Details

The monument includes the remains of an unenclosed settlement of Bronze Age
date situated on the level top of a small knoll. The settlement is visible as
a clearly defined hut circle 4.5m in diameter within a wall of stone 1.3m wide
and 0.3m high. Immediately to the south west there are further traces of at
least one circular house visible as a low, curving bank. Some 6m to the east
of the first house there is an associated oval enclosure within a low stony
wall 27m east to west by 24m north to south.

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

Unenclosed hut circle settlements were the dwelling places of prehistoric
farmers. The hut circles take a variety of forms. Some are stone based and are
visible as low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area. Others were
timber constructions and only the shallow groove in which the timber uprights
used in the wall construction stood can now be identified; this may survive as
a slight earthwork feature or may be visible on aerial photographs. Some can
only be identified by the artificial earthwork platforms created as level
stances for the houses. The number of houses in a settlement varies between
one and twelve. In areas where they were constructed on hillslopes the
platforms on which the houses stood are commonly arrayed in tiers along the
contour of the slope. Several settlements have been shown to be associated
with organised field plots, the fields being defined by low stony banks or
indicated by groups of clearance cairns.
Many unenclosed settlements have been shown to date to the Bronze Age but it
is also clear that they were still being constructed and used in the Early
Iron Age. They provide an important contrast to the various types of enclosed
and defended settlements which were also being constructed and used around the
same time. Their longevity of use and their relationship with other monument
types provides important information on the diversity of social organisation
and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities.

The unenclosed settlement south west of Manor House is reasonably well
preserved and retains significant archaeological remains. The importance of
the monument is enhanced by the survival of a four poster stone circle 300m to
the south; taken together they will add to our knowledge and understanding of
later prehistoric settlement and ritual activity.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Gates, A, 'Settlement in North Britain 1000BC - AD 1000' in Unenclosed Settlements in Northumberland, (1983), 103-148
Other
NY 87 NW 05,

Source: Historic England