Details

The monument includes a Romano-British farmstead and associated enclosure
located on gently sloping land to the west of Scales Haggs. The farmstead
includes a sub-rectangular enclosure with traces of two hut circles; it has
maximum internal measurements of approximately 30m north-south by 24m east-
west, the latter measurement tapering to c.16m wide at the northern end of the
enclosure. The farmstead is defended by a turf-covered wall or bank of
limestone rubble up to 4m wide and 0.3m high. There is an entrance at the mid-
point of the farmstead's southern side and internally there are two levelled
circular areas interpreted as the site of hut circles; that at the north east
corner of the enclosure measures c.8m in diameter, that at the south west
corner measures c.6m in diameter. Immediately to the east of the farmstead is
a sub-rectangular enclosure interpreted as a stock pen. It has maximum
dimensions of approximately 30m by 28m and is defended by a turf-covered wall
or bank of limestone rubble up to 4m wide and 0.2m high.

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.

The Romano-British farmstead and associated enclosure west of Scales Haggs
survives reasonably well and remains unencumbered by modern development. It
preserves some detail of the internal layout of the farmstead and is one of a
number of Romano-British and prehistoric settlement sites in the locality. As
such it will facilitate any further study of Romano-British settlement
patterns in the area.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
AP No. CCC A 1725,13, Cumbria County Council, (1979)
SMR No. 2358, Cumbria SMR, Scales, Aldingham, (1986)
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date:
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
SD27SE
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date:
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
SD27SE

Source: Historic England