Details

The monument includes a prehistoric cairnfield and linear boundary on
Thwaites Fell immediately north of Hodgewife Well which represents Bronze
Age exploitation of this landscape. The cairnfield lies on fairly level
ground and consists of six round and oval-shaped clearance cairns
measuring between 3.5m to 8m in diameter and up to 0.5m high. Running to
the north of the cairnfield the linear boundary consists of a
discontinuous low stone bank or wall 1m-3m wide and 0.1m high which can be
traced over a distance of at least 350m. It is aligned north west-south
east and its longest continuous length can be seen running down the
east-facing hillslope. It is more fragmentary on boggy flatter ground
where it may have become partly obscured by vegetation growth.

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

The Cumbrian uplands comprise large areas of remote mountainous terrain, much
of which is largely open fellside. As a result of archaeological surveys
between 1980 and 1990 within the Lake District National Park, these fells have
become one of the best recorded upland areas in England. On the open fells
there is sufficient well preserved and understood evidence over extensive
areas for human exploitation of these uplands from the Neolithic to the post-
medieval period. On the enclosed land and within forestry the archaeological
remains are fragmentary, but they survive sufficiently well to show that human
activity extended beyond the confines of the open fells. Bronze Age activity
accounts for the most extensive use of the area, and evidence for it includes
some of the largest and best preserved field systems and cairn fields in
England, as well as settlement sites, numerous burial monuments, stone circles
and other ceremonial remains. Taken together, their remains can provide a
detailed insight into life in the later prehistoric period. Of additional
importance is the well-preserved and often visible relationship between the
remains of earlier and later periods, since this provides an understanding of
changes in land use through time. Because of their rarity in a national
context, excellent state of preservation and inter-connections, most
prehistoric monuments on the Lake District fells will be identified as
nationally important.

The prehistoric cairnfield and linear boundary on Thwaites Fell
immediately north of Hodgewife Well survives reasonably well. It forms
part of a well-preserved prehistoric landscape extending along the
fellsides of south west Cumbria which represents evidence of long-term
management and exploitation of this area in prehistoric times.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Leech, R H, Thwaites Fell LDNPS Survey Catalogue, (1984)
Leech, R H, Thwaites Fell LDNPS Survey Catalogue, (1984)
Quartermaine, J, Leech, R H, Upland Settlement of the Lake District: Result of Recent Surveys, (1997)
Quartermaine, J, Leech, R H, Upland Settlement of the Lake District: Result of Recent Surveys, (1997)

Source: Historic England