Summary

The Curricks Iron Age/Romano-British farmstead and medieval shieling.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 24 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 a farmstead of Iron Age/Romano-British date and a shieling of medieval date, situated on a south west facing slope below the summit of Low Hill. The central part of the farmstead is a sub-rectangular enclosure (NY6374 6123) scooped out of the hillside measuring approximately 49m by 52m and surrounded by a double stone and turf banks with a medial ditch except on the east where the bank becomes single and the ditch is absent. The banks have a maximum width of roughly 4m and a height of 1m and the ditch has a maximum width of 2m and a depth of 0.5m. On the east side there is a single entrance, defined partly by kerbstones. Within the interior of the enclosure are two building platforms set up against the inner bank, a tumbled wall bisecting the enclosure and a small interior compartment. An additional platform lies to the west of the enclosure. The medieval reoccupation of the enclosure is indicated by the presence of a shieling in the form of the stone foundations of a sub-rectangular building, measuring 10.5m by 5m, with internal sub-divisions. A double ditch and bank runs north for roughly 50m from the central enclosure before turning west and running for a further 110m as a single bank and ditch. The layout is repeated to the south of the central enclosure with a single bank and ditch running south for about 133m before turning west and running for a further 88m. The whole may have once formed a complete sub-rectangular enclosure; however, it currently forms three sides of a sub-rectangular enclosure with maximum dimensions of 268m NNE-SSW.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Romano-British farmsteads are small agricultural units comprising groups of up to four circular or rectangular houses along with associated structures which may include wells, storage pits, corn-drying ovens and granary stores. These were sometimes constructed within a yard surrounded by a rectangular or curvilinear enclosure, and associated field systems, trackways and cemeteries may be located nearby. Romano-British farmsteads usually survive in the form of buried features visible as crop and soil marks and occasionally as low earthworks. Often situated on marginal agricultural land and found throughout the British Isles, they date to the period of Roman occupation (c.AD 43-450). Romano-British farmsteads are generally regarded as low status settlements, with the members of one family or small kinship group pursuing a mixed farming economy. Excavation at these sites has shown a marked continuity with later prehistoric settlements. There is little evidence of personal wealth and a limited uptake of the Romanised way of life. As a representative form of rural settlement during the Roman period, all Romano-British farmsteads which have been positively identified and which have significant surviving remains will merit protection.

The Curricks Iron Age/Romano-British farmstead is well-preserved with extensive earthworks and internal features such as house platforms. The value of the monument is increased by its reoccupation during the medieval period with the construction of a shieling. Together the monument provides insight into continuity and change in settlement and agriculture in the Iron Age/Romano-British and medieval periods. The extent of remains indicates that the monument will contain archaeological deposits relating to its construction, use and abandonment and environmental deposits relating to the use of the surrounding landscape.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 14111

Source: Historic England