Iron Age defended settlement and later building remains near Gowanburn (Kielder)
!About 650 yards west-north-west from the encampment at Gowan Burn (NY 69 SW 12) is a circular camp ('sometimes called the Druid's Circle') having a diameter of about 50 yards within the rampart, 24 feet of ditch, and faint traces of a second rampart. On the south-east side are remains of an entrance, and of several foundations of dwellings under shelter from the prevailing winds. It seems probable that this was the stronghold in connection with the encampment of Gowan Burn. (1)
Type B2 (Forts on High Ground - Under Prehistoric Section). (2)
Bakethin. Multiple-banked ring earthwork, at Lat 55 13' 10" Long 2 33' 45" (Listed as native site). (3)
Area NY 643917 Site of Camp (Bakethin) (Inferred from MacLauchlan's description). (4)
The siting by authorities 3 and 4, falls within part of Kielder Forest, upon a south east slope at approx 700ft above OD. No traces of an earthwork could be located and it seems likely that any remains will have been destroyed by afforestation. Nothing visible on available aerial photographs (RAF 1946). (5)
Situated at NY 64289176 on the crest of a south east facing spur amidst deep ploughed afforestation are the mutilated remains of an enclosure with an internal ditch.
The enclosure measures about 59m overall between the centres of an earthen bank 1m maximum height and spread to about 5m. The ditch is now about 0.6m deep and 2.5m maximum width.
The whole of the south east half has been completely destroyed by afforestation and there are no traces of MacLauchlan's 'entrance', 'several foundations' or the alleged 'second rampart'. No internal features are evident.
There are no datable features but though the internal ditch is unusual this is most probably the remains of an Iron Age/Romano-British enclosure, possibly for stock. Surveyed at 1:2500. (6)
The monument consists of a circular bank of earth c.1m high with a ring ditch immediately inside. On the west side large stones are embedded in the bank and may have formed the outer face. A little to the south is a rectangular enclosure, 9 x 4 paces, probably medieval. (7)
NY 6427 9175. Defended settlement 580m NW of Gowanburn and associated medieval buildings. Scheduled RSM No 25112. The remains of a defended settlement of Iron Age date. The roughly circular enclosure measures 50m in diameter within a narrow ditch up to 2.5m wide and 0.6m deep. Outside the ditch there is a substantial earthen bank 5m wide and up to 1m above the external ground surface. On the W side of the enclosure several large stones embedded in the bank are interpreted as the remains of an outer revetment. The existence of an internal rather than external ditch is an unusual feature of this enclosure. On the SE side of the enclosure the bank has been levelled and the ditch infilled, however the latter can be traced for part of its course as a damp hollow. Immediately to the S of the enclosure there are the remains of at least two rectangular buildings first noted by MacLaughlan in 1867, when there were apparently more than two (see NY 69 SW 24). (8)
Surveyed at 1:500 scale by RCHME in November/December 1997. Description mainly as above. The interior of the enclosure is featureless except for a slight swelling, c.0.4m high, between forestry drains. This is thought likely to be associated with the drainage pattern rather than an earlier feature.
Four rectangular buildings are grouped on the south eastern edge of the enclosure. They are overgrown with mature trees and survive as banks around 0.3m high by 1.5m wide. There is no exposed stonework. The buildings measure 9.5m by 4.3m, 7.6m by 4m, 2.8m by 2m and 9m by 4.4m. It is suggested that the smallest structure may be an outhouse. These buildings are believed to represent a medieval or post-medieval farm complex and the absence of any stonework suggests they may originally have a turf or wooden superstructure.
The remains of a prehistoric enclosed settlement severely mutilated by forestry planting and drainage. It is roughly circular measuring 50.0m in diameter between the centres of a medial ditch, up to 0.8m deep, between a substantial outer rampart, 0.5m high above external ground level, and the fragmentary remains of an inner defence up to 0.3m high. The outer rampart shows evidence of an outer stone face. The SE arc is poorly-preserved and, in the vicinity of some rectangular building foundations (NY 69 SW 24), destroyed completely.
Surveyed at 1:500 in the course of the RCHME: Kielder SAMs Project; the original plan and text are held in NMRC Swindon. (9)
Additional reference (10)
Type B2 (Forts on High Ground - Under Prehistoric Section). (2)
Bakethin. Multiple-banked ring earthwork, at Lat 55 13' 10" Long 2 33' 45" (Listed as native site). (3)
Area NY 643917 Site of Camp (Bakethin) (Inferred from MacLauchlan's description). (4)
The siting by authorities 3 and 4, falls within part of Kielder Forest, upon a south east slope at approx 700ft above OD. No traces of an earthwork could be located and it seems likely that any remains will have been destroyed by afforestation. Nothing visible on available aerial photographs (RAF 1946). (5)
Situated at NY 64289176 on the crest of a south east facing spur amidst deep ploughed afforestation are the mutilated remains of an enclosure with an internal ditch.
The enclosure measures about 59m overall between the centres of an earthen bank 1m maximum height and spread to about 5m. The ditch is now about 0.6m deep and 2.5m maximum width.
The whole of the south east half has been completely destroyed by afforestation and there are no traces of MacLauchlan's 'entrance', 'several foundations' or the alleged 'second rampart'. No internal features are evident.
There are no datable features but though the internal ditch is unusual this is most probably the remains of an Iron Age/Romano-British enclosure, possibly for stock. Surveyed at 1:2500. (6)
The monument consists of a circular bank of earth c.1m high with a ring ditch immediately inside. On the west side large stones are embedded in the bank and may have formed the outer face. A little to the south is a rectangular enclosure, 9 x 4 paces, probably medieval. (7)
NY 6427 9175. Defended settlement 580m NW of Gowanburn and associated medieval buildings. Scheduled RSM No 25112. The remains of a defended settlement of Iron Age date. The roughly circular enclosure measures 50m in diameter within a narrow ditch up to 2.5m wide and 0.6m deep. Outside the ditch there is a substantial earthen bank 5m wide and up to 1m above the external ground surface. On the W side of the enclosure several large stones embedded in the bank are interpreted as the remains of an outer revetment. The existence of an internal rather than external ditch is an unusual feature of this enclosure. On the SE side of the enclosure the bank has been levelled and the ditch infilled, however the latter can be traced for part of its course as a damp hollow. Immediately to the S of the enclosure there are the remains of at least two rectangular buildings first noted by MacLaughlan in 1867, when there were apparently more than two (see NY 69 SW 24). (8)
Surveyed at 1:500 scale by RCHME in November/December 1997. Description mainly as above. The interior of the enclosure is featureless except for a slight swelling, c.0.4m high, between forestry drains. This is thought likely to be associated with the drainage pattern rather than an earlier feature.
Four rectangular buildings are grouped on the south eastern edge of the enclosure. They are overgrown with mature trees and survive as banks around 0.3m high by 1.5m wide. There is no exposed stonework. The buildings measure 9.5m by 4.3m, 7.6m by 4m, 2.8m by 2m and 9m by 4.4m. It is suggested that the smallest structure may be an outhouse. These buildings are believed to represent a medieval or post-medieval farm complex and the absence of any stonework suggests they may originally have a turf or wooden superstructure.
The remains of a prehistoric enclosed settlement severely mutilated by forestry planting and drainage. It is roughly circular measuring 50.0m in diameter between the centres of a medial ditch, up to 0.8m deep, between a substantial outer rampart, 0.5m high above external ground level, and the fragmentary remains of an inner defence up to 0.3m high. The outer rampart shows evidence of an outer stone face. The SE arc is poorly-preserved and, in the vicinity of some rectangular building foundations (NY 69 SW 24), destroyed completely.
Surveyed at 1:500 in the course of the RCHME: Kielder SAMs Project; the original plan and text are held in NMRC Swindon. (9)
Additional reference (10)
N6266
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; A S Phillips
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Gowanburn enclosed settlement and Medieval or Post-Medieval farmstead: an archaeological survey report 1998; RCHME
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Kielder SAMs Survey
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, Gowanburn enclosed settlement and Medieval or Post-Medieval farmstead: an archaeological survey report 1998; RCHME
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Kielder SAMs Survey
Disclaimer -
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.