Midden near Jenny Bell's Well (Holy Island)
Two bronze medieval rings were found c.1900 buried a few inches below the surface in sandy shingle near Jennie Bell's Well on Holy Island (full description). Presented to Society of Antiquaries Newcastle by Lt Col G R B Spain on May 27th 1931. (1)
NU 12464176. Jenny Bell's Well (now disused and filled with rubbish) is situated on the eastern edge of a shingly beach. No indications of antiquity in the vicinity. (2)
No further information. (3)
Excavation of Jenny Bell's Well in 1984 by Leicester University Archaeology Department. Medieval and post-medieval midden. (4)
Midden located to south west of Holy Island village. The main deposit fills in a fault in the bedrock and boulder clay. Midden material can be traced for 200m along the cliff north west to Tripping Chare. Maximum thickness of deposit c.4m. The midden has produced medieval, post-medieval and later material; seems to overlie massive drystone structures. (5)
Jenny Bell's Well [NGR given as NU 130435 - north of Island]. Multi-period midden overlying massive drystone structures. Sampled by J Rackham of Durham University and R Young. Range of pottery 11th-15th century, secular and monastic domestic and industrial debris. Evidence of post-medieval period also obtained. Excavated by University of Leicester and St David's University College Lampeter. (6)
Excavated September 1986 by Leicester University. Resistivity survey done in the field above the site in March 1986. An area 19m by 14m was opened at the top of the site. The earliest feature found on the site was a massively built revetment against the cliff face. It rested on bedrock and had c.1m of beach deposit built up against it. No dating evidence was found with the wall. The wall followed the line of the cliff and went into the sea - it is probably part of a harbour or jetty.
The earliest midden deposit lay over the wall. The layers above the wall contained 13th and 14th century pottery. The last phase on the site was represented by a series of features which appear to respect a 17th century fence line on the cliff. There was little 18th and 19th century material present.
Amongst the finds were two sherds of Roman pottery which are the first to be recorded from the island, also a piece of decorated prehistoric pottery. (7)
Visited 8/8/1992; only 19th century midden material visible. The site is at the mean high water mark; erosion is fairly rapid. (8)
Additional Reference (9)
NU 12464176. Jenny Bell's Well (now disused and filled with rubbish) is situated on the eastern edge of a shingly beach. No indications of antiquity in the vicinity. (2)
No further information. (3)
Excavation of Jenny Bell's Well in 1984 by Leicester University Archaeology Department. Medieval and post-medieval midden. (4)
Midden located to south west of Holy Island village. The main deposit fills in a fault in the bedrock and boulder clay. Midden material can be traced for 200m along the cliff north west to Tripping Chare. Maximum thickness of deposit c.4m. The midden has produced medieval, post-medieval and later material; seems to overlie massive drystone structures. (5)
Jenny Bell's Well [NGR given as NU 130435 - north of Island]. Multi-period midden overlying massive drystone structures. Sampled by J Rackham of Durham University and R Young. Range of pottery 11th-15th century, secular and monastic domestic and industrial debris. Evidence of post-medieval period also obtained. Excavated by University of Leicester and St David's University College Lampeter. (6)
Excavated September 1986 by Leicester University. Resistivity survey done in the field above the site in March 1986. An area 19m by 14m was opened at the top of the site. The earliest feature found on the site was a massively built revetment against the cliff face. It rested on bedrock and had c.1m of beach deposit built up against it. No dating evidence was found with the wall. The wall followed the line of the cliff and went into the sea - it is probably part of a harbour or jetty.
The earliest midden deposit lay over the wall. The layers above the wall contained 13th and 14th century pottery. The last phase on the site was represented by a series of features which appear to respect a 17th century fence line on the cliff. There was little 18th and 19th century material present.
Amongst the finds were two sherds of Roman pottery which are the first to be recorded from the island, also a piece of decorated prehistoric pottery. (7)
Visited 8/8/1992; only 19th century midden material visible. The site is at the mean high water mark; erosion is fairly rapid. (8)
Additional Reference (9)
N5343
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; E Geary
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1964; R D Loader
EXCAVATION, JENNY BELL'S WELL (MIDDEN) 1984; RACKHAM, J
FIELD SURVEY, Northumberland Coastal Survey 1992; GUARD
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1964; R D Loader
EXCAVATION, JENNY BELL'S WELL (MIDDEN) 1984; RACKHAM, J
FIELD SURVEY, Northumberland Coastal Survey 1992; GUARD
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