Details

The monument includes a hut circle with a small attached enclosure below
Cronkley Scar. The centre of the site lies 15m south of the centre of a
sheepfold and shed between Kirk Sike and Tarn Dub on Cronkley Pasture. The
hut circle is approximately 8m in diameter, with whinstone boulder walls
1m wide and up to 0.4m high. The entrance was probably facing west. The
hut circle is attached to the east side of a small triangular
boulder-walled enclosure 8m wide and 9m long.

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

Stone hut circles and hut circle settlements were the dwelling places of
prehistoric farmers. Most date from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The stone-
based round-houses consist of low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor
area; the remains of the turf, thatch or heather roofs are not preserved. The
huts may occur singly or in small or large groups and may lie in the open or
be enclosed by a bank of earth or stone. Frequently traces of their associated
field systems may be found immediately around them. These may be indicated by
areas of clearance cairns and/or the remains of field walls and other
enclosures. The longevity of use of hut circle settlements and their
relationship with other monument types provides important information on the
diversity of social organisation and farming practices amongst prehistoric
communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a
substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.

Although stone hut circle settlements are generally considered to be
Bronze Age in date, evidence for Teesdale suggests that they may sometimes
be slightly later, belonging to the Iron Age or Roman period
(500BC-AD400). This hut circle and enclosure 350m north west of Tarn Dub
survive well. They form an important part of the wider prehistoric
landscape of Upper Teesdale, and will contribute to knowledge of late
prehistoric settlement patterns.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Coggins D, MA thesis: The Archaeology of Early Settlement in Upper Teesdale, 1984, No 49: Tarn Rigg Fold

Source: Historic England