Gowanburn medieval farmstead (Kielder)
'About 260 yards on the north-east of Gowan Burn House are a series of enclosures having a small rill bounding them on the upperside, and the hill rising rapidly above them, they appear of ancient formation, and extend down the edge of the rill a distance of about 150 yards. At the two ends are two smaller enclosures with traces of excavation for dwelling ... and in the lower one, the rill has been diverted through it. The two principal enclosures have been partly surrounded by terraces of about 12 feet wide, but in some places less, bounded by ramparts or walls of earth and stone, now only from 3 to 4 feet in height; the lower division has the appearance of having been a camp. Within this enclosure are traces of a foundation of a building (similar structures are at Raven's Hill NY 69 SW and Wellhaugh Camp), but the boundary has been destroyed. On the south side are traces of a deep ditch that appears to have extended from the rivulet, which is 200 yards east of the house, towards the burn on the west, enclosing towards the river a space of ground similar to what we find at Kershope Castle, near Deadwater (NY 69 NW 2) the ground of this space towards the river bears marks of the plough; the place bears the appearance of having been the settlement of a tribe'. (1)
Earthwork of medieval or doubtful date. (2)
Gowan Burn. Single-banked ring earthwork at Lat 55 13'00! Long 2 33' 15" (Listed under native sites). (3)
Area NY 649 915 Site of Camp (Gowan burn) (Inferred from MacLauchlan's description). (4)
The sitings by the above Authorities fall within part of Kielder Forest, upon a SW-facing hill slope at approx 800 feet above OD. The nearest present water supply is a stream head 130m to the SE. No indications of earthworks or building foundations could be located in the area, but any slight remains may have been destroyed by afforestation.
Nothing visible on available aerial photographs (RAF 1946). (5)
Earthworks are still visible according to Brian Long (Forestry
Commission), who has surveyed the remains (mid 1980s). Located north
and east of Gowanburn Farmhouse (6).
Sketch plan of earthworks, no scale. (7)
Additional reference (8)
Earthwork of medieval or doubtful date. (2)
Gowan Burn. Single-banked ring earthwork at Lat 55 13'00! Long 2 33' 15" (Listed under native sites). (3)
Area NY 649 915 Site of Camp (Gowan burn) (Inferred from MacLauchlan's description). (4)
The sitings by the above Authorities fall within part of Kielder Forest, upon a SW-facing hill slope at approx 800 feet above OD. The nearest present water supply is a stream head 130m to the SE. No indications of earthworks or building foundations could be located in the area, but any slight remains may have been destroyed by afforestation.
Nothing visible on available aerial photographs (RAF 1946). (5)
Earthworks are still visible according to Brian Long (Forestry
Commission), who has surveyed the remains (mid 1980s). Located north
and east of Gowanburn Farmhouse (6).
Sketch plan of earthworks, no scale. (7)
Additional reference (8)
N6267
Medieval (1066 to 1540)
UNCERTAIN
UNCERTAIN
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; A S Phillips
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