Details

The monument includes a Roman period native settlement situated on a south
west facing slope. The oval enclosure has been scooped into the uphill slope
to create a level platform suitable for buildings and is enclosed by a single
bank of earth and stones. An additional bank runs from the external south west
side which curves to form a partially enclosed space outside the main
enclosure.
The main enclosure bank contains an area measuring 18.2m by 20m. The bank
survives to a maximum height of 1m. The additional bank on the south west side
extends 6.9m from the main enclosure. The entrance into the enclosure is
orientated north-west.
A hut circle is located on the south side of the enclosure and the enclosure
bank appears to have changed direction slightly to accommodate it. This may
indicate that the enclosure bank is later than the hut circle. The hut circle
survives to a height of 55cm and measures 8.8m in diameter north-south and
8.2m in diameter east-west. The entrance faces into the enclosure.
The whole monument including the additional bank on the south west side and
the hut circle measures 23.5m north-south and 26m east-west.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

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. In the Cumbrian uplands the settlements were of less regimented form
and unenclosed clusters of houses of broadly contemporary date are also known.
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.

This settlement south west of Ell's Knowe is a good example of a Roman period
native farmstead. It is in good condition and is relatively intact. Its
proximity to a number of other broadly contemporary settlements demonstrates
well the organsition and development of land use during this period.

Source: Historic England