Summary

Three enclosed settlements and unenclosed hut circles, 1.02km north west of Ring Chesters.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 26 May 2016. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes the remains of three enclosed settlements and at least five unenclosed hut circles, situated on a level site on the eastern slopes of Haddon Hill. The three closely set enclosures are sub-circular in shape with maximum dimensions varying from about 29m to 36m across. All of the enclosures are surrounded by single banks of earth and stone, which vary in width from about 3m to 5m and in height from 0.5m to 1m. The most westerly of the enclosures has an entrance through its north east side. Some 68m to its east, the second enclosure also has an entrance through its north east side, marked by a large stone, and an annexe formed by a low bank attached to its north side. Within the interior of the enclosure at its north end there is a hut circle with a second hut circle being located on the south west side of the annexe. The third enclosure, located to the south of the other two enclosures, has two hut circles with diameters of approximately 8m. Immediately north of the first enclosure are two unenclosed hut circles with diameters of about 4.5m to 5m and north east facing entrances. A further three hut circles lie between the three enclosures; one of these hut circles has a scooped interior and is the largest with a diameter of approximately 9.5m.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

In Cumbria and Northumberland several distinctive types of native settlements dating to the Roman period have been identified. The majority were small, non- defensive, enclosed homesteads or farms. In many areas they were of stone construction, although in the coastal lowlands timber-built variants were also common. In much of Northumberland, especially in the Cheviots, the enclosures were curvilinear in form. Further south a rectangular form was more common. Elsewhere, especially near the Scottish border, another type occurs where the settlement enclosure was `scooped' into the hillslope. Frequently the enclosures reveal a regularity and similarity of internal layout. The standard layout included one or more stone round-houses situated towards the rear of the enclosure, facing the single entranceway. In front of the houses were pathways and small enclosed yards. Homesteads normally had only one or two houses, but larger enclosures could contain as many as six. At some sites the settlement appears to have grown, often with houses spilling out of the main enclosure and clustered around it. At these sites up to 30 houses may be found. These homesteads were being constructed and used by non-Roman natives throughout the period of the Roman occupation. Their origins lie in settlement forms developed before the arrival of the Romans. These homesteads are common throughout the uplands where they frequently survive as well-preserved earthworks. In lowland coastal areas they were also originally common, although there they can frequently only be located through aerial photography. All homestead sites which survive substantially intact will normally be identified as nationally important.

The enclosed settlements and hut circles north west of Ring Chesters are well-preserved and good examples of settlement in the region during the Romano-British period. The upstanding remains indicate that the monument will contain both upstanding and below ground archaeological deposits relating to its construction, use and abandonment. The site is situated within an area of clustered archaeological sites, mainly well-preserved settlement enclosures, and therefore forms part of a wider archaeological landscape of high significance.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 814

Source: Historic England