Details

The monument includes the remains of a Roman period native farmstead situated
on a natural terrace below an outcrop of rock which forms part of Long Crags.
The farmstead has extensive views to the north across the valley of the
Harthope Burn and north east to the coastal plain and the North Sea beyond.
The farmstead comprises an irregular enclosure with two internal hut
circles and a scooped yard. In addition there is an external hut circle lying
4m to the south. The enclosure measures a maximum 67m east-west by 40m
north-south and is defined by a fragmentary bank of earth and stone on the
north, east and south sides which stands up to c.0.3m high; the west side is
marked by a wall of outcropping rock. There is no apparent entrance. On the
south side are two contiguous hut circles which abut the inner face of the
enclosure bank; each has a north east facing entrance. A shallow scooped area,
or courtyard, lies to the north west of the hut circles.

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 Roman period native homestead north west of Long Crags, 600m south east of
Langleeford, survives reasonably well. It is substantially intact and will
contain significant archaeological deposits. It is situated within an area of
clustered archaeological sites of high quality and thus forms part of a wider
archaeological landscape. It will contribute to any study of the wider
settlement and land use pattern during this period.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
NT 92 SE 49,

Source: Historic England