Millstone Burn cup and ring marked stones (Longframlington; Edlingham)
[NU 11900523] Sculptured rock (cup and ring). Carving concealed by living turf which can be turned back. (1)
A large scattered group of cup-marked rocks in the neighbourhood of Millstone Burn. The total number of the rocks is about 40, and the markings are all of the Coquetdale type, a large proportion being insignificant simple cups. (2)
A large number of cup marked rocks have been discovered in the region of Millstone Burn not far from the 14th milestone from Morpeth. The investigation, not completed owing to the heavy growth of bracken showed 37 rocks with markings. Most of the markings are simple cups, a few have single rings and a very small number double rings. There are a few basin cups and occasional groups of midgets, but very few ducts or channels.
The area in which they occur consists of a belt roughly about a mile in length but with several considerable gaps and with a breadth of 200-300 yards. It begins at a point about 750ft above sea level a little east of longitude 1deg 50' W, latitude 55deg 28' on rough rocky ground overlooking Rimside Moor. [The latitude is obviously incorrect. Possibly it should be 55deg 20' 28"]. From there the direction is mainly easterly, crossing the Alnwick-Wooler road 200-300 yards south of the 14th milestone, and proceeding downhill to the Millstone Burn. Then there is a considerable gap before the rocks reappear on the high ground to the north east of Snook Bank Farm.
The largest collection is on the high land adjacent to the Union and Rural District boundary fence which runs along the ridge which slopes north west to Rimside Moor and south east towards Millstone Burn. One of the rocks in this area contains 60 cup markings, six with single rings and one with double ring. Nearby is another slab with 62 markings.
Another feature of the markings is that a large proportion of the rocks are adjacent to old trackways.
Mr Robson of Swarland village has called attention to a single marked rock at Wall End south of the 14th milestone. The principal mark is a wall preserved cup with two rings and a duct. [Possibly the rock referred to by authority (1)]. (3)
Sculptured rock on Rimside Moor within 30ft of north side of highway near east end of drystone wall bounding road. (NGR: NU 119053).
The mark is a single cup and ring on the upper face of a rock sloping to the south. It is concealed by moss which can be folded back to reveal marking. Reported by Mr Robson County Council roadman.
[This is evidently the rock referred to by authority (1) and in last para of authority (3)]. (4)
[Brief account. Similar to authority (3)]. (5)
Centred NU 115051. A spur of moorland runs in a north-easterly direction from the heights of Rimside Moor. Along the top and down the south-eastern slopes at the end of the ridge, are a series of outcrops of limestone with scatters of boulders and large stones. Many of these bear cup markings, most of which are artificial, but some, particularly the misshapen or very insignificant ones are possibly the results of natural weathering. No artificial ducts or basins (Authority 3 refers) were located.
'A' - NU 11210514. Three misshapen cups on a shelf of living rock, possibly natural.
'B' - NU 11290518. Fourteen small cups, one with a ring, upon a large irregular-shaped boulder, possibly natural.
Centred NU 113051. A scatter of boulders and some outcrops of living rock, bearing small clusters of cups, mostly very small.
'C' - NU 11530516. A large exposure of rock with 35 cups, some with single rings. Also a square-cut depression, 0.3m square, 0.1m deep, filled with water. Possibly of late construction, a drinking place for sheep.
'D' - NU 11690527. Six well-shaped cups in the top of a small boulder.
'E' - NU 11670522. A large exposure of rock, the surface a little above ground level, with five cups and many small depressions, possibly weathered cups or natural features.
'F' - NU 11660521. A single cup and ring, overall diam 0.15m upon a boulder, overgrown by heather. 10m south-west of rock 'E'.
'G' - NU 11880520. A single cup with two rings, overall diameter 0.15m upon a rock exposure. (Authorities 1,4 refer).
'H' - NU 11890507. A scatter of boulders, nearly every one of which bears small cup markings. (6)
In group 'H' nine cup-marked rocks were located, and in the group centred NU 113051 six were found, including 'J', a large outcrop bearing fourteen cups, three with rings. The most impressive markings in the area occur on a small rock 'K' the surface of which is at ground level lying approximately 30m west of rock 'E'. The best examples have been photographed. Surveyed at 1:2500. (7)
A group of much weathered cup and ring marked rocks, mainly as described, scattered across a hill spur from NU 1128 0519 (B) to NU 1189 0510 (H). Three more 'L', 'M' and 'N' also found.
'A' - NU 1114 0510. Three rough hollows on a rock out-crop could be cup marks but most probably due to weathering. Not surveyed.
'B' - NU 1128 0519. As described by authority 2. Most probably genuine cup marks though much weathered.
'C' - NU 1151 0517. As described, see photograph. The square hole is most probably the socket hole for a cross but no further information was found concerning this locally.
'D' - NU 1170 0528. As described by authority 2.
'E' - NU 1167 0522. Several cups all well weathered.
'F' - NU 1166 0521. As described by authority 2.
'G' - NU 1189 0520. As described by authority 2. One of the best preserved of the group, see photograph.
'H' - NU 1189 0510. Several cup marked rocks but all very much weathered. Best three only surveyed.
'J' - NU 1134 0521. As described see photograph.
'K' - NU 1164 0523. Best example of whole group though almost covered by ground and much weathered, see photograph.
'L' - NU 1181 0514. Three possible cups all ill-defined and much weathered. One has faint traces of a ring.
'M' - NU 1184 0514. Six ill-defined well-weathered cups.
'N' - NU 1184 0511. Three ill-defined well-weathered cups. Surveyed at 1:10,000. (8)
NU 117054, NU 114052, NU 11290518, NU 113051, NU 116051, NU 115051. Millstone Burn area. Outcrop, cups and rings, standing stone and occuli. Carvings lie in a band c.2/5 mile wide running roughly parallel with parish boundary, and about 1 mile long. Two standing stones, one cup marked. (9)
Millstone Burn. Some stones recently lost on land drainage works.
Site 1 (H00645) NU 11890521, lie to east of road. Portables found by Mr Robson now in Berwick Museum (H00704).
Site 2 (H00646) NU 11840525.
Site 3 (H00647) NU 11600523.
Site 4 (H00648) NU 11510517, possible cross-base.
Site 5 (H00649) NU 11430519.
Site 6 (H00650) NU 11420528. (10)
H00645 Millstone Burn 1h and 1i lost through agricultural activity. (11)
Gazetteer of cup and ring marked stones. (12)
Millstone Burn 6H00650NU 1142 0528
This group of marked rocks lies at about 230m, the highest of the marked rocks.(13a)
A large scattered group of cup-marked rocks in the neighbourhood of Millstone Burn. The total number of the rocks is about 40, and the markings are all of the Coquetdale type, a large proportion being insignificant simple cups. (2)
A large number of cup marked rocks have been discovered in the region of Millstone Burn not far from the 14th milestone from Morpeth. The investigation, not completed owing to the heavy growth of bracken showed 37 rocks with markings. Most of the markings are simple cups, a few have single rings and a very small number double rings. There are a few basin cups and occasional groups of midgets, but very few ducts or channels.
The area in which they occur consists of a belt roughly about a mile in length but with several considerable gaps and with a breadth of 200-300 yards. It begins at a point about 750ft above sea level a little east of longitude 1deg 50' W, latitude 55deg 28' on rough rocky ground overlooking Rimside Moor. [The latitude is obviously incorrect. Possibly it should be 55deg 20' 28"]. From there the direction is mainly easterly, crossing the Alnwick-Wooler road 200-300 yards south of the 14th milestone, and proceeding downhill to the Millstone Burn. Then there is a considerable gap before the rocks reappear on the high ground to the north east of Snook Bank Farm.
The largest collection is on the high land adjacent to the Union and Rural District boundary fence which runs along the ridge which slopes north west to Rimside Moor and south east towards Millstone Burn. One of the rocks in this area contains 60 cup markings, six with single rings and one with double ring. Nearby is another slab with 62 markings.
Another feature of the markings is that a large proportion of the rocks are adjacent to old trackways.
Mr Robson of Swarland village has called attention to a single marked rock at Wall End south of the 14th milestone. The principal mark is a wall preserved cup with two rings and a duct. [Possibly the rock referred to by authority (1)]. (3)
Sculptured rock on Rimside Moor within 30ft of north side of highway near east end of drystone wall bounding road. (NGR: NU 119053).
The mark is a single cup and ring on the upper face of a rock sloping to the south. It is concealed by moss which can be folded back to reveal marking. Reported by Mr Robson County Council roadman.
[This is evidently the rock referred to by authority (1) and in last para of authority (3)]. (4)
[Brief account. Similar to authority (3)]. (5)
Centred NU 115051. A spur of moorland runs in a north-easterly direction from the heights of Rimside Moor. Along the top and down the south-eastern slopes at the end of the ridge, are a series of outcrops of limestone with scatters of boulders and large stones. Many of these bear cup markings, most of which are artificial, but some, particularly the misshapen or very insignificant ones are possibly the results of natural weathering. No artificial ducts or basins (Authority 3 refers) were located.
'A' - NU 11210514. Three misshapen cups on a shelf of living rock, possibly natural.
'B' - NU 11290518. Fourteen small cups, one with a ring, upon a large irregular-shaped boulder, possibly natural.
Centred NU 113051. A scatter of boulders and some outcrops of living rock, bearing small clusters of cups, mostly very small.
'C' - NU 11530516. A large exposure of rock with 35 cups, some with single rings. Also a square-cut depression, 0.3m square, 0.1m deep, filled with water. Possibly of late construction, a drinking place for sheep.
'D' - NU 11690527. Six well-shaped cups in the top of a small boulder.
'E' - NU 11670522. A large exposure of rock, the surface a little above ground level, with five cups and many small depressions, possibly weathered cups or natural features.
'F' - NU 11660521. A single cup and ring, overall diam 0.15m upon a boulder, overgrown by heather. 10m south-west of rock 'E'.
'G' - NU 11880520. A single cup with two rings, overall diameter 0.15m upon a rock exposure. (Authorities 1,4 refer).
'H' - NU 11890507. A scatter of boulders, nearly every one of which bears small cup markings. (6)
In group 'H' nine cup-marked rocks were located, and in the group centred NU 113051 six were found, including 'J', a large outcrop bearing fourteen cups, three with rings. The most impressive markings in the area occur on a small rock 'K' the surface of which is at ground level lying approximately 30m west of rock 'E'. The best examples have been photographed. Surveyed at 1:2500. (7)
A group of much weathered cup and ring marked rocks, mainly as described, scattered across a hill spur from NU 1128 0519 (B) to NU 1189 0510 (H). Three more 'L', 'M' and 'N' also found.
'A' - NU 1114 0510. Three rough hollows on a rock out-crop could be cup marks but most probably due to weathering. Not surveyed.
'B' - NU 1128 0519. As described by authority 2. Most probably genuine cup marks though much weathered.
'C' - NU 1151 0517. As described, see photograph. The square hole is most probably the socket hole for a cross but no further information was found concerning this locally.
'D' - NU 1170 0528. As described by authority 2.
'E' - NU 1167 0522. Several cups all well weathered.
'F' - NU 1166 0521. As described by authority 2.
'G' - NU 1189 0520. As described by authority 2. One of the best preserved of the group, see photograph.
'H' - NU 1189 0510. Several cup marked rocks but all very much weathered. Best three only surveyed.
'J' - NU 1134 0521. As described see photograph.
'K' - NU 1164 0523. Best example of whole group though almost covered by ground and much weathered, see photograph.
'L' - NU 1181 0514. Three possible cups all ill-defined and much weathered. One has faint traces of a ring.
'M' - NU 1184 0514. Six ill-defined well-weathered cups.
'N' - NU 1184 0511. Three ill-defined well-weathered cups. Surveyed at 1:10,000. (8)
NU 117054, NU 114052, NU 11290518, NU 113051, NU 116051, NU 115051. Millstone Burn area. Outcrop, cups and rings, standing stone and occuli. Carvings lie in a band c.2/5 mile wide running roughly parallel with parish boundary, and about 1 mile long. Two standing stones, one cup marked. (9)
Millstone Burn. Some stones recently lost on land drainage works.
Site 1 (H00645) NU 11890521, lie to east of road. Portables found by Mr Robson now in Berwick Museum (H00704).
Site 2 (H00646) NU 11840525.
Site 3 (H00647) NU 11600523.
Site 4 (H00648) NU 11510517, possible cross-base.
Site 5 (H00649) NU 11430519.
Site 6 (H00650) NU 11420528. (10)
H00645 Millstone Burn 1h and 1i lost through agricultural activity. (11)
Gazetteer of cup and ring marked stones. (12)
Millstone Burn 6H00650NU 1142 0528
This group of marked rocks lies at about 230m, the highest of the marked rocks.(13a)
N4226
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; A S Phillips
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1971; D Smith
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; I S Sainsbury
FIELD SURVEY, Wandysteads Moor 1987; ARCHEAOLOGICAL UNIT FOR NE ENGLAND
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1971; D Smith
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; I S Sainsbury
FIELD SURVEY, Wandysteads Moor 1987; ARCHEAOLOGICAL UNIT FOR NE ENGLAND
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