder, 1.1 m high. The
house is entered from the S into the smaller of two rooms at the E end; the latter is flat whereas the W end wall is rounded. A crude, later shelter has been erected immediately to the W. There may have
been a further roofed structure [NT 9611/4] adjoining house 3 at right angles, but little remains other than two lines of boulders and no dimensions are recoverable. There is an abnormally large amount
of stone debris associated with houses NT 9611/5-7. No 5 is 5.1 m by 2.5m defined by a discontinuous line of boulders up to 0.3m high with a slight bank connecting them. House 6 is 9.5 m by 1.9 m; the W end is well-preserved and flat with an inner face 0.6 m high and a wall width of 0.9 m, but the E end is vague and obscured by stone debris. Finally NT 9611/7 is 2.4 m by 1.6 m within a substantial wall, 0.8 m thick. There is an entrance in the E choked with stones as is the interior. Less turf overlies this structure giving the impression that it is later than the others. These five or six houses are arranged roughly in an arc, which, with the crag and escarpment to the W, form an incomplete enclosure
approximately 30 m in diameter. Already noted is the large volume of stone debris around houses 5, 6 and 7 and in the N wall of no 2; this is not commensurate with the relatively, lightly-built medieval farm
buildings common in this area. Also numerous large stones and boulders lie about the "enclosure" suggesting further constructions. The disposition of the houses and the quantity of stone suggest that
there was an earlier enclosure, probably a prehistoric enclosed settlement on this particularly favourable site (for details see NT 9911/51; also NT 9611/1). A modern sheep stell is built against the
base of the crag (see NT 9611/8), and to the S, E and W of the farmstead are the scant remains of former cultivation (NT9611/9), comprising lynchets, stone clearance heaps and linear clearance.
Though the evidence is limited, the random dispositions of these cultivation remains tends to indicate a prehistoric rather than a medieval context. (6a)
N1350
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; R W Emsley
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; B H Pritchard
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Alnham Village Atlas ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: SE Cheviots Project ; RCHME
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; B H Pritchard
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Alnham Village Atlas ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: SE Cheviots Project ; RCHME
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