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0 Volume 20 Contents 100 100 Foreword...... 1 95 Breaking News...... 1 95 Archaeology in Northumberland Friends ...... 2 75 What is a QR code?...... 2 75 Twizel Bridge: Flodden 1513.com...... 3 The RAMP Project: Rock Art goes Mobile ...... 4 25 Heiferlaw, Alnwick: Zero Station...... 6 25 Northumberland Coast AONB Lime Kiln Survey...... 8 5 Ecology and the Heritage Asset: Bats in the Belfry ...... 11 5
0 Surveying Steel Rigg...... 12 0 Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed: Kilns, Sewerage and Gardening . . 14 Debdon, Rothbury: Cairnfield...... 16 Northumberland’s Drove Roads...... 17 Barmoor Castle ...... 18 Excavations at High Rochester: Bremenium Roman Fort ...... 20 1 Ford Parish: a New Saxon Cemetery ...... 22 Duddo Stones ...... 24 Flodden 1513: Excavations at Flodden Hill ...... 26 Berwick-upon-Tweed: New Homes for CAAG ...... 28 Remapping Hadrian’s Wall ...... 29 What is an Ecomuseum?...... 30 Frankham Farm, Newbrough: building survey record ...... 32 Spittal Point: Berwick-upon-Tweed’s Military and Industrial Past . . . 34 Portable Antiquities in Northumberland 2010 ...... 36 Berwick-upon-Tweed: Year 1 Historic Area Improvement Scheme. . 38 Dues Hill Farm: flint finds...... 39 The Till, Milfield and Tweed Valley: the Culley’s Water Meadows. . . 40 Flodden 1513: England’s first ecomuseum ...... 42 Low Hauxley: Druridge Bay Ð Footprints in the Peat ...... 44 Obituary: Bill Ford ...... 45 Melkridge Farm, Haltwhistle...... 46 Council for British Archaeology (North) ...... 47 Till Valley Archaeological Society ...... 47 Bedlington Ironworks: online access ...... 48 Dry Burn, Holystone: earthwork survey ...... 50 The Battlefields Trust Ð North East Region ...... 51 Heritage At Risk...... 52 Bamburgh Royal Observer Corps Bunker ...... 54 A Golden Age of Discovery?: Lidar, Aerial and Analytical Survey on Hadrian’s Wall...... 56 Northumberland Conservation...... 57 Shittleheugh Bastle and its Landscape, Otterburn...... 58 Preston Smithy, Ellingham...... 60 Holy Island Partnership...... 61 Northumberland National Park Heritage at Risk ...... 62 Bamburgh Castle Ð 9th century industry ...... 62 Seaton Delaval...... 64 Northumberland Coast AONB: military remains survey...... 66 Dueshill Farm: unusual hollow ways ...... 67 Barowburn: A Mill on the Coquet...... 68 Assessing the Past ...... 69 100 Flodden 500: Artefacts Road Show...... 72 100
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Front cover: Surveying the ‘Horseshoe’ rock 25 at Lordenshaws as part of the RAMP Project 25 (see page 4) 5 5 This page: Plan of the landscape
0 surrounding Shittleheugh Bastle (see page 0 58) Foreword rchaeology in Northumberland on the eco-museum concept, 100 Areaches its 20th Edition this year Professor Peter Davis, is a member 100 and has received a face lift for its of staff at Newcastle University and 95 20th birthday. Despite the downturn has been extremely supportive in his 95 in investment in development which provision of advice to the project (see W
75 had reduced the amount of page 30 and 42). e 75 l development led archaeology in c o
Northumberland we still have a full This year has also seen the m
edition of reports to offer here. completion of a number of projects e 25 25 including RAMP, which moves the t This year has been a bumper year for interpretation of Rock Art on to a new o 5 5 non-developer initiated research in level providing, initially at least, digital A r c 0 Northumberland by community access to interpretive materials for 0 h
groups and other bodies, such as the three sites in Northumberland (see a
Northumberland Coast AONB who page 4). We also have interesting e have in the last 12 months reports on several underground o l commissioned external assessments bunkers that have been o elcome to the 2011 edition of g of both military architecture (page 66) photographically surveyed in the last y
Archaeology in
W i
and also lime kilns (page 8). 12 months. One from WW2 is a very n Northumberland. It’s a great pleasure
rare survival (see page 6) and the N for me to be providing my first
This year has also seen big steps other is a fine example of the Royal o Foreword for this long running forward in the preparations for the Observer Corps bunkers built across r t
community report, now in its 20th h commemoration of the 500th the UK during the Cold War (see year. u
Anniversary of the Battle of Flodden page 54). m
in two years time. While the b This year’s edition charts the strength community archaeology project at Finally you will find that the e and breadth of interest and support r l
Flodden Hill has carried out a second community groups in the Coquet a 3 for Northumberland’s Heritage with a year of excavation and field walking Valley have continued to be n
wide and varied range of projects d
(pages 26 and 72) the Flodden 500 prolifically active in the last 12 months :
from the contribution of Berwick committee has also completed its first over a wide range of sites. We have V
Middle School to the Townscape o phase of fundraising and has reports from Coquetdale Community l
Heritage Initiative in Berwick Town u delivered the development of Archaeology on the Bronze Age Cairn Centre (page 38) through the various m England’s first Eco-Museum and the Field they have surveyed at Debdon developments at Flodden in the run e
UK’s first cross-border Eco-Museum Burn (see page 16) and the remains up to the 500th Anniversary of the 2
as a result. of a 12th century mill they have 0 Battle in 2013 (pages 26, 42 and 72) identified and commenced to the community-led excavations Eco-Museum is a concept that most excavations on during this summer at being carried out by Coquetdale people will not have come across Barrowburn (see page 68 and below). Community Archaeology at the site of before. While it has been in At the same time the Archaeology the medieval fulling mill at development world wide for over 50 and History group at Holystone have Barrowburn (page 68). years there is only one other example been working gradually towards an in the UK on the Isle of Skye. These excavation of an interesting newly 2010 and 2011 have been times of projects are community led and identified earthwork near Holystone big change at Northumberland managed and offer a new means by Grange and have included a report County Council and while which we can contribute to the on their initial survey of the site (see Northumberland Conservation has successful conservation of the page 50). had to take a good hard look at its County’s heritage joining a world budgets and restructure its staff to wide club that includes Eco- Finally we would like to thank Friends ensure it is providing the most Museums in France, Sweden, Italy of Archaeology in Northumberland for efficient service to the communities it Norway, Spain, Iran, Canada and their continued support - we hope to serves, it has developed into a Japan to name but a few. We are see many of you over the coming stronger team which now includes very lucky in Northumberland in that months at the renewed Friends within its portfolio management of the one of the world’s foremost experts Events (see page 2). Northumberland Coast AONB and CB/SR representing Northumberland County Council on the partnership of the Stop Press * Stop Press * Stop Press * Stop Press North Pennines AONB. I hope these hough completed too late to report A changes will continue to strengthen r c the service delivered by in this year’s Archaeology in h T a 100 100
Northumberland we can report that the e
Northumberland Conservation (see o
Coquetdale Community Archaeology l 95 page 57). o 95 excavations at Barrowburn Mill have g y
been an outstanding sucsess (see I 75 Finally I would like to thank the n 75
opposite). N Friends of Archaeology in o r
Northumberland for their continued t Time Team made a programme at h support of this annual report of u 25 Beadnell in July and we hope to have a m 25 heritage issues in the County and, report about their dig in issue 21. b e
like Friends members, welcome the r l
5 a 5 return of Friends walks and site visits Finally we have heard that the Holy n d
(see page 2). Island HLF Landscape Partnership /
0 0 0
Phase 1 has been sucsessfull - we will 1 Cllr Tom Brechany certainly hear more in A in N 21. FRIENDS of Archaeology in Northumberland 100 100 ince April 2009 the Friends of Northumberland (Volume 20). 95 Friends Programme (2011-2012) 95 SArchaeology in Specifically we will be asking 75 e Northumberland events have been contributors to speak about sites that August 7th 2011 - 2nd World War 75 m in abeyence, partly due to the work otherwise could not be visited, due structures in the Northumberland Coast m
a involved in Local Government either to their location or because AONB (see page 66) and wildlife r
25 g Reorganisation (see page 57) and they have been backfilled or covered highlights in the same area - Chris 25 o
r partly due to new requirements for over by development. We also hope Burgess and Iain Robson
5 P 5 Health and Safety and First Aid to have some poster displays at this 2 provisions. We however recognise event from the various volunteer
1 October 23rd 2011 - Barrowburn Mill 0 0 0 that the continued publishing of groups from around Northumberland. and Slymfoot. (See page 68) - David 2 - Archaeology in Northumberland, now Jones of Coquetdate Community 1
1 in its 20th year, still relies very heavily Finally there will also be an Archaeology. 0
2 on the support of all who subscribe to opportunity to try archaeological field
: the Friends group, we could not work with the Flodden 500 Project December 2011- FAN Conference d
n manage without your contributions. (see page 26). FAN members are details to be confirmed a l
r welcome to come and dig with the
e In the coming year we will again be project in September or take part in March 2012 - Seaton Delaval Hall (see b running events exclusively for metal detecting and field walking that page 64) - Harry Beamish, National m
u Friends of Archaeology in occurs throughout the year. Trust Archaeologist. Date to be h t
r Northumberland. These will include confirmed o six walks (three in 2011 and three in Events will be announced either by
3 N 2012), the dates for which have email or letter (as per your stated April 14th 2012 - Shittleheugh Bastle n i already been set (see below). In preference) and can be booked in the and Landscape (see page 58) - Matt y
g addition we also hope to host a new usual manner by contacting Liz Town of North Pennines Archaeology. o l Friends event - a conference, at Williams (01670 534060 - o
e County Hall in Morpeth, probably on a [email protected]) May 19th 2012 - Flodden Ecomuseum a Friday during December 2011. The (see page 42) - Chris Burgess h
c Those interested in trying out r aim of this event is not only to provide
A fieldwork with the Flodden Project
something indoors during the June 2012 (date to be confirmed) - f
o inclement weather of winter months, should contact Chris Burgess Lime Kilns in the Northumberland
s but also to provide an opportunity for ([email protected]) no Coast AONB (see page 8) - Richard d
n FAN members to meet and hear from previous experience is necessary and Carlton of the Archaeological Practice e i some of the archaeologists about the you can come for as long or a short r
F projects they have reported on in this as period as suits you. current issue of Archaeology in
What is a QR Code?
new idea we are trialling for be used to link your smart phone the Apps Store (for Apple iPhone). AVolume 20 of directly to some of the Once you have your reader installed Archaeology in webpages mentioned in start it and it should in turn activate Northumberland is the articles (apologies your phone’s camera. Take a picture of the use of QR to those of you who do the QR code you are interested in and
d not have a smart phone once it has read the code embedded in n codes. QR stands a
100 l 100 r for ‘quick - time to turn the page!). the image it should offer to take you e
b response’ and directly to page in question, loading it
95 m 95
u refers to To access the QR automatically in your phone’s internet h t 75 r rectangular boxes codes you will find in browser. 75 o N
of seemingly this year’s Archaeology n I random dots that in Northumberland you Good luck, enjoy, we hope you find it y
g useful (and if you do not have a smart o you will find on will need to add a QR
25 l 25 o phone - not too distracting). Let us e some pages of Code reader to your 5 a 5 h this year’s magazine. Also known as phone. These are generally available know how you get on. c r
A 2D bar codes, these QR codes can free for download from sites such as
0 / 0 CB 2 0 Twizel Bridge: Flodden1513.com 100 100
95 95 T
500 Years Young w 75 75 i uilt in 1511, just two years before towards Norham. James IV and thousands of men, beasts and carts. z e
the Battle of Flodden, Twizel l elements of his army are likely to The bridge itself would presumably
B B Bridge offered the only dry crossing
have used this bridge to cross the r 25 have been used only by the heavier 25 i point of the River Till between the River Till before advancing on items of equipment (guns and d g
5 south bank of the Tweed and Ford 10 Norham and turning south towards wagons) along with those important e 5 :
miles to the south. At the time of its the castles at Etal and Ford (both personages who preferred not to ford F 0 0 l
construction it was the largest single- also on the east bank of the Till). the deeper waters of the river on o span bridge anywhere in Britain (90ft James IV is also said to have held either side of the bridge, the route d d
from bank to bank) and is typical of his last ‘parliament’ at ‘Twizel likely to have been taken by the vast e n
early 16th century single-span bridges Haugh’ which was located in the majorities of their armies. 1
with a comparatively narrow deck grounds of Twizel Castle, between it 5 1
spanning between wider bridge and the Tweed. What is unrecorded is whether the 3 .
abutments and with four close-set Scottish Army left any garrison to c chamfered ribs under the arch helping o Perhaps two weeks later, on the defend Twizel Bridge from a possible m to form and support the structure. morning of the 9th September 1513, use by the English. However, having Unusually, however, it remained parts of the English Army also used taken care to seize Wark, Norham, largely unmodified between the time of the bridge, this time to cross from Etal and Ford to secure both his its construction in 1511 until it was east to west on their way from their retreat/lines of supply and to protect 3 closed to road traffic when the new camp at Barmoor to the battle. The his flank it is hard to believe that bridge was opened in 1983. Lord Admiral, Thomas Surrey, is James IV would leave the major said to have led the English strategic crossing point in his flank This fine and unspoilt example of Vanguard (the forward or leading unguarded. Whether this Scottish medieval bridge building is likely to unit), including the English guns in a force was easily overwhelmed, simply have seen action at least two times march via Twizel to outflank the decided to retreat in the face of a during the Scottish ‘Flodden’ Scottish forces at Branxton. superior English force or did not exist campaign of 1513. The Scottish Army remains a mystery. is said to have crossed the Tweed Of course, in both the Scots and somewhere in the vicinity of English cases, it is unlikely that the Twizel Bridge is a Grade 1 Listed Coldstream (between Wark Castle whole of either force crossed over Building and a Scheduled Ancient and Lennel) before moving along the the bridge, which is too narrow to Monument. south shore of the River Tweed have supported the speedy transit of CB From www.Flodden1513.com A r c h
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0 0 0 3 orthumberland is home to a rich The RAMP Project Ncollection of ancient rock art, or 100 100 cup and ring markings, with over 1000
95 known examples. This enigmatic and 95 strangely beguiling part of
e Rock Art goes Mobile 2 75 l 75 i Northumberland’s archaeological
b observations and comments directly accurate directions to locate the rock heritage is, however, sadly often o influenced our design. We heard art panels. This digital navigation will
M difficult to find and devoid of any on- about the frustrations of not being be aided by the addition of limited 25 s site visitor interpretation. 25
e able to find rock art and saw how signage, which will be mostly added to o 5 participants enjoyed existing waymarker posts at 5
G Researchers at Newcastle University
t conversations around rock the sites.
r have been working on an innovative 0 0
A art, especially speculative
project to make a selection of these
k discussions on the Naturally, the rural
c carvings more accessible by
o environment impacted the developing a website designed for meaning and social
R context of rock art, design too. Rock art’s remote
: access in situ on mobile phones. despite, or perhaps due locations can be challenging P Three sites in Northumberland to, the lack of definitive for mobile technology thanks M (Lordenshaw, near Rothbury, and Lordenshaws Dod Law A to varying network availability Weetwood Moor and Dod Law, both answers. The insights R and the even more variable weather Ð near Wooler) have been selected for gained during the workshops have strong winds, driving rain and brilliant the project following consultation with influenced the final design by the sunshine, often all in the same day! local heritage agencies and with incorporation of dialogue and regard to both their current state of interactivity, along with clear and conservation and potential future threats. The mobile experience 1 2 encourages visitors to explore the archaeological landscape at these sites, highlighting key points of interest through a range of images, text, and audio.
The twelve-month Rock Art Mobile Project (RAMP), funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, builds on existing work collected by digitisation of the Beckensall Archive http://rockart.ncl.ac.uk, and the Northumberland and Durham Rock Art Pilot (NADRAP) Ð now available on- line on England’s Rock Art website http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/era/ RAMP was keen to translate some of the core data from these resources into a format friendly to both mobile phones and the rock art novice.
Workshops were held in Rothbury and Wooler with members of the public who had an interest in the countryside and/or rock art. We wanted to d n
a discover how 100 l 100 r
e people b
95 m experience and 95 u h
t use the rock 75 r 75 o art landscape, N
n and to explore I
y Weetwood which types of g o 25 l material would be most appropriate for 25 o
e the audience and mobile phone 5 a 5 h
c deployment. The workshops, which r A
involved visiting rock art panels, were
0 / 0
4 enthusiastically attended and 0 Rock Art on Mobile Phones will be launching in early July 2011, so if you 100 are visiting rock art in the North East 100
95 this summer, be sure to take your 95
phone and look out for the RAMP logo! R
Rock Art goes Mobile A 75 Until then you can follow progress and 75 As RAMP was keen to make the mobile capable of accessing the Internet, M get involved via the RAMP Blog at experience available to as many people then visitors will be able to access the P
http://rockartmobile.wordpress.com or :
as possible, we decided to create a RAMP content whilst on site. R 25 send your thoughts via Twitter to 25 mobile website rather than developing o
@RockArtMobile. c
5 a platform-specific app, e.g. Visitors will be able to k 5
for an iPhone. Along with discover the carved A r
0 enjoying a larger user base, panels, perhaps t 0 Photographs this approach should provide opportunistically, and, G
1. Workshop participants engaging o
increased longevity in through the mobile e with rock art at Lordenshaw. comparison to an app Ð a key experience, engage s
2. Testing out the RAMP prototype M consideration in the rapidly with the panels and
at Horseshoe Rock, Lordenshaw. o
evolving field of mobile landscape, developing b i
Dod Law a greater understanding l
technology. Comprehensive e and awareness of the rock art testing of signal strength for the five Debbie Maxwell, Aron Mazel, landscape. major mobile providers confirmed that a Areti Galani and Kate Sharpe mobile website is viable at all three Newcastle University targeted rock art sites, i.e. if a phone is
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0 0 0 5 n unusual and rare survival from an invasion, this branch would have Heiferlaw: Alnwick but these are now missing or in a very made from corrugated iron sheeting, 100 AWorld War Two was recorded in been responsible for gaining and 100 rotten condition. in a circular cross-section, similar to 2010 at Heiferlaw, near Alnwick by communicating intelligence about the the traditional air raid shelter. The 95 95 Colin Anderson and Ian Hall with deployment of the enemy forces. The In the entrance room there are two iron sheeting shows signs of having
k ‘Zero Station’ 75 Special Duties section recruited 75 been painted a white colour, but most c permission of the Northumberland metal tubes, which are connected to a i Estates. Following research on people whose work allowed them elements where the earth has settled. into another vertical shaft. The floor of this paint has fallen away and the w 2 larger underground glazed pipe
n The vertical entrance shaft (Figure 1) was covered with concrete paving l general World War Two structures in relatively free movement, such as system that may have been a means exposed iron sheeting is corroded.
A doctors, district nurses and vicars. opens into the entrance room, which slabs. All the walls show signs of where 25 the county, they have more recently 25 : of getting messages into the They would prepare simple leads to the central room and then to items such as shelving had been Taking into account the radius of w turned their attention to Auxiliary Unit underground hide. In the central, or
5 a the escape room and a 14-metre 5secured. The doorways all had spaces l Operational Bases. These were intelligence reports based on what operation, it is likely that the
r main, room there are high and low escape tunnel (Figure 3) which exits where wooden lintels would have been e secret underground bunkers that they had seen, which would be left in Heiferlaw Zero Station would have f ventilation holes which are connected 0 i concealed ‘letter boxes’ (under rocks, 0 e would have been used by small, via two large concrete type tubes in been the only one of its kind in
H 3 specially trained in holes in trees etc). These reports the escape room to an unknown point Northumberland. units of soldiers were then collected by the next level outside the hide. There are also signs in the event of a of operatives, who would have of a lot of equipment having being EW from a report successful access to a secret radio transmitter, mounted on the wall next to the by Colin Anderson invasion of the known as an out-station. The escape room. The escape room has And Ian Hall United Kingdom transmitted reports would be collated the escape tunnel leading from it, in 1940. by a local control station who would which is formed from 750mm diameter then relay them to the main military concrete drainage pipes. There are You can read more about the headquarters. This control station or also a number of small pipes leading Auxiliary Unit and their bases in ‘zero station’ would be constructed in from this room to an unknown location WW2 at: an underground hide. Each zero (possibly outside the hide). These may www.parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk station would have a radius of be related to the generator that was operation of about 30 miles. probably installed in the hide to In Northumberland there are about 15 recharge the radio batteries. or so of these bases and although The Heiferlaw base was one of these most are in a very poor state of zero stations and would have been The roof of the whole structure was survival, the 70-year Auxiliary Unit used to coordinate the activities of (Special Duties) Zero Station at other bases in the vicinity. As such Heiferlaw remains in very good Heiferlaw is relatively large, has an condition. The base is on private land aerial still surviving in a tree nearby 4 and not accessible to the public. The (Figure 6) and has tubes which would survey was carried out with gas have been used by locals to pass monitoring equipment to ensure the messages of enemy positions to the atmosphere was safe. people inside the base.
Historically, there were two discrete The hide consists of an underground branches of the Auxiliary Units: the building with three interlinked rooms, first was established to carry out built of concrete blocks and mostly sabotage behind the advancing plastered and painted white (Figure enemy lines, and the second was the 4). All that is visible on the surface is Special Duties section. In the event of the outline of the underground
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6 0 Heiferlaw: Alnwick but these are now missing or in a The roof of the whole structure was 100 very rotten condition. made from corrugated iron sheeting, 100 in a circular cross-section, similar to 95 95
In the entrance room there are two the traditional air raid shelter. The H
‘Zero Station’ e 75 metal tubes, which are connected to iron sheeting shows signs of having 75 i
into another vertical shaft (Figure 2). f a larger underground glazed pipe been painted a white colour, but most e
The floor was covered with concrete r system that may have been a means of this paint has fallen away and the l a
paving slabs. All the walls show signs of getting messages into the exposed iron sheeting is corroded. w 25 25 :
of where items such as shelving had underground hide. In the central, or A
5 been secured. The doorways all had Taking into account the radius of l 5
main, room there are high and low n
spaces where lintels would have been ventilation holes which are connected operation, it is likely that the w
0 i 0 via two large concrete type tubes in Heiferlaw Zero Station would have c k the escape room to an unknown point been the only one of its kind in outside the hide. There are also signs Northumberland. of a lot of equipment having being mounted on the wall next to the Photographs escape room. The escape room has 1.The entrance shaft the escape tunnel leading from it, 2.The escape exit with the entrance which is formed from 750mm shaft in the background diameter concrete drainage pipes 3.The escape tunnel and its (Figure 3). There are also a number internal steel door of small pipes (Figure 5) leading from 4.The main underground ‘room’ this room to an unknown location 5.Pipes that once fed services to (possibly outside the hide). These the surface may be related to the generator that 6.The remains of an aerial strung in was probably installed in the hide to a nearby tree. recharge the radio batteries. EW from a report by Colin Anderson and Ian Hall
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0 0 0 7 1 A survey of lime kilns in the Northumberland Coast Area of Northumberland Coast AONB but of associated features such as 100 Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) 100 quarries and transport links, and should was undertaken in spring 2010 with the also take into account the wider setting of 95 95 aim to better understand the surviving the sites and their ecological importance.
y Lime Kiln Survey 75 lime kilns within the AONB and 75 e All but one of the lime kilns surviving v facilitate the proper targeting of any advances in technology. Initial work 2 r involved the identification of surviving within the AONB belong to the late 18th or u future conservation and refurbishment
S lime kilns in and around the AONB from 19th centuries, but there is considerable 2 works. 25 25 n
l the Historic Environment Record (HER) evidence for lime production in earlier i
K and by reviewing historic Ordnance times. Lime burning was certainly
5 he Northumberland Coast Area of 5 e TOutstanding Natural Beauty runs Survey maps, current aerial practiced in the region by the Romans 0 m photographic sources, previous surveys 0 and a late 15th or early 16th century lime i for 39 miles from Scremerston, a little
L and other published material. The kiln, revealed by winter storms and to the south of the mouth of the River B Tweed, to the estuary of the River gazetteer included kilns within a one excavated in 1995 (Williams and Williams N Coquet at Amble and contains some of kilometre buffer zone of the AONB on its 1996, 109-17), lies on Beadnell Point, to O landward side, in order to account for the east of the harbour and its much later
A the most dramatic and memorable coastal scenery in the British Isles, kiln sites which may straddle the border and better known kilns. Medieval 3 including soft eroding limestone cliffs of the AONB, as well as those which are accounts from Lindisfarne Priory also around Scremerston and broad sandy clearly visible from, or in economic or indicate that the monks there burnt their beaches, such as those at other close association with, adjacent own lime. Although lime was probably Cocklawburn, Cheswick, Embleton and parts of the AONB. Some 26 kilns used for a variety of purposes in Roman further south ar Warkworth where they survive; each was visited and a basic and medieval periods, by the 18th and are backed by extensive sand dunes. condition survey prepared. 19th centuries its principal use was for soil The whole length of the AONB is improvement; one aspect of the underlain with rocks of the Most of the kilns identified in the systematic development of farming Carboniferous age, forming repetitive gazetteer sit alongside associated techniques over the 18th and the 19th and deep successions of the lower, features, ranging from relatively minor centuries. 4 middle and upper limestone groups, evidence of quarrying to extensive lime making limestone easily accessible working complexes, such as can be Descriptions of lime kilns and the methods along much of the coast. found at Littlemill and at the Kennedy of their operation in 18th and 19th century limeworks on Holy Island. Northumberland are contained in several Lime kilns and their associated remains contemporary accounts. are prominent landscape features of As well as describing the nature of the the Northumberland Coast AONB. A lime industry along the Northumberland In 1788, William Marshall described number are very well known: the kilns coast and each of the known kiln sites, Northumberland limekilns as follows: on Beadnell Harbour and on Castle surviving kilns and adjacent remains as the materials are either limestone entirely Point at Holy Island, for instance, inspected, the report also includes a of limestone lined with bricks, and no appear in many iconic images of the prioritisation exercise designed to 5 other airholes are made than the ëeyesí coast. Others, though less well known, produce a league table of the kiln sites at which they are kindled. The form of the may have equally scenic backdrops ranked according to their structural cavity is an irregular cone inverted. At the and are just as impressive structurally. survival, perceived threats to their bottom are generally two eyes opposite to All of the kilns have now been long continued survival and public each other, the cavity being here abandoned, but still have the potential accessibility. This process has resulted contracted to a narrow trough, the width of tell a story of the human development in the identification of ten sites perceived the eyes. The proportion between the of the coast and of the utilisation of its as ‘high-priority’ sites which, whilst depths and the diameters of these kilns is resources. requiring consolidation works, are structurally substantial and accessible to that of the depth being generally about The survey was concerned mainly with the public. Suggestions are also one and a half diameter of the top. The 6 the surviving lime kilns in the AONB, provided for the interpretation of the kilns size varies from six to 40 chaldrons but attempts were also made to place in order to enhance public appreciation (quoted in Atkinson 1974, 103). [N.B. 1 them in their historic context by of them as structures of interest and chaldron = 50 cwt]. beauty in the coastal landscape. It is d describing the principal uses of lime n
a suggested that interpretation should take 100 l and the ways in which the location and 100 r
e account not only of the kilns themselves,
b scale of its manufacture reflected
95 m changing patterns of demand and 95 u h t 75 r 75 o N
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8 0 depth being generally about one and often fire bricks made from clay found Northumberland Coast AONB a half diameter of the top. The size in coal measures, in order to protect 100 varies from six to 40 chaldrons their surfaces from the erosive impact of 100 (quoted in Atkinson 1974, 103). [N.B. both heat and thermal shock. Such 95 95
1 chaldron = 50 cwt]. linings often themselves become lined A
Lime Kiln Survey O 75 with an accretion of slag or glaze 75
but of associated features such as Something of their mode of operation produced as a consequence of N quarries and transport links, and should is contained in the slightly later chemical reactions between stone/brick, B
also take into account the wider setting account of the great agricultural fuel and heat. Two, three or four draw L i
25 m 25 of the sites and their ecological reformers, Bailey and Culley: arches Ð always round on the importance. e 5 Northumberland coast but more often 5 K
The mode of burning lime in this pointed in the interior uplands, usually i l 0 All but one of the lime kilns surviving county, is mostly in draw-kilns, of the stone-built but sometimes brick-lined, n 0
within the AONB belong to the late 18th form of an inverted cone, with two or define recesses or porches around the S or 19th centuries, but there is u three eyes or mouths for drawing out openings, or ‘eyes’. The eyes supplied r v
considerable evidence for lime the lime, and admitting air: These and, with the draw arches, regulated the e production in earlier times. Lime burning kilns are kept burning and drawing necessary draught, as well as yielding y was certainly practiced in the region by perpetually. Some of the large sale the burnt lime, which descended to the the Romans and a late 15th or early kilns will afford 40 or 50 cart loads a bottom of the kiln continuously once the 16th century lime kiln, revealed by winter day: A cart load of coal is reckoned to kiln was in full operation. Above the eye storms and excavated in 1995 (Williams burn two cart loads of lime (Bailey and there may be a poking hole, through and Williams 1996, 109-17), lies on Culley 1797). which an iron poker was pushed to Beadnell Point, to the east of the riddle or stir the burning lime. harbour and its much later and better The descriptions above outline the known kilns. Medieval accounts from basic technology used in all the lime 3 Many kilns, particularly freestanding Lindisfarne Priory also indicate that the kilns surviving along the ones such as Littlemill, are buttressed. monks there burnt their own lime. Northumberland coast, the operation The other essential component of all Although lime was probably used for a of which was determined by the same kilns is the ramp up which the raw variety of purposes in Roman and basic chemistry and by similar materials, invariably coal and limestone, medieval periods, by the 18th and 19th economic principles involving the ascended to the opening of the pot. centuries its principal use was for soil costs of raw materials, transport and Such ramps sometimes used the improvement; one aspect of the labour. natural topography Ð as at the Castle systematic development of farming Point kilns on Holy Island where the techniques over the 18th and the 19th The design and character of kilns used kilns are built on the beach and the kiln centuries. in the coastal zone is rather varied, but pots are reached from the cliff top Ð all the remaining upstanding kilns are particularly where kilns were built into Descriptions of lime kilns and the draw kilns, some of which are quarries. In other cases ramps were methods of their operation in 18th and amalgamated into rectangular blocks deliberately constructed, reinforced and 19th century Northumberland are or batteries, as at Littlemill, Holy Island widened over time with the aggregation contained in several contemporary and Seahouses, wherein each kiln pot of quarry and kiln waste materials. In accounts. was associated with three or four draw some cases the kiln ramps were arches, but the principles of both supplied with waggonways Ð the In 1788, William Marshall described construction and operation remained remains of which survive at Littlemill, Northumberland lime kilns as follows: the same. Such kilns are stone-built but in most cases horse and man power structures, often square or oblong in were used to transport raw and the materials are either limestone plan, but sometimes rather amorphous processed materials up to and out of entirely of limestone lined with bricks, where they have been extended or the pot. (Continues on Page 10) and no other airholes are made than the adapted, often widening towards the eyes at which they are kindled. The form bottom but usually partially submerged Photographs of the cavity is an irregular cone in a sea of accumulated kiln waste, or 1, 2 and 3.Beadnell Harbour inverted. At the bottom are generally two built into a hillside. The smaller farm or 4.Beadnell Windmill, Hillstead Quarry eyes opposite to each other, the cavity estate kilns have a single pot, circular 5.Budle being here contracted to a narrow A or oval in plan and tapering, funnel-like 6.Cocklaw Dunes r c
trough, the width of the eyes. The h
100 in cross-section, towards the bottom. 7.Kennedy Lime Kilns, Holy Island a 100
proportion between the depths and the e 8, 9 and 10.Littlemill o l 95 diameters of these kilns is that of the o 95
Pots are lined with stone or brick Ð 11.Littlemill (Interior) g y
12.Cocklaw Dunes I
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0 0 0 9 13 Conclusions number of these sites would make The surviving lime kilns within the consolidation and restoration both 100 Northumberland Coast AONB are feasible and attractive. 100 attractive historic and architectural 95 95 features of the area. They are Finally, it is noted that many of the 75 y reminders of a distinct part of the kilns would benefit from interpretive 75 e
v human development of the coast and of strategies, either through on-site notice 2 r
u other areas supplied by the lime kilns boards or remotely, through web- S
14 and also of its geological background. based projects. They also lend 25 25 n l
i Some of the kilns have statutory themselves to community-based K
5 protection and a few are actively survey and restoration projects. 5
e maintained by the National Trust.
0 m 0 i Others are not protected by any References L
designation, their disuse exposing them Atkinson, F, 1974. The Industrial
B to increasingly rapid degradation. Archaeology of North-East England, 1, N Some of the kilns lie within the remains London. O Bailey , J and Culley, G, 1797. General
A of larger limeworks and have associated earthworks and structures view of the agriculture of the county of Northumberland with observations on the 2 around them. All the surviving kilns and means of its improvement. 15 many of the surrounding earthworks Bainbridge, J W, 1991, ‘Lime kilns of and structures would benefit from north Northumberland’ in History of the detailed field archaeological survey, in Berwickshire Naturalist’s Club, 45 (111- a number of cases to enhance work 137). carried out by Stafford Linsley and Jermy, R C, 1992. Lindisfarne’s 3 students of the former Department of limestone past: quarries, tramways and 2 Lifelong Learning at Newcastle kilns. 16 University. Northumberland County Library. Linsley, S, 1992, ‘Eighteenth century to The story of the lime industry in the nineteenth century agrarian area touches upon a number of other transformation and industrial revolution’ historic themes and potential areas of in Pevsner et al. The Buildings of research, including: the 18th and 19th England: Northumberland, London. century revolution in agriculture in Trueman, M, 1990, ‘A Lime Burning Northumberland and areas of Scotland Revolution’ in Association for Industrial supplied by the coastal kilns; Archaeology Bulletin 17, 2 unpag. developments in sea transport over the Williams, A. and Williams, E, 1996, ‘Excavation of a late medieval lime kiln same period including the improvement 2 on Beadnell Point, Northumberland’ in or introduction of harbours and jetties 17 Archaeologia Aeliana 5th series. XXIV. along the coast, on occasion Williams, R., 2004, Limekilns and lime specifically to facilitate the coastwise burning. Shire Publications Ltd. movement of lime; and the revolution in land transport which came about with Photographs the introduction of railways in the mid 13. Holy Island, Castle Point 19th century which allowed the wider 14. Holy Island, Castle Point, Pots terrestrial movement of lime. Because 15. Seahouses Harbour of these links interpretation of the kilns 16 and 17. Spindlestone 2 would benefit from a broad, multi- 18. Cargie’s Kiln, Scremerston 18 thematic approach. 19. Dunstan Hill Quarry, Windmill 20. Dunstan Square All the surviving kilns, other than those 21. Easington Grange 2 in the care of the National Trust, are in a state of active and sometimes speedy Richard Carlton, The Archaeological Practice Ltd d decay. All are worthy of retention, but n Paul Frodsham, a 100 l some survive more substantially than 100 r Oracle Heritage Services e
b others and could be consolidated at Alan Williams, 95 m manageable cost. Public access to a 95 u Alan Williams Archaeology h t 75 r 75 o N
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0 1 Ecology and the Heritage Asset 100 100
95 95 Bats in the Belfry... B 75 a 75 t s
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...Pele Tower, Bastle, Castle, Listed periodic building condition surveys so a Never Building, Monument, Hall? picture of bat use over months or years ! allow works where bats are present can be built up. Specific surveys will, without making sure the law isn’t being ost of Britain’s 17 species of bats can however, be required as part of any build broken, Mand do use a range of our traditional up to works to parts of the building (roofs, ! pick up bats, especially with bare and historic buildings to roost, hibernate walls, cladding, tunnels, basements or hands; anyone bitten by a bat should and raise a family, as well as the even outbuildings) where bats might be seek medical advice, surrounding landscapes for their larder. likely to live. If bats or their roosts might ! assume that workers, contractors or Sadly, almost every one of the 10 species be destroyed or disturbed then a special other staff have already been told found in Northumberland have suffered licence (a protected species development about bats or their roost. widespread and significant declines over licence) is likely to be required from 3 the last few decades as a result of Natural England and time needs to be Try to persecution, loss of roost sites and loss of allowed for that to be issued. The project ! be proactive Ð organise surveys, feeding habitat. As a result of this all manager or person in charge of any improve the surrounding habitat and species of bats and their roosts (whether works needs to be aware of any potential provide extra roosting sites, they are in use or not) are fully protected bat issues as well as the law. ! provide some bat interpretation or by both European (Conservation of organise bat walks for local people and Species and Habitats Regulations 2010) The Northumberland Bat Group (NBG) visitors. and UK (Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 holds records for the whole county and is as amended) law, including against likely to have historical records of bats in Anyone contemplating works where bats deliberate or reckless destruction and the area and may even have some for might be an issue should bear in mind that disturbance of bats themselves and their the building in question. They also have a the laws protecting bats operate roost, hibernation or breeding sites. great deal of other information and independently of the planning system so expertise so a good working relationship even if planning permission is not The presence of bats is a ‘material factor’ and early consultation with the NBG will required, the laws protecting bats and as far as planning permission is concerned always be useful and may help to get a their roosts still apply. and that includes those in historic or good survey if or when one might be traditional buildings. The starting point has required. If a development licence is More information and advice is to be to assume that bats are present but required then a detailed Method available from: the only way to be certain is to engage a Statement describing how bats will be specialist to survey the building. It is, properly accounted for during the works Natural England Ð Bat Advice Helpline however, rare for the presence of bats to will be essential. This demonstrates to 0845 1300 228 or: be a ‘show stopper’ as far as changes and the planning department and/or Natural www.naturalengland.org.uk/ repairs to buildings are concerned. In the England that the correct procedures are vast majority of cases works can still be to be followed and that the works comply English Heritage at: carried out as long as consideration is with the law. www.english- given to the bats, the timing of the works heritage.org.uk/publications/bats-in- and awareness of the needs of bats in a If works to a traditional or historic building traditional-buildings/ way that will allow them to remain and are needed then: flourish in their roost sites. The Bat Conservation Trust at: A r
Always www.bats.org.uk c h
100 If works to a traditional or historic building ! get some bat advice from Natural a 100 e
are required then as far as bats are England as early in the project Northumberland Bat Group at: o l 95 www.northumberlandbats.org.uk o 95 concerned planning ahead is the key to planning as possible g y
! consider any bat issues whenever
allowing a sustainable future for both bats I
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contemplating works, whether it be Or from the Northumberland County and buildings. The earlier a specialist bat N
survey is undertaken the better so that any minor (such as repairing slipped Council ecologists: o r t issues are known well before any works slates) or major (such as re-roofing) David Feige 01670 533153 h u 25 commence and potentially expensive ! put a notice near any known bat roost (West Area) m 25 b
delays or unintentional breaches of the law entrance to warn anyone who might Colin Marlee 01670 533907 e r l 5 can be avoided. If possible be proactive for require access. (North & South East Areas) a 5 n
bats. Include bat surveys as part of any d
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CM 1 1 n archaeological topographic the point at which the Wall Asurvey was carried out at Steel ditch began to run 1800 years of Hadrian’s Wall 100 100 Rigg on the north side of Hadrian’s downhill, at a point roughly 95 Wall on behalf of the Northumberland parallel with a turn in the 95 National Park Authority in February Wall to the south-east. The
l Surveying Steel Rigg 75 l and March 2010, when weather and survey included the north 75 a likely to be associated with the ground conditions were initially very side of the Wall and the Wall ditch 2 W poor due to the extended severe construction and maintenance of s and any features clearly apparent to ’ Hadrian’s Wall from the second 25 n winter, although on occasions the low the north of the ditch. 25
a century AD and the subsequent use of i winter sun highlighted subtleties r 5 the site for farming in the post- 5 d contained within the earthwork The aim of the survey was to provide a complex. medieval period. Phases of wall 0 H information to the National Park and 0
: clearance, reconstruction and National Trust for the management g continuing management have also
g The earthwork survey examined an i of the site, in particular in relation to created their own remains, notably a
R elongated area along the north side of
pathways and footpaths and their l linear depression (2) on the north side
e the Wall bounded to the west by the upgrade for all visitors, as well as
e of the wall. t C road providing access from the provision of an information panel.
S Military Way, to the south by the north However, since it is not known when side of the Wall and to the north by The various components the Steel Rigg farmstead was the current visitor car park (former documented during the survey form established, it is possible that farming site of Steel Rigg farm). The part of a closely interrelated, well- activities have a much longer history eastwards extent of the survey was preserved historic landscape which on the site, perhaps extending into the not determined by manmade would merit further investigation. The medieval period. Features most clearly landscape features, but continued to majority of features identified are associated with the Roman period are 1 2 d n a
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2 1 Phase A geophysical survey and test- 1800 years of Hadrian’s Wall Wall and ditch; the ditch trenching, supported by a full 100 100 peters out at the east end documentary study of the site in order
95 after pulling back from the to access records of modern farming 95
Wall line; ditch up-cast on or other activity. S
Surveying Steel Rigg t 75 the north edge forms a e 75 1, 2, 3 and 8, but several other e
Photos and Illustrations l
substantial low bank, or glacis, features could also be associated with R extending across the west part of the 1. Surveying at Steel Rigg i that period. Features most likely to be g 25 2. Plan of Steel Rigg (Key - 1: 25 surveyed area and for about 25m to g
associated with the later period of Hadrian’s Wall curtain wall, 2: linear : the east of the modern field wall, 5 farming activity include 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 depression or ditch, 3: Hadrian’s Wall H 5
where the ditch becomes a minor a
and 11. Features 10 and 11 may be ditch, 4: shallow earthwork features, 5: d feature, without up-cast.
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enclosure or boundary features garden or enclosure wall fragments, 6: i a
representing an earlier phase of well, 7: linear bank, 8: Wall ditch up-cast n
Phase B ’ farming activity, but performing the mound, 9: enclosure, 10: wall footings of s
Two hollow ways cut across the up- W same function as, the modern field pen or enclosure bank, 11: low bank and
cast and into the Wall ditch, possibly wall footings, 12: linear bank, 13: linear a
walls forming a field south of the l to aid drainage of land to the north, bank, 14: linear bank, 15: shallow l farmstead. or to demarcate 'properties' set up on runnels.) the dry area of the up-cast from the 3. The Roman Wall at Steel Rigg Based on consideration of the above, ditch. a suggested sequence for the Richard Carlton earthwork features surveyed at Steel Phase C The Archaeological Practice Ltd Rigg is as follows: A substantial metalled roadway was Alan Williams constructed with side ditches up to Alan Williams Archaeology the Wall line (purpose unknown). A bank constructed to the east of the 3 10 Metres road tracks the road line, channelling excess drainage water from the east side of road. This bank continued N along and re-cut the south side of the ephemeral Wall ditch.
Phase D Features clearly related to modern farming.
Phase E Features clearly related to the excavation/partial reconstruction of the curtain wall.
In order to more confidently determine a sequence of activity for the site, further fieldwork would be necessary, potentially including A r c h
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0 0 1 3 2 xcavations at 119-125 Marygate, Marygate: Berwick-upon-Tweed two connected chambers, the primary 100 EBerwick-upon-Tweed (the former 100 requisite of a septic tank. The structure Paxton and Purves drapers and reflects improvement in civic hygiene 95 95 tailors shop) in 2007 have revealed a and suggests that Berwick may have
d Kilns, Sewerage and Gardening 75 sequence of activity from the 13th 75 been ahead of its time. Septic tanks e expand back into the yard or garden, e century through to the present day 1 were first patented in France by John
w and recovered a large assemblage of with the construction of a building Louis Mouras in 1881 and first T
- archaeological material, including containing a cobbled surface and introduced to England after 1895.
25 n 25 stone lined gully, possibly a stable. o ceramics, animal bone and However, pottery dating from the late 5 p carbonised macroplant remains. 5 The rear half of the plot continues in 18th to the mid 19th century, which u - use as a garden. A series of wide,
k can only have been deposited after the
0 c 0 i Levelling of the ground at the front of shallow ditch-like features had been conversion of the tank, highlights the
w cut in parallel to each other into the r the building in the 19th century had possibility that primitive septic tanks e removed all evidence for structures garden soil. These are very similar to were in use in England from a much B
: relating to the medieval street features that can be seen on the earlier date and that Mouras was only e t frontage but early activity was 1570 map, although not within the developing an already established a properties surrounding the g preserved towards the rear of the plot sewage treatment system. y
r where midden deposits had been excavation area, and it seems most a dumped and possibly used to level likely that they relate to horticultural The excavations have revealed M the slope down towards the river or agricultural activity. They may evidence for the development of the Tweed. Sometime in the 13th century have been created by the cultivation site from at least the 13th century three oven-like structures, which are of crops such as raspberries with the through to the 19th century, thought to be corn driers, were depressions caused by walking developments which reflect in constructed on the plot. Large between the rows of canes. microcosm those of the town itself, amounts of charred oat grains found from establishment and consolidation in a pit and other deposits suggest Development over the rear of the plot during the 13th and 14th centuries, grain processing on a semi-industrial continued throughout the 18th and stagnation during the Border wars, scale. Pottery found in the demolition 19th centuries, presumably reflecting expansion as security returns to the debris in and over the ovens suggests the growing prosperity of the owners town following the English conquest in that this activity had ceased by the and the town itself. There are three the 16th century, and finally increasing mid 14th century, possibly due to the successive expansions of the prosperity throughout the 18th and Border conflicts and the reduced size building’s footprint out into the back 19th centuries. of the population. land and onto the remaining area of garden, culminating in the standing The archaeological work was For the next few centuries the rear of building that we see today. One undertaken by AOC Archaeology the plot was used only for agricultural interesting development was the Group and funded by Bowcliff LLP to a or horticultural purposes, evidenced construction of what appears to be writen specification agreed with by the dumping of midden material an early septic tank. This took the Norhtuberland Conservation. and the build up of a garden soil. This form of a large stone-built reflects the situation illustrated on a subterranean chamber with niches in Photographs and Illustrations map of 1570 on which it is possible to its walls, which had subsequently 1. One of the 14th century ovens. approximately locate the site. This been split in two by the construction 2. Plan of 16th century garden features shows a row of buildings fronting on of a brick wall and capped with a in Area 3 to Marygate with enclosed gardens or sprung brick roof. It is possible that 3. Brick sprung roof of the septic tank. yards behind. this feature originally began life as a cess pit which was later modified by Erlend Hindmarch During the 16th century the building the addition of the brick wall to form on the street frontage begins to
d 2 3 n a 100 l 2 metres 100 r e b
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4 1 xcavations at 119-125 Marygate, Marygate: Berwick-upon-Tweed two connected chambers, the primary EBerwick-upon-Tweed (the former 100 requisite of a septic tank. The 100 Paxton and Purves drapers and structure reflects improvement in civic 95 95 tailors shop) in 2007 have revealed a Kilns, Sewerage and Gardening hygiene and suggests that Berwick M sequence of activity from the 13th 75 may have been ahead of its time. a 75 r century through to the present day 1 expand back into the yard or garden, Septic tanks were first patented in y with the construction of a building g
and recovered a large assemblage of France by John Louis Mouras in 1881 a
containing a cobbled surface and t archaeological material, including and first introduced to England after e 25 25 : ceramics, animal bone and stone lined gully, possibly a stable. 1895. However, pottery dating from B
carbonised macroplant remains. 5 The rear half of the plot continues in the late 18th to the mid 19th century, e 5 r
use as a garden. A series of wide, which can only have been deposited w
0 i 0 Levelling of the ground at the front of shallow ditch-like features had been after the conversion of the tank, c k the building in the 19th century had cut in parallel to each other into the highlights the possibility that primitive - u removed all evidence for structures garden soil. These are very similar to septic tanks were in use in England p features that can be seen on the o
relating to the medieval street from a much earlier date and that n
1570 map, although not within the - frontage but early activity was Mouras was only developing an T preserved towards the rear of the plot properties surrounding the already established sewage w excavation area, and it seems most e where midden deposits had been treatment system. e dumped and possibly used to level likely that they relate to horticultural d the slope down towards the river or agricultural activity. They may The excavations have revealed Tweed. Sometime in the 13th century have been created by the cultivation evidence for the development of the three oven-like structures, which are of crops such as raspberries with the site from at least the 13th century thought to be corn driers, were depressions caused by walking through to the 19th century, 3 constructed on the plot. Large between the rows of canes. developments which reflect in amounts of charred oat grains found microcosm those of the town itself, in a pit and other deposits suggest Development over the rear of the plot from establishment and consolidation grain processing on a semi-industrial continued throughout the 18th and during the 13th and 14th centuries, scale. Pottery found in the demolition 19th centuries, presumably reflecting stagnation during the Border wars, debris in and over the ovens suggests the growing prosperity of the owners expansion as security returns to the that this activity had ceased by the and the town itself. There are three town following the English conquest mid 14th century, possibly due to the successive expansions of the in the 16th century, and finally Border conflicts and the reduced size building’s footprint out into the back increasing prosperity throughout the of the population. land and onto the remaining area of 18th and 19th centuries. garden, culminating in the standing For the next few centuries the rear of building that we see today. One The archaeological work was the plot was used only for agricultural interesting development was the undertaken by AOC Archaeology or horticultural purposes, evidenced construction of what appears to be Group and funded by Bowcliff LLP to by the dumping of midden material an early septic tank. This took the a written specification agreed with and the build up of a garden soil. This form of a large stone-built Northumberland Conservation. reflects the situation illustrated on a subterranean chamber with niches in map of 1570 on which it is possible to its walls, which had subsequently Photographs and Illustrations approximately locate the site. This been split in two by the construction 1. One of the 14th century ovens. shows a row of buildings fronting on of a brick wall and capped with a 2. Plan of 16th century garden to Marygate with enclosed gardens or sprung brick roof. It is possible that features in Area 2 yards behind. this feature originally began life as a 3. Brick sprung roof of the septic cess pit which was later modified by tank. During the 16th century the building the addition of the brick wall to form Erlend Hindmarch on the street frontage begins to AOC Archaeology Group
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b n April 2010, members of major clearance of the lower ground, surrounding woods, and plot field h t Coquetdale Community or a more sporadic clearance of the boundaries. o I 25 25
R Archaeology surveyed the cairnfield at higher ground with agriculture
: Debdon Ð a moorland area above between them. Some 31 of the cairns Photographs d
5 l 5
e Rothbury centred at NU 0567 0300. have a detectable alignment (the rest 1. One of the kerbed cairns i f 0 are almost circular). Analysis hints at 2. One of the standing stone 0 n r i According to English Heritage the field an east/west alignment for some but a consists of some 30 Bronze Age this is not statistically significant and David Jones C
n clearance cairns ranging from 4m to there is no associated physical Coquetdale Community
o 10m in diameter and up to a height of grouping on the ground. There is also Archaeology d
b 1.5m. There are also three standing a fairly consistent distribution of size, e stones, but none of them is in the although tumble makes accurate D location marked on the Ordnance analysis difficult. 2 Survey map. Finally, there is a rock with cup marks and a basin. It is hard Two of the cairns are noticeably to tell if these are natural, or originally different from the rest: they are manmade and eroded; what isn’t similar to the kerb cairns documented natural, however, is the name ‘FIONA’ by Lynch and Ritchie, who describe hacked across the rock. them as looking like a petrified charlotte russe. Such cairns are We identified and photographed every found at several locations in Scotland cairn and measured the size of each and as far afield as the Isle of Lewis and its orientation. In all, we found 43 and are frequently associated with cairns, together with traces of field cremations. The ones at Debdon boundaries and the remains of a appear to have been disturbed and (probably) later rectangular structure. probably robbed. We mapped the cairns on an aerial photograph, and added in contours. It So although the English Heritage is obvious that the cairns are on description is not complete, its basic higher ground around a lower area, propositions are fairly accurate. Our but it is not clear if they represent a next steps are to investigate the
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6 1 n August 2010 The Northumberland’s it is easily overlooked. IHistory Press published Closer attention, however, 100 the book, Drove Roads of reveals that in addition to 100 Northumberland, which the songs and stories of 95 95 grew out of a study of the droving preserved in folk N memory, as well as place-
Drove Roads o 75 historical and 75 places like Elsdon, Haltwhistle, names such as ‘Clickemin’ (at Elsdon, r archaeological background to stock t Newcastle and, most important of all, Ponteland, for example), numerous h droving activities in the area of what is now u
the Northumberland National Park, but has Stagshaw Bank north of Corbridge, physical traces of droving can be seen m
25 been expanded to deal with droving where all manner of livestock exchange within the county. b 25 took place. From the end of the 18th e activities throughout the whole of the r l 5 county. Its subject range has also been century sheep assumed greater Such traces include the roads themselves, a 5 prominence in the droving trade, a often bounded by linear boundary features n expanded to include more discussion of d 0 0 such as walls and ditches. The droveways ’ short-distance droving in the 20th century, change reflected in the local economy, as s
much of it derived from the personal landowners amalgamated several crossed rivers and streams principally by D
recollections of local people, and a section holdings to form larger, more viable means of fords, but bridges were provided r o
on the physical remains of droving tenancies, resulting in the creation of on some of the major routes into market v huge sheep farms in Redesdale, North centres and over major rives such as the e
The term ‘droving’, in its commonly Tynedale and upper Coquetdale. lower Tyne, and more were constructed in R the later period of droving. Important o accepted sense, denotes the practice of a
moving cattle over very great distances By the mid 19th century the long- crossing points on the droving routes d s from northern Britain and Ireland to the distance, cross-border droving was being sometimes acted as foci for the growing towns of England, continuing as supplanted by the establishment of far south as London and adjoining growth of the trading posts, with counties, a practice which reached its railways, which inns and fairgrounds zenith between the late 17th and mid 19th provided a more and the development 3 century. More generally, however, droving economic service and of permanent might be defined as any practice which delivered livestock to settlements. involved the driving of livestock over their destination in Amongst a range of significant distances. Droving of this kind better condition, smaller or more has been integral to pastoralist activity in whilst the historic fairs ephemeral the Northumbrian uplands for millennia, were gradually structures often being an integral component of various replaced by auction associated with kinds of seasonal transhumance and other marts located beside droveways, but also agricultural customs pursued by railway stations. The existing communities in the Northumbrian uplands drovers now became independently, are during the medieval and early modern intermediaries the remains of ponds periods and probably also throughout between railhead, and troughs for much of later prehistory. auction mart and fair, watering stock, little diminished in smithies for shoeing The modern long-distance cattle droving numbers but cattle before they trade from Scotland to England began in employed in very reached metalled earnest at the beginning of the 18th different patterns of roads in the century after Anglo-Scottish economic work and, lowlands, and field relations had been placed on a increasingly, in an systems linked to permanently stable and peaceful footing, urban rather than rural setting. Droving inns and other (semi-) permanent developing to meet the growing demand still occurred in the countryside, mainly settlements. Compounds such as stells, for meat from the expanding urban centres from farm to railhead, but this was carried often used to house stray animals as well of England, most notably London itself. As out by the farmers, their families and as to gather sheep for shearing and a result of this growth, by the end of the employees, not professional drovers. lambing are a common sight on the fells, 18th century, 100,000 cattle were being From the 1920s or 1930s road haulage and at Elsdon one survives in a village driven south across the border each year. gradually began to replace rail transport, location. although the latter remained important A multiplicity of routes through the right up until the closure of Thanks are offered in the book to Individuals Northumbrian hills were used for this Northumberland’s rural branch lines to who provided oral testimony or comment for Chapter 4 including Laurence Dagg, James A r
traffic, but the pattern of usage shifted over freight traffic in the 1950s and 60s. The c
Johnson,Bill Robson, Willie Robson, Mrs D h
100 time, as the progress of turnpiking and motor lorry, with its great flexibility, finally a 100
Bell, W Bolton, W Brown, A Cowen, G Fenton, e
enclosure restricted movement and access put an end to droving over all but the very L I Hedley, A D McCracken, H Robinson, Mrs M o l 95 o 95
to pasture and increased the costs of shortest distances and even this aspect Walton and Mr G W M Sewell, while Tim Gates g y
droving along some of the routes. of stock movement has been abandoned and Peter Ryder provided additional material. I
75 n 75
in the face of new Defra regulations Institutions which provided records or allowed Particularly important were the routes N
down the North Tyne valley and the Great introduced since the last outbreak of Foot the reproduction of images include Beamish o r t Drift Road, which ran along the and Mouth disease in 2004. Regional Resource Centre, Bellingham h Heritage Centre, the Collection of the Duke of u 25 Coquet/Rede watershed from the border at m 25
Northumberland, the Society of Antiquaries of b
Brownhart Law, via Featherwood and The commercial and social importance of e
Newcastle upon Tyne and Tarset Archive r l 5 Dudlees to Elsdon, whence it headed droving is not matched by the scale and a 5
Group. n
south to Stagshaw Bank. The crucial hubs permanence of monuments associated d
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0 0 in the network were annual fairs held at with it in the landscape, which means that Richard Carlton, Ian Roberts 1 7 and Alan Rushworth reparations are being made for Pa phased programme of repairs Barmoor Castle Conservation Plan 100 100 and conservation of Barmoor Castle. Designed in 1801 for Francis Sitwell 95 2 95 (later MP for Berwick) by John
n Conservation Repair and Reuse 75 75
a Patterson of Edinburgh, who had l through mismanagement and $ 2 Identify conservation issues and P been a pupil and partner of the distraction, and by the 1960s they recognise how proposals for repair
n Adam Brothers and developed his
o were talking of clearance, demolition and alteration for new use can i
25 t own “Castle” style of Country House, 25 and sale. Demolition was avoided but impact on the significance. a Sitwell clearly had an idea that the v $ 5 r after dry rot was found in the North 5 Develop policies to protect the
e Castle should make some reference Wing the process of withdrawal was significance and guide repair and s to the medieval conflicts of the 0 n inevitable. The contents were sold 0 conservation work. o Border. After all Barmoor is well and the Castle and the small area of C
recorded as the camp and : land remaining around it were bought The Conservation Plan will need to e
l headquarters of the English Forces t in 1979 by the present owners Mr be as widely aired as possible to be
s gathering under the leadership of the
a and Mrs Lamb. The focus of their supported by statutory authorities Earl of Surrey on the eve of the C effort has been the development of
and consultees, funding bodies and
r Battle of Flodden in September 1513
o Barmoor Castle Country Park with the local community. It is only a
o and there appears to have been a chalets and permanent caravan beginning, but there is a whiff of a
m tower on the site of the present r pitches spaciously set out in the new enthusiasm to breathe life back
a building, some evidence of which curtilage of the Castle. into this fine building. B may be incorporated in it. In 1987 substantial repairs were enthusiastically supported by other there is now a need for a more Robin Dower 3 The Castle itself is Listed Grade II* carried out to the roofs with grant aid owners in the vicinity connected by strategic approach to manage Spence and Dower and is entered in English Heritage from English Heritage but otherwise threads of built, natural and cultural resources and to assess the Buildings at Risk Register for the Castle has stood patiently heritage that are part of the opportunities for new uses and the 2009/10, its condition noted as “Very awaiting reinvention for a new use. In Flodden story. The Castle will be impact they might have, both on the Captions Bad, Category A, at immediate risk just the last two years a sense of used to display archaeological finds process of conservation and the of further rapid deterioration or loss optimism is emerging that the future from the area, for education and character of the building after the work In contrast to the Gothick exterior the of fabric with no solution found”. of the Castle might be shaped by interpretation purposes and as a is completed. interior contains late Adam style participation in the Flodden 1513 cultural resource both for tourists doors and pediments Reading the annals of the Barmoor Ecomuseum (see page 42), now and the local community. A Conservation Plan would aim to: Estate and the Sitwell family, Palm leaf decorations to the grand researched by John Although repair and consolidation $Enhance understanding of the stairs with cantilevered stone steps and Ann work can be carried on in a building and its context. and landings Ferguson, piecemeal way to hold back the $Assess its significance. one can effects of weathering and decay The East Tower today, main entrance see the below inexorable The ravages of time on the roofless decline in their fortunes
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8 1 Barmoor Castle Conservation Plan 3 100 100
95 95 B
Conservation Repair and Reuse a 75 75 ! recognise how proposals for r m
repair and alteration for new use o
can impact on the significance. o r
25 25 ! Develop policies to protect the C
significance and guide repair and a
5 s 5 t
conservation work. l e
0 : 0
The Conservation Plan will need to C o
be as widely aired as possible to be n s
supported by statutory authorities e r
and consultees, funding bodies and v the local community. It is only a a t i beginning, but there is a whiff of a o n
new enthusiasm to breathe life back P
into this fine building. l a n Photographs there is now a need for a more 1. Barmoor Castle from the north- 4 strategic approach to manage east taken when the castle was resources and to assess the still occupied in the 1950s opportunities for new uses and the 2. In contrast to the Gothic exterior impact they might have, both on the the interior contains late Adam- process of conservation and the style doors and pediments character of the building after the work 3. The ravages of time on the is completed. roofless North Wing. 4. Palm leaf decorations to the A Conservation Plan would aim to: grand stairs with cantilevered ! stone steps and landings Enhance understanding of the 5.The East Tower today, with the building and its context. ! main entrance below (Photo: Assess its significance. Norman MacKillop) ! Identify conservation issues and
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0 0 1 9 A series of archaeological excavations were carried out at Excavations at High Rochester 100 Bremenium Roman fort, High 100 Rochester (NY 832 986) in July 2010, 95 95 which resulted in the investigation of t
r Bremenium Roman Fort 75 over 50 square metres of the south- 75 o seems to have taken2 place in the Roman walls, floors, drains and other
F west part of the fort interior. The early fourth century, perhaps under features, some at very shallow depths. n works were carried out ahead of
a Constantine (Casey & Savage 1980), The most substantial of the structures 25 proposals to develop and extend a 25 m although there are some intriguing were along the north side of the trench o stone barn.
5 R contradictions in this respect and in its north-west corner. Remains 5 between the evidence provided by of several walls of particularly high- m ost of what was previously 0 0 u i known about the fort at High coins, pottery and structural quality, clay-bonded masonry, n M modifications (Crow 2004, 222-3). surviving up to eight courses high,
e Rochester has been derived from were recorded in the trench sections m finds of inscribed stonework e Trench 1 and seem to be the side walls of r recovered from the site by
B Trench 1, placed within gardens buildings extending to the west and
: antiquarians, the first accounts of
r close to the north-west corner of the north. Their function is unclear, but a
e which date to the beginning of the t fort, uncovered the remains of gap in the west-facing wall is s 17th century, culminating in
e substantial walls of Roman origin at suggestive of gaps in the lower
h excavations carried out there in the
c very shallow depths. The mid-19th century, subsequently courses of granaries, or of vents o interpretation of the character of associated with baths and under floor
R enhanced by additional targeted these building remains was heating. A range of other east-west h investigations by Richmond in 1935.
g constrained by the limited size of the i Later excavations, notably by Crow in walls appear less substantial and are
H area exposed, but indicates a the 1990s, together with continuing probably later in origin. substantial east-west wall with a episodes of geophysical prospection possible internal dividing wall and provided less spectacular results, but Within the area of walling in the north- likely stair platform within the angle have enhanced understanding of the west corner of the trench were formed by their intersection. Burnt fort and its layout, adding particularly deposits of silty ash, the products of material piled against the north face to knowledge of associated extra- activities involving burning, upon of the wall suggests the deposition of mural features. sparsely flagged surfaces. East of this waste from a domestic fire or heated surface in the north-west corner was a It is known that Bremenium long baths, perhaps connected with a dense deposit of clay and stones, the played an important role as an burnt feature lined with opus removal of which revealed further outpost fort beside Dere Street, the signinum, the top of which was remains of walls, two of which formed easterly Roman route into Scotland, exposed at the foot of the trench on the long side walls of an apparent pit and had a large mixed garrison the north side of the stone building. or trough in which was found, at an usually consisting of a military Three test-pits opened adjacent to oblique angle, two pieces of a flat equitate cohort and a unit of scouts. Trench 1 also provided evidence for stone which had been carved to give a The base was occupied during the archaeological remains of scalloped appearance. The Flavian period (AD85-90) and from indeterminate character and function arrangement of this stone, which the Antonine period onwards (AD142- at shallow depths. appeared from its position to have 62), with rebuilding phases in the collapsed into the pit, together with the early third century and at the Trench 2 ‘bench’ on the north side and Trench 2, in the enclosed area south beginning of the fourth century. existence immediately to the east of of the bastle, revealed a complex of Military withdrawal from the site another section of stone drain,
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0 2 century date for the flagging in this CROW J, 2004a, Survey and excavation Excavations at High Rochester area, consistent with its at Bremenium Roman fort, High 100 establishment at an early stage in the Rochester 1992-98, in P Frodsham (ed.) 100 occupation of the fort. Archaeology in Northumberland National 95 Park. Council for British Archaeology 95 H Research Report 136; York, 213-23. Bremenium Roman Fort i 75 Finds of pottery, tile and worked g 75
apparently associated with the pit, HODGSON, J, 1827, History of h
stone confirmed the Roman origins of suggested the remains of a latrine, Northumberland, part 2, vol. I: Containing R
the structural remains but did not o although this interpretation was not the History of the franchise of Redesdale, 25 provide secure evidence for either and of the Umfreville Family; Also, of the c 25 supported by palaeoenvironmental h very early occupation or activity later Parishes of Elsden .... Newcastle upon e
evidence. s 5 Tyne. 5 than that previously suggested (ie t RICHMOND, I A, 1936, ‘Excavations at e late third/early fourth century). The r 0 : 0 The southern two thirds of the trench High Rochester and Risingham, 1935’ pottery finds, including amphora, B
area was largely devoid of walls, the Archaeologia Aeliana 4 Ser 13, 170-198 r samian and other fine-wares, e
greater being flagged, with the greater, RICHMOND, I A, 1940, ‘The Romans in m mortaria and coarse wares has been
western area of flagging separated Redesdale’ in Hope Dodds, M. (ed) A e
dated to between the second and History of Northumberland XV: 63-154. n
from the eastern fragment by a linear i late third centuries AD, while finds of Northumberland County History u arrangement of stones and a stone m glass, including several fine sherds of Committee; Newcastle upon Tyne. drain set in puddled clay. Examination window glass, and other objects also RUSHWORTH, A, 1996, High Rochester R of the wider context suggests that the Fort: A Documentary Assessment of Post- o appear to fall within this date range. m line of stones lines up with the west Roman Occupation (unpublished report; a
side of the blocked fort entrance to the commissioned by The Northumberland n
The complex remains uncovered and south and may represent the west side National Park Authority). The F
recorded at Bremenium in 2010 form o of a roadway running northwards into Archaeological Practice, University of r
part of substantial, previously t the fort from the south entrance gate. Newcastle upon Tyne. undisturbed Roman remains in a part of the fort which, though previously The south-west corner of the trench Learn more about Bremenium and suspected as archaeologically sterile, provides some evidence for late the Romans in Upper Tynedale at: must now be regarded as displaying building activity in the presence of a www.Roman-Britain.org considerable additional crudely-constructed stone-built archaeological potential. Only the platform sitting upon high-quality upper surfaces of Roman deposits flagging, suggesting that the plan for and structural surfaces were this area as originally conceived was investigated, leaving substantial but abandoned at some point, probably unknown depths of remains late in the history of the fort. unexplored. Interestingly, a similar arrangement of stones was visible in the east-facing References trench section, and also appears to be BRUCE, J C, 1858, An account of the the remains of a crude wall, but Photos and Maps excavations of 1852, in Memoirs 1. Trench 1 seen from the south stratigraphically distinct from the illustrative of the History and Antiquities 2. OS 2nd Ed map showing the definably Roman remains, suggesting of Northumberland: Proceedings of the the possibility of very late Roman or Archaeological Institute, Newcastle trench location. early post-Roman activity. The greater Meeting, 1852, Vol 1, 135-149. 3. The west end of Trench 2 part of a mortarium of local fabric, CHARLTON, D B, 1987, Upper North 4. Trench 2 seen from the south found with amphora body sherds Tynedale: A Northumbrian Valley and its under the flags, gives a second People. Northumbrian Water, Newcastle Richard Carlton upon Tyne. The Archaeological Practice Ltd
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0 0 2 1 ver a 10-year period, metal east-west. At its western end the Odetectorists have recovered five Recent discoveries in Ford Parish track appears to meet an oval 100 100 bronze and gilded iron brooches, from enclosure, which may correspond to
95 a field in Ford parish (Figure 3). The 95 a shallow topographic hollow noted in detectorists reported the brooch the field. A further curvilinear ditch,
y A New Saxon Cemetery? 75 r discoveries to the Portable Antiquities 75 aligned broadly north-south, appears e 2 t Scheme, who confirmed that they to pass through the middle of the e 1 possible oval enclosure. These
m were Saxon (A in N 19 p 18-19).
25 e Although the field had been scanned 25 features might reflect different phases C for many years, the brooches first of activity at the site. 5 n 5
o started to come to light after a potato x A very weak anomaly in the south- 0 a crop had disturbed soils to a greater 0
S east quarter of the survey probably
depth than previous crop regimes. :
h The brooches indicated the likely also reflects the remains of a soil- s i presence of a Saxon cemetery; filled ditch, which may continue r
a however, since they were found over westwards across the enclosure. P a relatively large area its exact Further possible soil-filled features at d r location remained unknown. In order the western limit of the survey are o
F to try to locate the cemetery more diffuse and irregular; these Archaeological Services conducted a anomalies could reflect ditch remains geophysical survey over but could also be associated with the approximately 2.1 hectares in badger activity, which is concentrated September 2010 (Figure 1). along the field boundaries.
It was anticipated that soil-filled Many small, discrete dipolar magnetic features such as ditches, graves or anomalies have been detected in the pits might be present on the site, and survey. These almost certainly reflect that other detectable targets might items of near-surface ferrous and/or include grave-goods, trackways, wall fired debris, such as tractor parts, foundations and fired structures (for horseshoes and brick fragments. example ovens and hearths). Metal detectorists have noted a Although individual inhumations and relatively high concentration of cremations are notoriously difficult to metalwork in this general area. A detect using geophysics, it is still particular concentration of small sometimes possible to infer dipolar anomalies has, however, cemeteries either by their boundaries, been detected within the apparent if they have any, or by concentrations oval enclosure. Given the of small, often weak anomalies. circumstances of this project, these anomalies could reflect ferrous items Given the anticipated nature and within graves in an enclosed depth of targets, and the non-igneous cemetery. Although the metal geological environment of the study detectorists have usually area, a geomagnetic technique discriminated against ferrous objects (fluxgate gradiometry) was in previous sweeps of the field, it is considered appropriate here. In the understood that some of the greyscale image (Figure 2), positive brooches recovered from here are magnetic anomalies are displayed as 3 gilded iron, and several other classes dark grey and negative magnetic of Saxon grave goods are also anomalies as light grey. Positive typically made of iron. magnetic anomalies are taken to d
n Photographs and Illustrations a reflect relatively high magnetic 100 l 100 r
e susceptibility materials, typically 1. Ed Davies collecting geomagnetic b
95 m sediments in cut archaeological 95 data u
h 2. Geomagnetic survey results t features (such as ditches, graves or 75 r 75 o pits) whose magnetic susceptibility (greyscale range: white -8nT to black N
n has been enhanced by decomposed +8nT) I
y organic matter or by burning. Several 3. One of the 5 cruciform Saxon g o 25 l such anomalies were detected in the 25 brooches recovered from the site. o e
a survey. 5 5 h
c Duncan Hale r A
Archaeological Services 0 / Two probable ditches may represent 0 2 2 cms 2 Durham University
2 a double-ditched trackway aligned east-west. At its western end the track Recent discoveries in Ford Parish appears to meet an oval enclosure, 100 which may correspond to a shallow 100
95 topographic hollow noted in the field. 95
A further curvilinear ditch, aligned F
A New Saxon Cemetery? o 75 75
broadly north-south, appears to pass r d
through the middle of the possible P
oval enclosure. These features might a r
25 reflect different phases of activity at i 25 s
the site. h :
5 5 S
A very weak anomaly in the south- a
0 x 0
east quarter of the survey probably o n
also reflects the remains of a soil-filled C
ditch, which may continue westwards e
across the enclosure. Further possible m soil-filled features at the western limit e t e
of the survey are more diffuse and r irregular; these anomalies could y reflect ditch remains but could also be associated with the badger activity, which is concentrated along the field boundaries. 3 Many small, discrete dipolar magnetic anomalies have been detected in the survey. These almost certainly reflect items of near-surface ferrous and/or fired debris, such as tractor parts, horseshoes and brick fragments. Metal detectorists have noted a relatively high concentration of metalwork in this general area. A particular concentration of small dipolar anomalies has, however, been detected within the apparent oval enclosure. Given the circumstances of this project, these anomalies could reflect ferrous items within graves in an enclosed cemetery. Although the metal detectorists have usually discriminated against ferrous objects in previous sweeps of the field, it is understood that some of the brooches recovered from here are gilded iron, and several other classes of Saxon 3 grave goods are also typically made of iron.
Photographs and Illustrations A r c
1. Ed Davies collecting geomagnetic h
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3. One of the five cruciform Saxon o r t h
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24 / Archaeology In Northumberland Excavations at Duddo Stones: 2008 detail. information presentedthereingreater summarises ourinterpretationofthe Society, vol.77,2011.Whatfollows in ProceedingsofthePrehistoric report ontheexcavationisforthcoming centred onthemonumentitself.The only trenchdescribedhereisthat through thecircle.Consequently a linearfeaturepassingeast-west proved tobegeologicalinorigin,asdid areas ofinterestthatsubsequently preceded excavationandshowedtwo the siteusingaFluxgateGradiometer the site.Ageophysicalsurveyof future ManagementStrategyfor inform themindevelopinga below ground-levelthatmight the conditionofmonument Heritage withinformationasto landowners andEnglish designed toprovidethe Age. Excavationwasalso late NeolithicandEarlyBronze and ritualmonumentsduringthe textured interplayofsettlement Milfield Basinwithitsrichly particular thatoftheadjacent archaeological landscape,andin understanding ofthewider and howthisresonatedwithour date ofactivitiescarriedoutatthesite, recover informationastothenatureand was found.Excavationsoughtto with evidenceforacentralcremation position ofthemissingstones,together carried outhere,inthe1880s,when circle beforethepresentworkwas excavation ofaNorthumbrianstone 8.5 metresindiameter.Thelast remain erect,describingacircleabout originally sevensandstonemonoliths see AinNVol.15,2005,23).Fiveof Tweed andTillvalleys(NT93054370; knoll markingawatershedbetweenthe D 2 of 70mODonasandandgravel uddo StoneCircleliesataheight 1 mass ofeachstone. given theirregularityofprojecting that projectingisthemoresurprising 1:4 intheproportionofstoneburiedto Bronze Age,however,aproportionof deflation ofthesurfacesinceEarly present surfaceindicatessome more spatulateheadjustabovethe ‘waist’ betweenthesquaredbaseand and 0.7mrespectively.Adistinctive lightly foundedtodepthsofonly0.6m 1.79m respectively,weresurprisingly above groundtoheightsof2.17mand holes ofstones1and2,whichstood ‘rillenkarren’. Excavationofthesocket- and watererosion,knownas natural phenomenonarisingfromwind stones todayhowever,isandentirely The flutingwhichappearsonthe rough square-dressingoftheirbases. place atthequarry,includingsome their surfacesappearstohavetaken east oftheknoll.Somedressing outcrop onlyafewhundredmetres sandstone slabsquarriedfroman a circleandtoholdthebasesoflarge the excavationofsevenpitssettoform episode ontheknollwasfollowedby (SUERC 22557&22558)aburning At sometimearound2200-1900BC War MemorialorPrehi The StoneCircle Duddo S have beendominant. the charcoalassemblageshowedoakto with asinglebreadwheatgrainpresent; abundant grainspeciesrepresented, (Hordeum sp.naked)asthemost demonstrated thepresenceofbarley sampling oftheearlierfeatures modern beliefinthecircle’sefficacy.Soil monogrammed initials,allpointingtoa coins, andauniqueclaystampbearing precious stones(somepolished)‘buried’ with ahighproportion,suchassemi- finds wereof19thor20thcenturydate, cup-shaped depression.Mostofthe worked stones,includingonebearinga finds; aflintpointandsomepossibly The excavationproducedfewstratified Between 1882and1931onestone have takenplacearound1890. excavations. Oneoftheseisrecordedto several pitsthatattestantiquarian fortunately not,entirelydestroyedby evidence forwhichwasalmost,though the circletocontaincrematedremains, 21366) apitwasdugnearthecentreof between 1770and1610BC(SUERC- primary function.However,sometime does notappeartohavebeenpartofits Whatever itsoriginalpurpose,burial have beendestroyed. deepest prehistoricfeatures be certainthatallbutthe Scheduled Areaandwecan ‘lynchets’ definingthepresent has resultedinpronounced stones hadlongbeenabsent circle wheretwooftheseven across thewesternarcof thereafter, andparticularly up tothebaseofstones interior, andploughingright allow ploughingacrossthe (Stone 5)wasremovedto tones: 2008 storic StoneCircle? their workonsite.) Northumberland Archaeologicalfor Border ArchaeologicalSocietyand region. (Wearegratefultothe this categoryofmonumentwithinthe hopefully reviveanactiveinterestin remains known,andasaresult,will excavation onlyunderlineshowlittle attitudes towardsthemonument, sidelights uponcontemporary the sitescastsomeinteresting While contemporaryofferingsfrom the hengesinMilfieldbasin. contemporary monuments,suchas to othercategoriesofbroadly Still moreopaqueisitsrelationship and widerregionremainsunclear. stone circlesinboththeimmediate relationship ofDuddototheother category ofmonumentthe in formandfunctionwithinthis information. Giventheheterogeneity illuminating earlyenvironmental burial. Ithasalsoprovidedsome constructed andforlateruse when itislikelytohavebeen provided somedatesthatindicate the monumentinsofarasithas contributed toourunderstandingof The excavationatDuddohas 0 5 25 75 95 100 0 5 25 75 95 100 4. The2008excavationareafrom (A. Anderson) 3.Duddo Stonesfromthewest 2008 (A.Aderson) 2.Excavatopms atDuddoduring 1847 memorial, byTM.Richardson 1. IllustrationofDuddothewar Photographs andIllustrations War Memorial or Prehistoric Stone Circle? 3 100 100
95 95 E
Duddo Stones: 2008 x 75 75 The excavation at Duddo has c a
contributed to our understanding of the v a
monument insofar as it has provided t i 25 some dates that indicate when it is likely o 25 n
to have been constructed and for later s
5 5 use for burial. It has also provided some a t
0 illuminating early environmental D 0
information. Given the heterogeneity in u d
form and function within this category of d
monument the relationship of Duddo to o
the other stone circles in both the S t immediate and wider region remains o n
unclear. Still more opaque is its e s
relationship to other categories of :
broadly contemporary monuments, such 2 0
as the henges in the Milfield basin. While 0
contemporary offerings from the sites 8 cast some interesting sidelights upon modern attitudes towards the monument, excavation only underlines how little remains known, and as a result, will hopefully revive an active 4 interest in this category of monument within the region. (We are grateful to the Border Archaeological Society and 5 Northumberland Archaeological for their work on site.)
Photographs and Illustrations 1. Illustration of Duddo the war memorial, by TM. Richardson 1847 2. Duddo sStones from the north- west 3. Excavations at Duddo Stones (Photo: A. Anderson) 4. The 2008 excavation area from above 5.Stone 3, showing the spatulate head, waist and how little is buried. (Photo: A. Anderson)
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0 0 2 5 which required substantial work to existing features rather than constructing xcavations on Flodden Hill, started in hard and very difficult to see changes in Flodden 500 Archaeology remove, slowing the process of new ones entirely from scratch. Ultimately 100 E2009 (see Archaeology in soil colour. Despite this it soon became 100 excavations and meaning eventually that carbon dating, from samples taken across Northumberland 19 p20-22) continued apparent that the main ditch targeted in work in the area of the entrance had to the site will help to pin down the dates of 95 during September of 2010. For the this long trench was actually a ‘pit 95 be restricted only to cleaning the top the various periods of occupation,
l alignment’ a series of large pits that l second season of work being carried out Flodden Hill 2010 surfaces and not as was hoped digging however further excavations in 2011 will i 75 by the Flodden 500 archaeological project elsewhere are typically taken to mark late 75 H the features revealed there. also revisit the site to answer specific the focus of interest moved from the Bronze Age and early Iron Age land n 1 questions about the relationships
e upstanding earthworks at the summit of boundaries. It is these features that later Excavations of the cobbled terraces between various features visible in the d Flodden Hill (Site 1) to an apparently develop into boundary ditches and 25 d 25 quickly demonstrated the presence of geophysics to allow better interpretation
o eventually hedgerows. l empty arable field lying just below the substantial surviving surfaces from which of the remains.
5 F north facing crest of the ridge that links 5 post medieval pottery fragments and one
n Flodden Hill to the adjacent Kings Chair The three pits uncovered by the team stone cannonball (or gun stone) were For more information about the 0 o 0 Hill. were unusual in that each had a hearth in retrieved. Closer examination also excavations in 2010 and to follow the s their top surface, a feature not usually n revealed what appeared to be the 2011 excavations (or to volunteer to help o
i In this field lies the remains of a associated with pit alignments. As presence of ‘post pads’ or larger flat out) visit: t
a rectangular enclosure (Site 2) first spotted excavations progressed these features stones set into the surface of the cobbles v during a flight made by Roger Miket in proved to have been inserted into the top upon which small temporary post-built www.iflodden.info a
c 2007 when he was searching for of each of the pits, with the burned structures may have stood. x previously unseen ‘cropmark’ sites around remains of stakes found alongside at CB E
: the Milfield Plain. Though initially least one of the hearths pointing to the Excavations in 2010 have pointed to the 0 identified as a possible Iron Age presence of ‘structures’ possibly of the presence of a substantial Iron Age Photographs and Plans 0
5 settlement, its form and location, kind that would have supported a pan or settlement on Flodden Hill Site 2, this site 1. The 2007 Aerial Photograph of Site 2
n combined with the presence of a parallel vessel over a fire. Digging through these then seems to have been re-used at a 2. The Geophysical Survey of Site 2 e site identified in 2009 from RAF aerial hearths showed that each was situated in later date Ð possibly during 1513. The 3. The 1946 RAF Aerial Photograph d
d photographs immediately to the south on the top of a large conical pit of up to presence of hearths in the top of the pit showing Site 1, Site 2 and Stie 3 o l the south facing side of the same ridge, 80cm in depth and, in at least one case, alighnment along with post-medieval 4. The Pit Alighnment and Hearhts F suggested to the Flodden 500 team that Iron Age pottery was recovered from the artefacts on the cobbled surfaces inside 5. Iron Age Pottery this feature might have formed part of the layers below the hearths. the enclosure suggests that the forces of 6. The Cobble Surface inside the main defences developed on Flodden Hill by James IV arrived on Flodden Hill and in enclosure the forces of James IV of Scotland during Completion of the geophysical survey this area chose to re-use or modify 7. The stone cannonball or Gun stone. his ten day occupation of the site in early showed more clearly the cropmark September 1513. features identified in 2007. This allowed the team to target a second long trench, 4 6 To better understand the form of the parallel to the first that would cut what remains the Centre for Battlefield appeared to be two ‘yards’ situated inside Archaeology (Glasgow University) were the main enclosure along with what asked to carry out a geophysical appeared to be an entrance in the resistivity survey of the site and while this eastern side of the enclosure. work was being carried out the team opened a long narrow trench along the Excavations in this area quickly fence to the east of the main enclosure demonstrated that the ‘yard’ features with the aim of finding and characterising were actually terraces, cut into the three ‘ditches’ that could be clearly seen hillside to create flat surfaces that were on the aerial photographs. However, it cobbled with thousands of carefully laid 3 rapidly became clear that the excavations fist-sized stones. The effect of this were not going to be easy as the very dry terracing was to create soils that in summer of 2010 had made the ground places were more than a metre deep.
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there. However further excavations in 2011 will d e
also revisit the site to answer specific n
Excavations of the cobbled terraces 25 questions about the relationships between 5 25
revealed substantial surviving surfaces various features visible in the geophysics 0 0 5 from which post medieval pottery 5 to allow better interpretation of the :
fragments and one stone cannonball (or remains. E 0 gun stone) were retrieved. Closer x 0 c
examination also revealed what appeared For more information about the a v
to be the presence of ‘post pads’ or larger excavations in 2010 and to follow the a t
flat stones set into the surface of the 2011 excavations (or to volunteer to help i o
cobbles upon which small temporary out) visit: www.iflodden.info n post-built structures may have stood. s
CB o n
Excavations in 2010 have pointed to the F
presence of a substantial Iron Age Photographs and Plans l o
settlement on Flodden Hill Site 2, this site 1. The 2007 aerial photograph of Site 2 d then seems to have been re-used at a 2. The geophysical survey of Site 2 d e
later date Ð possibly during 1513. The 3. The 1946 RAF aerial photograph n
presence of hearths in the top of the pit showing Site 1, Site 2 and Site 4 H i
3 alignment along with post-medieval 4. The pit alighnment and Hearths l l artefacts on the cobbled surfaces inside 5. Iron Age pottery the enclosure suggests that the forces of 6. The cobble surface inside the main James IV arrived on Flodden Hill and in enclosure 7. The stone cannonball or gun stone.
4 6
Site 1 5 7 A r c h
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0 0 2 7 Berwick-upon-Tweed 100 100 95 New Homes for CAAG 95 75 G n a year when Berwick, Spittal and practice of conservation design for Since then they have met in the 75 A
A ITweedmouth Conservation Area Berwick, Spittal and Tweedmouth County Council committee rooms and
C Advisory Group has struggled to find addressing specific topics such as at the offices of the Berwick
: 25 25 d a home, the work of the group has windows, doors, roofs etc in an Community Trust, but have now found
e gone from strength to strength as they explict and straight forward manner a new permenant home in the office of An unusual and rare survival from World War Two was e 5 5 recorded in 2010 at Heiferlaw, near Alnwick by Colin w have worked to influence the designs summarising much of the more the Berwick Town Council. T
Anderson and Ian Hall with permission of the 0 - of prominent developments, such as diverse information that has 0 n that at Spittal Point and planning previously been spread across a CAAG partners Northumberland Estates. Following research on general o include: English World War Two structures in the county, they have more p strategies, such as the work of the wide variety of documents relating to u Heritage, - Berwick’s Future (eg on Berwick the conservation areas.
recently turned their attention to Auxiliary Unit Operational k Northumberland c Bases. These were secret underground bunkers that would i Barracks and the Public Realm) County Council,
w throughout the three conservation In another new departure CAAG now Spittal Improvement have been used by small, specially trained units of soldiers r Trust, St Boisal’s e areas. The work of the group was also has a new website where much of its in the event of a successful invasion of the United Kingdom Residents B in 1940. acknowledged as setting a standard work will be made public by means of Association There are about 15 or so of these bases in Northumberland for others to aim for in the English publishing its minutes and reports Tweedmouth, and although most are in a very poor state of survival, the Heritage publication Valuing Places: along with the latest news relating to Westend Residents Good Practice in Conservation Areas the conservation areas. Other key Association, Berwick Civic Society, Berwick 70-year Auxiliary Unit (Special Duties) Zero Station at Town Council, Berwick Community Trust, The Heiferlaw remains in very good condition. The base is on (2011) documents, such as the conservation Berwick Building Recording Group, Berwick private land and not accessible to the public. The survey was 3 area appraisals, are also available on Chamber of Trade and CARA. carried out with gas monitoring equipment to ensure the It has also been a year of more the site. atmosphere was safe. strategic thinking for the group which For more information visit the website: has seen work from members to With the withdrawal of the Ministry of www.c-iyc.com/CAAG/Home.htm Historically, there were two discrete branches of the Auxiliary prepare a series of ‘design guide’ Defence from the Berwick Barracks Units: the first was established to carry out sabotage behind leaflets which will soon be available CAAG was uprooted from its regular CB the advancing enemy lines, and the second was the Special for residents and developers in the home in the officer’s mess last year. Duties section. In the event of an invasion, this branch would have been responsible for gaining and communicating intelligence about the deployment of the enemy forces. The Special Duties section recruited people whose work allowed them relatively free movement, such as doctors, district nurses and vicars. They would prepare simple intelligence reports based on what they had seen, which would be left in concealed ‘letter boxes’ (under rocks, in holes in trees etc). These reports were then collected by the next level of operatives, who would have access to a secret radio transmitter, known as an out-station. The transmitted reports would be collated by a local control station who would then relay them to the main military headquarters. This control station or ‘zero station’ would be constructed in an underground hide. Each zero station would have a radius of operation of about 30 miles. The Heiferlaw base was one of these zero stations and would have been used to coordinate the activities of other bases in the vicinity. As such Heiferlaw is relatively large,
has an aerial still existing in a tree nearby and has tubes d n a which would have been used by locals to pass messages of 100 l 100 r e
enemy positions to the people inside the base. b
95 m 95 u h t
The hide consists of an underground building with three r 75 75 o
interlinked rooms, built of concrete blocks and mostly N
n I
plastered and painted white. All that is visible on the surface y is the outline of the underground elements where the earth g o
25 l 25 has settled. The vertical entrance shaft opens into the o e entrance room, which leads to the central room and then to 5 a 5 h c the escape room and a 14-metre escape tunnel which exits r A
0 / 0 into another vertical shaft. The floor was covered with 8 concrete paving slabs. All the walls show signs of where 2 items such as shelving had been secured. The doorways all had spaces where wooden lintels would have been but these are now missing or in a very rotten condition. In the entrance room there are two metal tubes, which are connected to a larger underground glazed pipe system that may have been a means of getting messages into the underground hide. In the central, or main, room there are Remapping Hadrian’s Wall 100 100
95 95 H
‘...the Final Frontier’ a 75 75 ast updated in the mid 1970s, the d National Monuments Record and r i Lpenultimate edition of the English Heritage’s National Mapping a n
Ordnance Survey map of Hadrian’s ’ 25 Programme, as well as the County s 25
Wall was for many years an Historic Environment Records and W
5 indispensible aid for archaeologists the detailed knowledge and research a 5 l
and walkers alike in tracing the Roman l of many individuals. This work has :
0 m 0 frontier across the landscape. Sadly, enabled updated depiction not only of this edition has long been out of print. a
the Wall, Wall Ditch, Vallum, the forts p This, the many new discoveries made and the Stanegate, but also included p i on the Wall in the last 40 years, n
the great expansion in our knowledge g
together with exposure to rain and of civilian settlements outside forts t h
gales means that many copies have derived from geophysical survey, and e
reached the end of their life. In 2008 f
of the native settlement present in i n
the landscape when Hadrian’s a l
Wall was constructed derived f r from aerial photography. o n
All this information was then t i e
3 plotted on a 1:25,000 scale map r base, the ideal scale for both walkers and those wanting to go out and discover the Wall on the ground, and printed on Polyethylene (meaning that previous problems with maps disintegrating in the rain should be avoided!).
This new Archaeological Map of Hadrian’s Wall represents the current state of knowledge of the Roman frontier, although even at the time of writing the discovery of a previously unrecorded Roman camp suggests that this knowledge will continue to change, and the hope is that the map will be a source for everyone interested in the Wall to get out and make discoveries English Heritage felt that the time was themselves. right for a new archaeological map to be prepared. ‘An Archaeological Map of Hadrian's Wall’ is published by English Having embarked on this process, it
Heritage at £7.99. We are offering A r rapidly became clear how much our readers of Archaeology in c h
100 understanding of the Wall zone had a 100
Northumberland the opportunity to e changed since the 1970s, and also o l 95 buy this map for £7.20 plus free p&p. o 95 that hard decisions needed to be g To take advantage of this special y
I 75 made, particularly where the offer please call 0845 458 9910 or n 75
archaeological evidence was N email [email protected] and o r t uncertain, about what should be quote code AN01 - this offer closes h u
depicted and how. Because of this, the m 25 on 31st December 2011. 25 b
new map is not a simple revision of e r l 5 the 1970s edition, but an entirely new a 5
Mike Collins n map, drawing on help from the d
English Heritage /
0 0 2 9 Photo: © English Heritage he ‘eco’ prefix doesn’t work very Flodden 1513.com Downland Open Air Museum had announced that ‘… we believe the 100 Twell in the English language and 100 sought to preserve not only interpretation will open up the consequently most people assume an traditional farm machinery and landscape for us all and will allow the 95 95 ecomuseum has more to do with buildings, but also local skills and community to focus on its key
? What is an Ecomuseum? 75 wildlife than anything else. Yet this is reason75 is the misunderstanding of the crafts such as coppice management, strengths, which are scenery, history m not the case; an ecomuseum seeks to An ecomuseum is a dynamic way ownership are abandoned; 2 u term referred to earlier. Perhaps most spar making and charcoal burning. and culture. Our discussions have e conserve and interpret all aspects of in which communities preserve, conservation and interpretation UK voluntary heritage organisations Beamish, the North of England Open focused in many ways on how to s
u the natural and cultural environment 25 interpret, and manage their of sites is carried out via liaison, see25 no need to adopt such a term or Air Museum, has similarly rescued expand this project and how we can
m of a specific locality. So we can make heritage for sustainable co-operation and the conform to its inclusive principles and threatened material further enhance our o 5 5 c the comparison between the museum development. An ecomuseum is development of partnerships. a theoretical philosophy? Perhaps UK culture, re-erected community infrastructure.’ This E
as a building Ð with associated based on a community agreement. pragmatism rules? vernacular buildings emphasis on ‘opening up the 0 0 n ¥ It is important that local collections, professionals and
a and created extensive landscape’ and ‘enhancing the communities are empowered s techniques, and the ecomuseum as a So, if ecomuseums are defined by In the UK, North America and community infrastructure’ are i sound, photographic
t place Ð a territory with a range of place, local communities and their and benefit; the involvement of Australia some of the roles of the and documentary evidently helping to build a a local people in ecomuseum h tangible and intangible heritage heritage, what characteristics do they ecomuseum are being met by other archives relating to sense of pride and a strong activities is essential and linked W attractions. The Norwegian have? organisations; the ecomuseums of past memories of the identity for local people, as
: museologist John Gjestrum clarified to the construction and France are replicated in the UK by folk north east of England. well as providing economic m this position in 1999 when he wrote: Ecomuseum characteristics celebration of their cultural o museums, open-air museums and a However, neither of these latter benefits through low-level tourism.
c identity. . Ecomuseums are extremely variable network of ‘visitor centres’ and other examples are ecomuseums because There is every expectation that 3 While the traditional museum is based and of the many hundreds that exist 1 ¥ They try to tell ‘the big picture’ interpretive facilities, for example, in they are professional bodies where England’s first ecomuseum will 5 on moving the heritage into a museum worldwide Ð the idea has been protected landscapes such as National local communities have no voice, achieve similar goals and draw 1 about places, linking histories,
n building Ð very often far away from the adopted on every continent Ð no two Parks. Some of these organisations playing no role in guiding their work. attention to the remarkable history
e ideas and stories to original owner of this heritage (and its are the same. They differ in d are ecomuseums in everything but and heritage of Northumberland and demonstrate the special nature d environment) Ð the ecomuseum is geographical scale, focus and how name; they are democratic, Up until the creation of the Flodden the Borders. o
l of places. based on the idea that the heritage they are funded and managed. community-led heritage projects. An 1513 ecomuseum, only one example F within a specific community should be However, they all demonstrate the ¥ Intangible heritage Ð music, excellent example is the Rural Life existed in the UK, the Ceumannan Photographs preserved in-situ. The heritage Ð following characters: festivals, stories, legends, Museum at Tilford in Surrey Ð were it Ecomuseum, on the Isle of Skye. 1. Ukrainian culture in Canada landscape, buildings, moveable histories, memories Ð are to be airlifted to France it would www.skyecomuseum.co.uk preserved in an Eco Museum objects, traditions, the culture of a ¥ They adopt a territory that is especially valued. undoubtedly be named an écomusée. In 2004 the Staffin Community Trust coveing 1000s of square Kms specific community Ð is given value by announced that it had been awarded 2. Traditional hemp and rope not necessarily defined by the ecomuseum, and at the same time Ecomuseums in the UK Although many open-air museums almost £200k to develop an manufacturing industries perserved conventional political the ecomuseum will be an instrument There is a stark contrast in the frequently go far beyond caring for ecomuseum approaches in north- in Carmagnola Italy boundaries; they may be for its safeguarding and future acceptance of ecomuseum ideals tangible material culture and care for east Skye, utilising a spectacular 3.Hirano-Cho - preserving the defined by, for example, preservation. between those countries speaking intangible heritage, they are not range of natural and cultural sites. wooden building traditions and aural dialect, a specific industry, or English and those speaking, say, ecomuseums. So the Weald and The leader of the project recently history of Osaka - Japan religious or musical traditions. This comment stresses that local French, Italian, Spanish or communities are an integral ¥ They use a 'fragmented site' Portuguese. In Italy there are more Peter Davis component of the ecomuseum, they International Centre policy linked to in-situ than 100 ecomuseums across the are democratic institutions. The For Cultural Heritage Studies conservation and country; France, where the European Network of Ecomuseums interpretation; visitors are ecomuseum ideas were originally emphasised this point, and the fact directed to these sites by trails tested, has only slightly less. Yet in the they are constantly adapting in and information leaflets. UK, up until the rise of Flodden, there response to new situations, in their was just one example. It is difficult to definition adopted in 2004: ¥ Conventional views of site fully explain this situation, but one
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0 3 Flodden 1513.com local skills and crafts such as and will allow the community to focus 100 coppice management, spar on its key history and culture. Our 100 making and charcoal burning. discussions have focused in many 95 95
Beamish, the North of England ways on how to expand this project F
What is an Ecomuseum? l 75 Open Air Museum, has similarly and how we can further enhance our o 75 rescued threatened material culture, community infrastructure. This d
term referred to earlier. Perhaps most d
UK voluntary heritage organisations re-erected vernacular buildings and emphasis on ‘opening up the e n
created extensive sound, landscape’ and ‘enhancing the 1 25 see no need to adopt such a term or 25 photographic and community infrastructure’ 5
conform to its inclusive principles and 1
5 a theoretical philosophy? Perhaps UK documentary archives are evidently helping to 3 5 . pragmatism rules? relating to past build a sense of pride and c 0 o 0 memories of the north a strong identity for local m :
In the UK, North America and east of England. people, as well as W Australia some of the roles of the However, neither of providing economic h
ecomuseum are being met by other these latter examples benefits through low-level a t
organisations; the ecomuseums of are ecomuseums tourism. There is every i s
France are replicated in the UK by folk because they are expectation that England’s a
museums, open-air museums and a professional bodies where local first ecomuseum will achieve similar n
network of ‘visitor centres’ and other communities have no voice, playing goals and draw attention to the E c
interpretive facilities, for example, in no role in guiding their work. remarkable history and heritage of o protected landscapes such as National Northumberland and the Borders. m u
Parks. Some of these organisations Up until the creation of the Flodden s 1513 ecomuseum, only one example Photographs e
are ecomuseums in everything but u 3 name; they are democratic, existed in the UK, the Ceumannan 1. Ukrainian culture in Canada m community-led heritage projects. An Ecomuseum, on the Isle of Skye. preserved in an Ecomuseum ? excellent example is the Rural Life covering 1000s of square kms Museum at Tilford in Surrey Ð were it www.skyecomuseum.co.uk 2. Traditional hemp and rope to be airlifted to France it would manufacturing industries perserved undoubtedly be named an écomusée. In 2004 the Staffin Community Trust in Carmagnola, Italy announced that it had been awarded 3.Hirano-Cho - preserving the Although many open-air museums almost £200k to develop an wooden building traditions and frequently go far beyond caring for ecomuseum approach in north-east aural history of Osaka - Japan tangible material culture and care for Skye, utilising a spectacular range of intangible heritage, they are not natural and cultural sites. The leader Peter Davis ecomuseums. So the Weald and of the project recently announced International Centre Downland Open Air Museum had that ‘… we believe the interpretation For Cultural Heritage Studies sought to preserve not only traditional will open up the landscape for us all Newcastle University A r c h
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0 0 3 1 1a Recording a 19th Century Steading 100 100
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h Frankham Farm: Newbrough 75 75 g photographic and measured sometimes little more than rubble, first edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch
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o survey record was carried out on ashlar dressings around most map (1860) shows other buildings on r A b farm buildings at Frankham Farm, openings (sills and lintels to windows, the south of the yard, the circular 25 w Fourstones (NY 884 683) in July alternating-block surrounds to gingang25 and another building behind e
N 2010, in advance of proposed doorways) and tooled-and-margined the north range. The second edition of
5 5 : redevelopment. The farm lies on quoins. The roofs comprise coursed about 1895 shows the hay barn m 0 r 1b rising ground on the north flank of the stone slates, Welsh slate, a tile ridge added0 and the northern part of the a
F South Tyne valley about 0.5 km on the west range with two different main yard covered in Ð a relatively
north-west of Fourstones and 1 km types of ridge vent, and a red tile ridge early example of the practice of m
a north-east of Newbrough. The on the hay barn. Many of the windows, covering cattle yards. Mid-20th h
k farmhouse is a Grade II listed especially to the upper floors, have century developments included the n building, largely of early 19th century been of the familiar part-slatted construction of new metal sheds a r date but incorporating some older (sometimes ‘hit-and-miss’ type) (recently removed) and the demolition F fabric; the farm buildings are not although quite a number have been of the gingang and the small block listed. altered. Some of the architectural behind the North Range. Within the details Ð the southern gables and the last few years the superstructure of The farm is a typical early-19th neat rounding-off of the quoins at the the late-19th century covered yards century group of planned farm south end of the east range Ð are quite has been removed, and the south buildings, with ranges on three sides refined. range largely demolished. 1c of an almost square yard opening to the south. The buildings have a Structural evidence shows that the Richard Carlton and Peter Ryder rather puzzling mixture of fabric types buildings are the product of more than The Archaeological Practice Ltd which include coursed and squared one phase of building, from the 18th to tooled stone, walls of coursed later 19th century. Historic maps also roughly-squared stone that are help to phase the farm buildings. The
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Frankham Farm: Newbrough Archaeology In Northumberland / 33 4 6 5 h ry Steading ry
The Archaeological Practice Ltd
Richard Carlton and Peter Ryder
Photographs and Illustrations
: Newbroug
1a Extract of OS 1st Edition 1860 1b Extract of OS 2nd Edition 1898 1c Extract of OS 3rd Edition 1920 2 South elevation in the courtyard 3 South elevation of north range 4 Plan of site showing phases 5 The courtyard from the south east 6 West elevation of the west range largely demolished. been removed, and the south range been removed, and the south range the late-19th century covered yards has the late-19th century covered yards the last few years the superstructure of the last few years the superstructure block behind the North Range. Within block behind the North Range. Within demolition of the gingang and the small demolition of the gingang sheds (recently removed) and the sheds (recently removed) included the construction of new metal included the construction Mid-20th century developments Mid-20th century developments of the practice of covering cattle yards. of the practice of covering covered in Ð a relatively early example covered in Ð a relatively and the northern part of the main yard and the northern part about 1895 shows the hay barn added about 1895 shows the north range. The second edition of the north range. The gingang and another building behind gingang and another the south of the yard, the circular of the yard, the circular the south map (1860) shows other buildings on shows other buildings map (1860) first edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch Ordnance Survey first edition 5 0 25 75 100 95 0 25 5 75 95 100 Recording a 19th Centu a 19th Recording Frankham Farm Frankham 3 0 5 25 75 95 100 0 5 25 75 95 100
34 / Archaeology In Northumberland Spittal Point: Berwick-upon-Tweed N these howeverareafewraresnaps Berwick onthetrain.Inamongst anybody whopassedthrough was afimilarskylinetoresidentsand reminder ofwhatuntilsixyearsago were demolished,providinga record ofthesebuildingsbeforethey Council’s archivefilesprovidea Photos recentlylocatedintheCounty production factory. plants andlatterlyasulphuricacid iron foundries,fertiliserprocessing industrial historythathasincluded a lastreminderofover200years currently standsontheopengapsite a square,brickbuilt-towerthat the siteisonesurvivingchimney, Today theonlyhintofhistory however. site couldnotbemoredifferent and apartments.Thehistoryofthis development ofsmartnewhouses shortly tobecomethesiteofa the opensitesbehindshoreare end ofSpittalBeachandPoint, access immediatelyontothenorthern that givesdogwalkersandsurfers of someotherstructures,also ow apopularlocalbeach,with convienient beach-frontcarpark brick andconcretethat were seem atfirstglancetotakethe of theSpittalPointcarparkand behind thecoastalpathtosouth under whatisnowlandscaping The twogunfloorswerelocated unique. in otherwaysitwasclearlyquite ways atypicalcoastalbatterywhile files, giveahintofwhatwas,insome photos, recentlyrediscoveredinold before theyweredestroyed.The record wasmadeorresearchdone the countryandasaresultnoformal important partofthebuiltheritage the valueofWW2remainsasan a timewhentherewaslittleregardto These buildingsweredemolishedat War. river TweedduringtheSecondWorld at Spittalandtheentranceto Tweedmouth, thechemicalfactories gun batterythatprotectedtheportof These aretheremainsofcoastal were constructed. current beachsidepathandcarpark 1970s (orearly1980s)whenthe demolished sometimeduringthe typical formofcoastalbatteries Military constructed during Spittal Point:Berwic within thelargerSpittalPointcomplex. simply tobeotherindustrialbuildings lying offthecoastofSpittal,seem perspective ofashiporsubmarine two lowbuildingswould,fromthe means ofcamouflagesothatthese that brickwasactuallyusedasa seems morereasonabletosuggest Budle BayandatGloucesterFarm).It batteries suchasthoseatGoswick, not tomentiontheothercoastalgun blocks constructedinNorthumberland, by thenumerouspillboxesandtank in abundanceduring1940(evidenced know tohavebeengenerallyavailable of thecheaperconcretewhichwe unlikely howevertopointshortage expensive constructionmethod.Thisis time consuming,labourintensiveand usual concrete,butofbrick,amore buildings areconstructednotofthe end. Itiseasytoseethatthese It isherehoweverthatthesimilarities Blyth Battery. renovated andopenedtothepublicat surviving exampleisnowbeing In Northumberlandtheonlyother roof, supportedbylargesteelI-beams. ‘gun-floors’ coveredwithaconcrete 1940 and1941withtwoenclosed Photos recentlydiscoveredinaprivate andIndustria collection seem curtains canvas show heavy this asthey to support concrete gunloopsforarifleorlight end oftheemplacementandwith extentions withslopingroofsateither be clearlyseenassmaller,curving attached tothegunfloors.Thesecan performed byextentionsphysically Spitall pointthisfunctionwas to providecloseinfantrydefence,at seperate ‘pill-boxes’orblockhouses ususual forsuchsitestohave of howthissiteoperated.Whileitnot photos alsorevealsfurtherevidence In additioncloserinspectionofthe minor ancillaryindustrialstructures. buildings beingnothingmorethan campoflague illusionofthese the gunfloorstocomplete batteries thatwouldbedrawnacross mounted ontheopenfrontsof 0 5 25 75 95 100 0 5 25 75 95 100 k-upon-Tweed’s l Past guns a construction toallowthe edge wallsafter been cutawayfromthe where brickshaveclearly faces ofbothgunfloors finally themodifiedfront walls ofthegunfloorsand battery atBlyth)intheside battieries (butnotthe6Inch seen onotherWW2gun ventelation holesafeature floors themselves, bins onthebacksofgun that arevisibleincludeshell Other interestingfeatures their northandsouthfacingsides. (Bren) machinegunconstructedinto shells wouldhavebeenstored. the allimportantmagazinewhere Command andObservationPostor structures suchastheBattery pictures ofotherimportantancillary necessary asthereisnosigninthese and moreresearchisclearly Yet thisisstillonlypartofthepicture, towards thepieratBerwick. towards HolyIslandandtothenorth greater rangeoftraversetothesouth Would youbeinterestedintakingon the taskofresearchinghistory contact usatCountyHall(seeback Thanks toAlnElliotofEnvironmental cover foremailandphonedetails) Spittal PointGunBattery?Ifso on thephotographs. Projects forpassing CB . Spittal Point: Berwick-upon-Tweed’s 100 100
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mounted on the open fronts of the (Bren) machine gun constructed into traverse to the south towards Holy batteries that would be drawn across their north and south facing sides. Island and to the north towards the the gun floors to complete the pier at Berwick. camouflage illusion of these buildings Other interesting features that being nothing more than minor are visible include shell bins Yet this is still only part of the picture, ancillary industrial structures. on the backs of the gun and more research is clearly floors themselves, ventilation necessary as there is no sign in these In addition, closer inspection of the holes (a feature seen on pictures of other important ancillary photos also reveals further evidence of other WW2 gun battieries structures such as the Battery how this site operated. While it was but not the 6-inch battery at Command and Observation Post or not unusual for such sites to have Blyth) in the side walls of the the all important magazine where separate ‘pill-boxes’ or block houses to gunfloors and finally the shells would have been stored. provide close infantry defence, at modified front faces of both Spittal Point this function was gunfloors where bricks have Would you be interested in taking on performed by extensions physically clearly been cut away from the task of researching the history of attached to the gun floors. These can the edge walls after Spittal Point Gun Battery? If so be clearly seen as smaller, curving construction to allow the contact us at County Hall (see back extensions with sloping roofs at either guns a greater range of cover for email and phone details) end of the emplacement and with concrete gunloops for a rifle or light CB. Thanks to Aln Elliot of Environmental Projects for the photographs. A r c h
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0 0 3 5 uring the course of 2010, 392 Portable Antiquities in Northumberland Dobjects found in Northumberland 100 100 were recorded on the Portable 95 Antiquities Scheme database, 95 bringing the total number of objects
e Finds Reported in 2010 75 recorded from Northumberland to The form of both brooches suggests 75 m 2 e over 1,790 (as of March 2011). Most that they were made in the second h
c of these objects were found by metal century AD.
25 S 25 detectorists in a number of parishes s A gold solidus of Arichis II (NCL-
e throughout the county, and the quality
5 i 5 t i and date-range of these objects is F02EB5) was reported by Mr Terry u Tait, though the coin was actually
0 q astounding. These new discoveries 0 i t continue to add to our knowledge of found by the late Alan Bates (Figure n
A the archaeology and history of 1). This gold coin was minted in the
e kingdom of Benevento, Italy between
l Northumberland. All the artefacts
b discussed below can be viewed on AD 758 and 765. Arichis II was the a t
r the Portable Antiquities database Duke of Benevento in the mid to late o website at http://finds.org.uk/. eighth century, and was so P successful in his rulership that he There have strongly resisted conquest by been 12 cases Charlemagne. Coins of Benevento of Treasure are rare in Britain, particularly in the reported in North, so it is particularly interesting 2010, that this coin was found in the including Alnwick area. It is worth those from remembering, however, that in the archaeological eighth century the Northumbrian excavations. church was at the peak of its One particularly notable case is a influence with clerics travelling across silver brooch (NCL-609BF6) found by Europe. metal detectorist Keith Dodds (Figure 3). This brooch dates to the early A second gold coin was discovered Roman period and is a product of and recorded in Northumberland this excellent craftsmanship by a metal- year by Ian Glendinning (Figure 2). worker. The brooch itself, despite The coin is a quarter noble of Henry being made of silver and its largely V, minted between 1413 and 1422 complete state, is not particularly (PUBLIC-6805B7). The coin is in flashy or breathtaking. It is, however, excellent condition with all detail a very unusual example with only one clearly visible. As a rule, gold coins known parallel Ð a massive brooch of tend to be very rare discoveries as the same type found during the loss of a gold coin would see the excavations on Hadrian’s Wall at upset owner retracing steps until the Aesica or Great Chesters. Until coin was recovered. To give some Keith’s discovery, the brooch from idea of the rarity of gold coins, only Great Chesters was unique in both its five gold coins of any date have been size and its type. This new brooch is recorded in Northumberland on the a more standard size, and while it is PAS database compared to the more not an exact match in detail it is than 400 coins otherwise recorded. clearly the same type as that from That is a rate of approximately 1% of all coins found minted in gold. d Great Chesters. n a
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6 1cm 3 Portable Antiquities in Northumberland There have been a number of other interesting objects found in the past 100 year, for example, Bronze Age axes, 100
95 Romano-British brooches, Anglo- 95
Saxon brooches, and even Viking P
Finds Reported in 2010 o 75 75
There is another coin worth noting, a gaming pieces. It is impossible to r t silver penny of Prince Henry, Earl of display everything recorded from a b
Northumbria (NCL-A6C172). This Northumberland in 2010, but these l e
25 coin was minted between 1136 and artefacts can all be seen on the A 25
1152 by Henry, son of David I of Portable Antiquities Scheme n t
5 i 5
Scotland and nephew of Henry I of database: q http://finds.org.uk u 0 England (not illustrated). Coins of i 0 t i Prince Henry are very rare, with only e s
a small handful recorded on the PAS If you or someone you know has S
database; they are also very thin and found an artefact that you would like c therefore very susceptible to to have identified or recorded, please h e
damage. Not only is this coin contact your local Finds Liaison m
complete, but it retains a Officer Rob Collins e considerable amount of detail. [email protected] Another intriguing discovery of 2010 0191 222 5076 is an imported mount from Ireland (Figure 4). This mount (NCL- Photographs D66725) was cast in copper alloy 1. Gold solidus of Arichis II then gilded, and can be dated to the 2. Gold Quarter Noble of Henry V 8th-9th century. The raised reticulate 3. Roman Silver Brooch similar to interlace is particularly common on that found at Great Chesters Irish objects of this period, and like 4. Imported Irish ‘mount’ from 8th or the solidus above, indicate the 9th century AD international connections of the kingdom of Northumbria, with notable Irish influence in the Northumbrian Rob Collins church though the object itself need Finds Liaison Officer not be Christian. North East
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75 S 75 I Year 1: Historic Area 2 A H
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e Improvement Scheme 5 w he four year Berwick Historic respected and research is underway 5 T covered geography, history, art, -
n to identify a suitable palette of 0 TArea Improvement Scheme creative writing and IT skills. The 0 o (HAIS) has just completed its first materials and detailed design for both children responded positively to their p
u year of operation. With funding from these important spaces. ‘young advocate’ and started by -
k English Heritage, One North East and looking at maps, past uses, trades and c i The Heritage Lottery Fund, grants Help has also been given to a occupants of Bridge Street, carried out w r have been offered to the owners of number of community initiatives and field surveys on the condition of e
B five historic buildings in the Berwick research for the Berwick archive. A buildings, interviewed current conservation area. The first grant small book of poems and occupants and visitors, and undertook scheme was completed in April 2011 photographs, capturing ‘heritage, traffic studies before producing their and works will continue throughout memory and home’ of the once busy own visions for the area in 10 years the summer repairing external fabric, commercial life of the Victoria time. stonework, roofs/chimneys/gutters, as buildings and Berwick Cockle shop, well as windows and shop frontages has been published. Local volunteers Their project, entitled ‘Past, Present, in Bridge Street and Castlegate. from the Building Study Group have Future’, was presented as an also completed a photographic exhibition in a scheme launch Project Conservation Officer, Annette survey and record of the historic celebrating the completion of all the Reeves, has been working with buildings in Bridge Street. Year 1 initiatives in the newly opened building owners to produce repair Dewar’s Lane Granary Gallery in April schedules which address a ‘top down’ A planning undergraduate, Elizabeth 2011. approach in securing the multi layered Russell, also completed her six fabric of Berwick’s buildings and month ‘Changemaker’ project. The Further information on the Berwick distinctive roofscape. The schemes Future Cultural Leader’s Programme Historic Area Grant schemes can be are part of a ‘heritage-led aims to inspire and involve young obtained from Annette Reeves: regeneration scheme’ that builds on people in heritage and culture. the success of the newly refurbished Sponsoring a ‘young advocate’ the [email protected] Dewar’s Lane Granary - the YHA’s equivalent of 10 days paid work, latest flagship accommodation Elizabeth worked alongside her Photographs complete with grade 1 gallery heritage ‘Champion’ (in this case the 1. and 2. Pupils from Berwick Middle School prepare their designs for the exhibition space, meeting rooms and Project Officer) who mentors, Changemaker Exhibition. café. supports and opens doors for their 3. An example of the work presented in young person. Elizabeth worked with the Changemaker exhibition at the Proposals are also being progressed Berwick Middle School taking over Dewar’s Lane Granary Gallery. for Bridge Street car park and Eastern Year 5 Geography class (9/10 year 4. Viewing the work in the Gallery Lane. Improvements to the public olds) and focused on Bridge Street. realm ensure the wider setting and Ensuring cross curriculum activities, context of the conservation is the school designed lesson plans that AR
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Fabulous Flint Finds u 75 75 n the 14th May 2011 a small game e 1 2 s Ocrop on Dueshill Farm became h i
available for an impromtu fieldwalking l l
25 exercise, after being ploughed and F 25 harrowed. Measuring 237m x 37m this plot a r 5 is situated at NT 954 015 and provided a m 5 :
rare fieldwalking opportunity, as it is rarely C 0 ploughed. In all likelihood it has not been 0 o
subjected to the plough more than five q times and it is unlikely to be ploughed u e
again for some years to come. t d a l Examination of this and adjacent fields has e revealed no sign of rig and furrow either on aerial photographs or visible on the ground suggesting it was not subject to medieval or post-medieval cultivation and it is shown on an 1855 estate map as being grazing.
This field is adjacent to one known as Canon Greenwell’s field (named after the prominent antiquarian) and the next field to 3 the west is known as the Cairn field. To the north is Holystone Common where at least 60 burial cists have been identified.
Prior to this year’s study there has never been any field walking carried out at this location, nor in the immediate vicinity and so far it has proved to be a worthwhile exercise with a total of 81 flints have being recovered. A significant number come from three distinct locations within the area.
Ten pieces of burnt flint were found within a distinct area of 3 sq metres, quite separate from the two similar sized areas where many of the remaining pieces were recovered.
So far the flints have not been subject to expert analysis, but appear to cover periods from the Mesolithic to Bronze Age. They will remain at Dueshill as the property of Mrs Rachel Bogart- Kessler, the landowner, who is happy for them to be available at any time for the purposes of research.
4 5 A Photographs r c h
100 1. Burnt flint assemblage a 100 e
2. Microliths o l 95 3. Various tools including blades and o 95 g y
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4. A ‘thumbnail’ scraper N
5.A barbed and tanged arrowhead and o r t small blade found on the near-by fields h u 25 at Sharperton Edge m 25 b e r l
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0 Holystone History and 0 3 Archaeology Group 9 The Till, Milfield and Tweed Valley 100 100
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s The Culley’s Water Meadows 75 75
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1 2 d l e i f l i ater management has been a the beneficial effect of water on grass and when prices are high Ð as they Fenton in the Milfield Plain. Famed Agriculture of Northumberland. The following farms have remnant water M
struggle for farmers since the growth in summer is a no-brainer. were during the Napoleonic Wars, across the globe for developing the Board of Agriculture: London). What meadows: Fenton/Nesbit, Thirlings, ,
l W l
i origins of settlement. Either there was then any method that improves output Border Leicester sheep from Robert is surprising is that the there are no Wark, Chillingham and Way to Wooler, T too much or too little Ð or both Apart from springs though, getting is advantageous. Conversely, when Bakewell’s Leicester breed, George clear examples of George’s success along with Sir William Lorrain’s occurred at different times of year on water from a river onto a field can be prices fall Ð as they did in latter part of corresponded with Robert, and HE in this book. Elsewhere, the Board of Kirkharle, which did not impress the same piece of land! As a result, a lot of work, especially in summer the 19th century due to imports from was a water meadows enthusiast! Agriculture volumes offer detail on George Culley when he saw the work hydraulic civilisations developed in when the river level is low. Either you the New World, systems may become Robert’s half of the correspondence water meadow design and use (W (Bailey and Culley ibid). All these many of the great river valleys where can lift the water with a wheel or uneconomic even after the capital survives (H C Pawson, 1957 Robert Pitt 1813, General view of Agriculture farms have agri-environment flooding was controlled by levees and pump, or you build a canal with a fall investment of creating the meadow Bakewell: Pioneer livestock breeder. of the County of Worcester. Board of agreements with Natural England but irrigation achieved by either diverting gentler than the river’s to raise the has been taken. Although Crosby Lockwood & Son: London) Agriculture: London). unfortunately none have working water water out of the river or from springs. water over a distance to higher than Northumbria is moister in summer and he describes not only watering for meadows. One of the clearest the surrounding fields Ð this involves than the south of England, areas in the reasons described above but also Abandonment: The Culley brothers remaining systems is at Wark on History and purpose a lot of work. But needs must, and in the rain shadow of mountains Ð because he could ‘float’ his turnips had both died by 1813 and the Tweed (Fig 1) where the landscaping In Britain we are often preoccupied by the far south of England water particularly the Tweed valley and along the canals and he could use Border Leicester breed is their true of the wet hollow survives together getting rid of excess water Ð usually meadows developed at an unknown, some of the Durham Dales Ð can be ‘dirty’ water from roads and the farm memorial. Their farms would have with the ponds, which were later in an agricultural context to allow though probably medieval date. dry. steading to fertilise his fields. But it suffered from the same agricultural repurposed to power the water wheel cultivation of the soil, but for much of Further north, where the hungry gap was Matthew who took up these ideas depression that led to the in the steading. Elsewhere, aerial eastern Britain there are two in spring is worse but the summer Secondly, you need a source of water most enthusiastically and Harry abandonment of all the high farming evidence is less clear but on the problems that recur Ð the late start to drought less severe, the impression Ð a reliable one such as a spring or Rutherford from Wark was sent to in the latter part of the 19th century, ground signs of the system of grass growth after winter and the is given that water meadows either stream, and a pond could be useful Dorset to be taught the techniques (A and with it went the water meadows. waterways and the stonework cessation of growth in summer due to failed to develop or were short lived. as a reservoir to allow for rapid Orde, 2006 Matthew and George As elsewhere, the evidence for them associated with them do survive (Fig drought. This has led today to most Martins and Williamson (1999 watering of a large area; a hectare of Culley: Farming Letters, 1798-1804. lies in the records, air photographs 2). grazing animals being kept in the “Inappropriate technology? The grass in summer evaporates about The Surtees Society, vol CCX). This and slight variations in the ground western part of the country or in the history of ‘floating’ in the North and 30m3 of water every day (about 2700 must have been successful for in 1801 level where later ploughing has not Photographs north. In the past, before fertiliser and East of England”, in H Cook, and T gallons per acre per day). Also you Matthew was writing from Wark ‘Our removed them. 1. Ponds at Wark farm and the water easy transport this was not an option Williamson, (eds) Water Management need a large enough level area over watered land has flushed our stock meadow to the east of them. The d
n Ð farming systems integrated in the English Landscape. University which you can spread the water exceedingly, more by double than it The Evidence: The River Till Wetland steading lies to the north. a
100 l 100 r livestock and crops, and manure from ever did before, but indeed I think we Restoration project has been looking e Press Edinburgh pp.196-209) wrote without undertaking a lot of earth b the animals was essential for on ‘floating’ in the north and east of moving. never saw such a growing time’ (Orde, at grassland sites along the river Till 2. Stonework drain from the water
95 m 95 u
h production of the crops, so a way England but mostly refer to 2006). and many of the farms tenanted by meadow at Way to Wooler farm at NU t 75 r 75 o round the spring ‘hungry gap’ and the Leicestershire or south (the ‘Potter’s Enter the Culley brothers the Culleys. Based on documentary 00151 28845. (Photo: S Pullan, N summer drought had to be found. Bar and the North’ syndrome?). The Culleys may have been pleased and physical evidence (D J Rowe Natural England)
n George and Matthew were the I
y Someone must have spotted that movers and shakers of northern with their water meadows but it was 1971 “The Culleys, Northumberland g o 25 l grass around springs grew earlier in Requirements farming at the end of the 18th nearly25 20 years before others followed Farmers, 1767-1813”, The Robert S Shiel, School of o
e the year and adapted this to flood a Clearly the first requirement is century. They started in Durham and them in the North (J Bailey and G Agricultural History Review, 19) the Agriculture Food and Rural 5 a 5 h
c larger area – ‘floating’ in the demand and this is based on their empire spread from there up to Culley, 1813 The Description of the authors are now proposing that the Development, Newcastle University r A
vernacular of water meadows Ð while economics and climate. In dry areas north Northumberland with a base at and Steve Pullan, Natural England
0 / 0
0 4 The Till, Milfield and Tweed Valley 100 100
95 95 T
The Culley’s Water Meadows i 75 l 75 l ,
M i l i f i
25 e 25 l d
5 a 5 n d 0 0
T w e e d
V a l l e y :
W a t tm 2 e This image is an extract of the Millenium Map , r
which is copyright of Getmapping PLC M
3 e Fenton in the Milfield Plain. Famed Board of Agriculture: London). What Fenton/Nesbit, Thirlings, Wark, a d
across the globe for developing the is surprising is that there are no clear Chillingham and Way to Wooler, along o Border Leicester sheep from Robert examples of George’s success in this with Sir William Lorrain’s Kirkharle, w s Bakewell’s Leicester breed, George book. Elsewhere, the Board of which did not impress George Culley corresponded with Robert, and HE Agriculture volumes offer detail on when he saw the work (Bailey and was a water meadows enthusiast! water meadow design and use (W Culley ibid). All these farms have agri- Robert’s half of the correspondence Pitt 1813, General view of Agriculture environment agreements with Natural survives (H C Pawson, 1957 Robert of the County of Worcester. Board of England but unfortunately none have Bakewell: Pioneer livestock breeder. Agriculture: London). working water meadows. One of the Crosby Lockwood & Son: London) and clearest remaining systems is at Wark he describes not only watering for the Abandonment on Tweed (Fig 1) where the reasons described above but also The Culley brothers had both died by landscaping of the wet hollow survives because he could ‘float’ his turnips 1813 and the Border Leicester breed together with the ponds, which were along the canals and he could use is their true memorial. Their farms later repurposed to power the water ‘dirty’ water from roads and the farm would have suffered from the same wheel in the steading. Elsewhere, steading to fertilise his fields. But it agricultural depression that led to the aerial evidence is less clear but on the was Matthew who took up these ideas abandonment of all the high farming ground signs of the system of most enthusiastically and Harry in the latter part of the 19th century, waterways and the stonework Rutherford from Wark was sent to and with it went the water meadows. associated with them do survive (Fig Dorset to be taught the techniques (A As elsewhere, the evidence for them 2). Orde, 2006 Matthew and George lies in the records, air photographs Culley: Farming Letters, 1798-1804. and slight variations in the ground Photographs The Surtees Society, vol CCX). This level where later ploughing has not 1. Ponds at Wark farm and the must have been successful for in 1801 removed them. water meadow to the east of them. Matthew was writing from Wark ‘Our The steading lies to the north.
watered land has flushed our stock The Evidence A r The River Till Wetland Restoration c exceedingly, more by double than it 2. Stonework drain from the water h
100 a 100
ever did before, but indeed I think we project has been looking at grassland meadow at Way to Wooler farm at e o l 95 never saw such a growing time’ (Orde, sites along the river Till and many of NU 00151 28845. (Photo: S Pullan, o 95 g
2006). the farms tenanted by the Culleys. Natural England) y
I
75 n 75
Based on documentary and physical N
The Culleys may have been pleased evidence (D J Rowe 1971 “The o r t with their water meadows but it was Culleys, Northumberland Farmers, Robert S Shiel, h u 25 nearly 20 years before others followed 1767-1813”, The Agricultural History School of Agriculture Food m 25 b
and Rural Development, e them in the North (J Bailey and G Review, 19) the authors are now r l
5 a 5
Culley, 1813 The Description of the proposing that the following farms Newcastle University n d
Agriculture of Northumberland. The have remnant water meadows: Steve Pullan, /
0 0 4
Natural England 1 2 Commemorating The Battle of Flodden: 1513 100 100
95 95
3 England’s first Ecomuseum 75 75 1 he Flodden 500 project is south of Branxton on the slopes of Coldstream Museum (6): the site of the 1913. This statue commemorates the 5 2
1 coordinating and supporting the Branxton Hill, starting late in the afternoon Cistercian Priory of Coldstream was return to the town of the only survivor of : T
n commemorations of the 500th and lasting for three hours. By nightfall founded in 1166 as a Nunnery and 80 Selkirk me who joined James IV at the
e 3 25 anniversary of the Battle of Flodden in James, most of his nobles and perhaps 25 remained so until its dissolution in 1621. Battle of Flodden. Fletcher is said to have d
d 2013. Funding from Northumberland 10000 of his countrymen lay dead. During the 1513 invasion of England the returned with a banner captured from the
5 o 5 l Uplands Leader to support the creation of Prioryís nuns would have witnessed the English and in his exhaustion and despair F
a new cross-border ecomuseum. This is Branxton Church (2): though extensively Scottish army crossing the Tweed and cast it to the ground. 0 f 0
o the first stage of a larger round of funding rebuilt in 1849 the Church of St Paul was after the battle the Prioress is said to have
e applications which will support education originally constructed in the medieval sent wagons to retrieve the dead from the The Flodden Wall (Edinburgh) (12): the l t
t and community heritage and arts period and may stand on the site of an battlefield. remains of a town wall that surrounded a projects. older timber church. During the days the newer parts of Edinburgh spreading B following the Battle of Flodden it served Norham Castle (7): was established as a south from the city High Street and e
h The development of the Flodden 1513 first as a temporary mortuary and then as a motte and bailey by the Bishops of Durham centred around the area of the T
4 Ecomuseum provides a framework within burial site for some of the casualties. in the early 12th Century and within 100 Grassmarket. This wall is thought to have g which the existing attractions associated years developed the stone form we see existed from perhaps as long as 70 years n i
t with the Battle of Flodden can be Etal Castle (3): a defended manor was today. It was captured by James IV during before the Battle of Flodden but was a
r developed and managed in coming first established here in the 13th century by the last week of August 1513 after a five repaired and re-fortified in the 12 months
o years. (For more about the concept of the Manners family, but was only fortified day siege, and protected both the eastern following September 1513.
m ecomuseum see page 30). as we see it today during the 14th century. end of his supply lines and the northern e Today the castle ruins consist primarily of end of his eastern flank. These sites mark the start of a larger m The first stage of the Ecomuseum links the gatehouse and the keep. A standing project to link a wider group of sites m
o together twelve existing attractions where exhibition about Border Warfare and the Ladykirk Church (8): is said to have been together across the UK all with
C access is already possible and all the Battle of Flodden is housed in a former built during the last years of the 1490s on associations to the Battle of Flodden and necessary infrastructure exists to allow chapel. the orders of King James IV of Scotland events that surrounded it. Future funding 5 visitors to experience the sites. The and now home to a bust of King James. applications on both sides of the border scheme provides common branding, Heatherslaw Mill (4): the earliest will support other sites in jouning the which will complement existing branding reference to Heatherslaw mill dates to Barmoor Castle Gates (9): were erected ecomuseum and where necessary in the (where it exists) and support rather than 1306 and suggests that a Mill had stood on in 2010 to commemorate Barmoor as the prearation of infrastructire such as access replace their existing interpretation. this site at least from the 13th century. site of the English Camp on the night paths etc. Since that time it is believed that the mill before the Battle of Flodden. The gates, in Each site has a page on the Flodden ground corn, largely uninterrupted, for over bespoke wrought iron depict the banners of Thse may incude sutes that ree currently 1513 website, signage which announces 700 years and is likely to have provided the English Army, the Tudor rose and the unaccessible such as Ford Miss (where its participation in the ecomuseum and flour or meal to both English and Scottish main English weapons of 1513 coal was mined by both sides) and Ford also new a leaflet that will be widely armies during September 1513. Castle (where James IV is said to have available throughout the area of the Weetwood Bridge (10): is thought to slept the night beofre the battle.It will also museum. Twizel Bridge (5): built two years before have first been constructed as a crossing hopefully include existing attractions that 6 the Battle of Flodden in 1511, provided the point over the Till during the early 16th area already accessible such as The twelve sites included in phase 1 are: only dry crossing of the River Till between Century. The bridge lies on the direct route Edinburgh Castle and Linlithgow Palace. the Tweed and Etal. During the Scottish from Wooler Haugh where Surreyís army Flodden Field (1): the location of the Campaign of 1513 it is likely that parts of camped on the 7th September 1513 to join The website should be live in early major engagement in the Flodden both armies crossed the bridge, the Scots the Devilís Causeway north of the River Septemerb: campaign, where the armies of James IV on the way from Coldstream to Norham in of Scotland and the Earl of Surrey, met late August and the English on the morning Fletcher Monument (Selkirk) (11): a Www. Flodden1513.com on 9th September 1513. The battle of the battle. bronze monument of an armour clad figure occurred somewhere in the fields to the carrying a banner, which was erected in
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England’s first Ecomuseum o 75 75 Coldstream Museum (6): the site of the Fletcher Monument (Selkirk) (11): a m
Cistercian Priory of Coldstream was bronze monument of an armour clad m
founded in 1166 as a Nunnery and figure carrying a banner, which was e m 25 remained so until its dissolution in 1621. erected in 1913. This statue 25 o
During the 1513 invasion of England the commemorates the return to the town of r 5 Priory’s nuns would have witnessed the a 5
the only survivor of 80 Selkirk men who t i Scottish army crossing the Tweed and joined James IV at the Battle of Flodden. n
0 g 0
after the battle the Prioress is said to have Fletcher is said to have returned with a t sent wagons to retrieve the dead from the banner captured from the English and in 9 h e
battlefield. his exhaustion and despair cast it to the B ground. a
Norham Castle (7): was established as a t t l motte and bailey by the Bishops of Durham The Flodden Wall (Edinburgh) (12): the e
in the early 12th century and within 100 remains of a town wall that surrounded o f
years developed the stone form we see the newer parts of Edinburgh spreading F l
today. It was captured by James IV during south from the city High Street and o
the last week of August 1513 after a five centred around the area of the d d
day siege, and protected both the eastern Grassmarket. This wall is thought to have e
end of his supply lines and the northern existed from perhaps as long as 70 years n :
end of his eastern flank. before the Battle of Flodden but was 1
repaired and re-fortified in the 12 months 5 1
Ladykirk Church (8): is said to have been following September 1513. 3 built during the last years of the 1490s on the orders of King James IV of Scotland These sites mark the start of a larger and is now home to a bust of him. project to link a wider group of sites together across the UK all with Barmoor Castle Gates (9): were erected associations to the Battle of Flodden and in 2010 to commemorate Barmoor as the events that surrounded it. 10 site of the English Camp on the night before the Battle of Flodden. The gates, in They may include sites that are currently bespoke wrought iron depict the banners of uninterpreted such as Ford Moss (where the English Army, the Tudor rose and the coal was mined by both sides) or are main English weapons of 1513. inaccessible, such as Ford Castle (where James IV is said to have slept the night Weetwood Bridge (10): is thought to beofre the battle). It will also hopefully have first been constructed as a crossing include existing attractions such as point over the Till during the early 16th Edinburgh Castle and Linlithgow Palace. Century. The bridge lies on the direct route from Wooler Haugh where Surrey’s army The website should be live in early 11 camped on the 7th September 1513 to join September: the Devil’s Causeway north of the River. www. Flodden1513.com
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0 0 4 3 n December 2010 archaeologists Low Hauxley: Druridge Bay sampling2 analysis. A sample of twigs 100 Ifunded by English Heritage, 100 was taken from immediately below the recorded an inter-tidal peat deposit at surface of the deposit for radiocarbon 95 95 Low Hauxley. The deposit contained dating.
y Footprints in the Peat 75 an area of human and animal 75 a covered the deposits in the mid-
B footprints which are believed to date to Subsequent visits throughout January afternoon. The deposit, which was 1 e the Late Mesolithic. The site had and February 2011 showed that the g fully exposed on the first day, was site had been completely re-buried by d originally been identified by Jim
25 i 25 r Nesbitt, a local amateur archaeologist, covered by an increasing spread of sand again to around half a metre in u 5 r in 2008 and initial recording work was sand over the following two days 5 depth. The site will only be revealed D
from the seaward side, although an
: undertaken as part of the North-East again during, or after, storm conditions 0 y Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment (see almost complete record was made 0 which is likely to further damage or e l prior to it being re-buried. x AinN 19 p 46). The peat represents a completely remove what is left of the u newly identified layer, at a lower site. It is hoped that a full a Small stones, shells and sand were H elevation and of an earlier date than photogrammetric record will be made removed from the footprints without w the other previously known peats from when it is next exposed. o Low Hauxley, and is extremely too much difficulty and with no L important as it also contains a wealth removal of the surrounding peat. The The presence of the footprints and of evidence concerning the Late footprints were generally quite worked wood, together with the Mesolithic environment of the area. smooth in appearance and had potential of the peat to contain pollen The site is located in the intertidal already been eroded by the sea to and other environmental indicators zone, between the low tide and high the extent that, in some instances, it means the deposit could shed light not tide marks, and the erosion of this was difficult to ascertain whether only on human activities, technology deposit takes place when the peat depressions were footprints, or were and woodland management, but also layer is exposed and scoured clean of perhaps created when pieces of a rare and detailed insight into the overlying sand during storm events. timber have eroded from the deposit. type of vegetation and landscape The peat is very shallow, being a A plan was made of the whole setting in this area at the time the maximum of 0.15m thick, and will be deposit which indicates the three footprints were made. The dating of removed completely in the next few dimensions of each print (length, this layer to the Late Mesolithic years. width and depth) as well as a indicates that it could be contemporary direction of travel where apparent. It with the Late Mesolithic occupation A programme of initial recording in late was unclear during the recording site below the known Bronze Age 2009 mapped the extent of the peat process how, exactly, most of the cairn cemetery at Low Hauxley, which using a global positioning system prints matched up into potential lies only a hundred metres or so to the (GPS) unit. Samples were taken of tracks, although there were a couple north. If the two sites are wood that appears to have been of instances where this was clear. contemporary, as seems possible, worked with stone tools, and of peat Clear indications of human footprints, then the site could provide an that has produced two Late Mesolithic as well as animals with cloven-feet incredibly detailed insight into Late radiocarbon dates of between 5330 - (preliminarily thought to be deer), Mesolithic coastal settlement and 4990 cal BC for the start of peat were abundant across the deposit. economic behaviour. formation. Given the shallow depth of Six pieces of substantial timber were this peat it was clearly a short-lived noted in the surface of the deposit, Photographs and Illustrations sediment, and therefore the footprints, although it was not clear from 1. Photograph of human footprint 2 3 which would have had to be formed examination whether these had been track. Direction of travel is towards the when the sediment was still very soft worked or not. One is thought to camera (scale = 2m). and wet, are likely to date to the final most likely be a tree root/stump, 2. Plan of the exposed peat as it was wet phase of peat creation. Shortly given the presence of many smaller revealed in December 2010. after this initial record was made the root-like timbers in the immediate 3. Initial recording of the site in 2009. site was re-buried by the shifting sand area. However, other pieces of Jim Nesbitt is indicating the location of
d timber are considered more likely to n deposits on the foreshore and was not the find of worked wood. a
100 l 100 r revealed again until late December have been worked, given their shape 4. Staff from Archaeological Research e b 2010. and alignment, although this is not Services Ltd undertaking cleaning and
95 m 95
u definitively the case. It seems recording work on what was left of the h t 75 r possible that a timber brushwood 75 frozen deposit in December 2010. o Archaeologists braved the harsh 4 N winter weather conditions to clean and ‘platform’ may have been made on n I the peat which may have looked out Ben Johnson y record the re-exposed footprints by
g on to a salt marsh lagoon landscape, o Archaeological Research Services 25 l planning and photographing the whole 25
o although such detailed environmental e peat layer. Work started at first light 5 a 5 h and continued until the rising tide reconstruction is yet to be tested by c r A
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4 4 Low Hauxley: Druridge Bay sampling analysis. A sample of twigs Bill Ford 100 was taken from immediately below 100 the surface of the deposit for 95 95 Footprints in the Peat radiocarbon dating. O 75 b 75 i t
Subsequent visits throughout u
January and February 2011 showed a r that the site had been completely re- y 25 : 25
buried by sand again to around half a B i l
5 metre in depth. The site will only be l 5
revealed again during, or after, storm F o 0 0 r
conditions which is likely to further d damage or completely remove what is left of the site. It is hoped that a full photogrammetric record will be made am sad to report that Bill Ford when it is next exposed. Ipassed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday 29th October 2010. Bill was The presence of the footprints and born on Tyneside and started his worked wood, together with the working life with the tobacco firm Wills potential of the peat to contain pollen before being called up into the army. and other environmental indicators He landed in Normandy three days means the deposit could shed light after the D-Day landings and went on not only on human activities, to serve as a liaison officer with a US 3 technology and woodland army unit in France and Germany. management, but also a rare and detailed insight into the type of After the war he rejoined the tobacco vegetation and landscape setting in industry but soon moved into his real this area at the time the footprints interest, archaeology. After taking a were made. The dating of this layer post-graduate degree he became to the Late Mesolithic indicates that it county archaeologist for Warwickshire could be contemporary with the Late where he excavated two Saxon cemeteries, a long barrow and the Mesolithic occupation site below the medieval wall of Coventry. He then known Bronze Age cairn cemetery at became county archaeologist for Low Hauxley, which lies only a Wiltshire where among other sites he hundred metres or so to the north. If was responsible for Stonehenge. the two sites are contemporary, as seems possible, then the site could Eventually he moved back to his provide an incredibly detailed insight native Tyneside to become Assistant into Late Mesolithic coastal Director of the newly formed Tyne and settlement and economic behaviour. Wear Museums Service. In this capacity he supported many projects, Photographs and Illustrations the best known being the 1. Photograph of human footprint reconstructed Roman gateway at 3 track. Direction of travel is towards South Shields. the camera (scale = 2m). 2. Plan of the exposed peat as it After his retirement he remained very was revealed in December 2010. active in archaeology and the arts and 3. Initial recording of the site in was chairman of the Bondgate Gallery for some years. He ran extramural
2009. Jim Nesbitt is indicating the A
classes in archaeology at Hexham, r location of the find of worked wood. c h
Morpeth, Alnwick and Berwick which a 100 4. Staff from Archaeological 100 e
carried out extensive field surveys and o
Research Services Ltd undertaking l 95 o 95
excavations. His teaching inspired a g
cleaning and recording work on y
large group of students and led to the I 75 what was left of the frozen deposit in n 75
4 formation of the Borders N
December 2010. o
Archaeological Society. r t h u 25 Ben Johnson He was always a great supporter of m 25 b
Archaeological Research Services e
people and projects and his wise r l
5 a 5 Editor’s Note - though the peat and artefacts council will be greatly missed. n d
discussed in this article can be dated the footprints /
0 0 cannot and may therefore date to any period since 4
Philip Deakin 5 the mesolithic, when the peat was formed. Melkridge: Haltwhistle 100 100
95 95
e ...an 18th century farm? 75 l 75 t
s he buildings of a farmstead with raised platform at the west end of the i
h Tpossible 18th century origins were 1a village street, and could be of quite w
t recorded photographically in April early origin. The close relationship of 25 l 25 2 a 2010 in advance of a proposed the buildings with those of what is now H
redevelopment of part of the complex. Melkridge East Farm, immediately to
5 : 5 Melkridge lies on the north bank of the m the east, might imply that a single farm 0 r 0
a River Tyne, just east of Haltwhistle, was divided in the early 19th century F
and the farm, at NY 738 638, is the or earlier. e westernmost group of buildings on the g d
i old Newcastle to Carlisle road. The oldest map traced to show an r
k approximate outline plan of the l
e The farm consists of ranges around a buildings is the 1842 Tithe Award
M narrow triangular yard. The farmhouse (Woodhorn Archive ref DT316M). It stands at the north-west corner of the appears to show the main part of the 1b yard and clearly contains a number of west range and the farmhouse, but not builds; its main block has two blocked the east range, or at any rate its slit vents, implying that this part was northern part. The development of the once a farm building. None of the farmstead can be traced on the first, 3 visible features and fabric appear to second and third editions of the pre-date the 19th century, although Ordnance Survey map, as the main there is a re-set lintel on the rear wing parts of the west and east ranges are inscribed ‘L R I 1741’. The oldest built (1st edition), the farmhouse is building appears to be a fragmentary extended and the south east range gable end in the west range which and cartshed are built (2nd edition), looks to be of 18th century date and and a circular structure which may could be contemporary with the re- have been a late horse engine house used ‘1741’ lintel in the farmhouse. 1c or gingang appears (3rd edition). However, the majority of the Further developments took place over associated farm buildings are of the course of the 20th century, typical early-to-mid-19th century including the loss of the gingang. character. Photographs and Illustrations It is difficult to reconstruct the history 1a Extract from OS 1st Edition 1860 of the farm before the 19th century. It 1b Extract from OS 2nd Edition 1898 stands on quite a distinctive site, a 1c Extract from OS 3rd Edition 1920 2 Melkridge Farm yard and main 2 range
Richard Carlton and Peter Ryder The Archaeological Practice d n a
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6 4 BA North is Registered Charity: 1098854 are holding a joint Cthe northern meeting with CBA 100 100 regional group of NW at Kirkland Hall, 95 CBA national. Our area is Kendal in Cumbria. This 95 Northumberland, Durham, will be a full day of talks C
CBA (North) o 75 75
Tyne and Wear, Teeside and on the archaeology of the north-east u and Northumberland at Lammerside Cumbria. CBA North is the and north-west which so far include n Castle. c i
organisation which gives local CBA Bassenthwaite Reflections, l
Ê f 25 members the opportunity to find out Lammerside Castle, Altogether o 25
Our committee comprises 13 people. r more about what is happening in their Archaeology project. We hope to B 5 Along with our Chair (Keith Merrin, 5 region; provide opportunities to get r
include a speaker on the famous i
Director of Woodhorn Museum), t i 0 involved; and add their voice to those Crosby Garrett Roman helmet. More s 0
secretary, membership secretary and h
ensuring that the region’s archaeology speakers will be added. The Portable treasurer we also have two student A and heritage continue to be in the Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison r
liaison officers who forge strong links c
minds of decision-makers. CBA Officers will have a selection of h
with the archaeology departments of a North’s motto is ‘Participation,
artefacts on display and will be able e Durham and Newcastle univiersities Discovery, Advocacy’. to identify the objects attendees bring o and those colleges which teach l Ê along. Everyone is welcome. Tickets o archaeology courses. Students can g CBA North has, over the last few are £10 and include tea and coffee. y join CBA North free of charge. Our (
years, organised a number of events An optional buffet lunch will be N YAC liaison officer helps run the for its members. In 2007 we had a available. o Newcastle Young Archaeologists’ r t
guided walk around Flodden Ê h Club for 8-16 year olds. There are battlefield led by TV presenter of ‘Two To join CBA North costs only £5 (or is ) also YAC branches in Maryport, 3 Men in a Trench’, Dr Tony Pollard. We free if you join CBA national). Please Kendal and Whitehaven. We are have also had guided tours of places contact secretary Jennifer Morrison at looking for new committee members such as the Victoria Tunnel in [email protected] or send a for 2012 including a newsletter Newcastle, Blyth Battery in cheque for £5 made payable to CBA editor. Northumberland and Carlisle North Region to Jennifer Morrison, Cathedral. We are a partner in the Archaeology Officer, Newcastle City ÊCBA North produces two glossy HLF funded North Pennines Council, Environment and colour newsletters a year for our ‘Altogether Archaeology’ project which Regeneration Directorate, Strategic members, which includes articles on offers a whole range of fieldwork Housing Planning and Transportation interesting local projects and opportunities to members of the Directorate, Room 912, Civic Centre, advertises excavation and fieldwork public. Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne opportunities alongside lectures and Ê NE1 8PD.Ê guided walks. We ran a joint building recording and Jennifer Morrison, Ê surveying project with Architectural CBA North Secretary On Saturday 29 October this year we and Archaeological Society of Durham Till Valley Archaeological Society ill Valley Archaeological Society (or TillVAS has held several meetings to form Branxton and Heatherslaw as part of the TTillVAS) is a new volunteer a committee and draw up a list of research Settlement History theme. Members are archaeological group that have formed in interests and has settled on five themes also considering research into the river the area surrounding the north Till Valley which will form the basis of their initial crossings of the Till as part of the (including Wooler, Milfield, Crookham, research interests. Within these themes Transport and Routeways theme and it is Ford, Etal, Branxton and Cornhill). project are now being identified and hoped to arrange some building recording members are being sought to begin work training that will allow the detailed The group has been formed by volunteers on researching these topics. assessments of Ford Westfield Farm and who came together initially to support the the buildings on Ford Moss as part of the A
The themes are: r work of the Flodden 500 Archaeological Historic Building theme. c ! h 100 Project and who have realised that their Transport and Routeways, a 100 ! e common interest in heritage and Settlement History, TillVAS already has more than 30 o l 95 ! Battlefields and Conflict, o 95 archaeology needed a more general base members and a full diary of field visits, g
! y than just that project. The formation of Historic Buildings, talks and fieldwork. If you are interested in I 75 ! n 75 such a group was one of the targets for the Early settlement of the Till Valley.
getting involved, or want to know more N
Capacity Building Grant with which English either about the walks and talks or the o r t Heritage supported the establishment of From these, research is already underway various proposed research projects h u 25 the Flodden 500 project and as such that on the following projects: The Battle of contact TillVAS secretary Maureen m 25 b
aim has now been achieved with TillVAS Flodden (Flodden 500 Archaeology Charlton on 01668 216091 or by email: e r l 5 adopting the Flodden project as one of Project) as part of the Battlefields and a 5 n
their ongoing strands of research. Conflict theme. There is immediate interest [email protected] d
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in taking forward research into the origins 4 and history of the villages of Crookham, CB 7 n 2010 a website was launched to Interactive Site Access, now online Ipublicise the results of more than a 100 decade of investigations into the 100
95 history and archaeology of Bedlington 95 Ironworks, the site of which lies in the Bedlington Ironworks 75 s 75 k grassed and landscaped Dene Park r
o within the deeply incised, heavily 2 2 w wooded valley of the lower River n
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0 g ironworking at Bedlington (originally 0 n i
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B century and used scrap imports to manufacture nails, chains and a range of other fittings, primarily for ships constructed at the Port of Blyth. The importance of the Ironworks was augmented when iron-ore smelting commenced around 1760, at which time Bedlington was the site of the only blast furnaces in 3 Northumberland. The scale of its production and range of its products expanded until, in the 19th century, it was responsible for the development of cheap mass-produced railway lines. In 1825, it provided track for the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first long-distance public line,
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Bedlington Ironworks B 75 e 75 and constructed 150 locomotive Mead, formerly Cultural Heritage d l i engines, some of which were exported Officer for Wansbeck Council. More n g
to the Continent and were the first recently, additional material was t 25 o 25 engines to work lines in Italy and added to the archive, including the n
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excavations carried out by Barry n 0 With the development of ironworking Mead in 2007, and a survey of w 0 o
technology, notably the introduction of standing building remains undertaken r k
steam-powered by Peter Ryder in 2009. s blowing engines to power forge The website, designed by Marc and smelter Johnston, aims to make available bellows in the much of the collected archive of 19th century, information about the site: Bedlington could not survive the http://www.bedlingtonironworks.org/ competition of the larger scale iron industry in Durham or on Teeside. The Photographs and Illustrations ironworks closed in 1867 and the site 1. Bedlington Ironworks engraving was levelled in the 1950s to form the of 1827. present parkland. But traces of its 2. Site map of 1840 former history survive in the form of 3. Bedlington side of the River riverside quay walls, Furnace Bridge, Blyth, upstream of bridge. 4 the remains of a dam, tunnels and 4. Barry Mead inspecting the other structures. outflow of an arched culvert upstream of Furness bridge. The recently published website 5. Barry Mead leading a group at contains the results of archaeological Furness Bridge in 2007. assessment and fieldwork carried out 6. Bedlington Iron Company bill to under the direction of Alan Williams in the Stockton & Darlington Railway 1999, which in turn drew partly on the Company for railway bars, 1824. work of the Bedlington historian, Evan Martin, as well as the work of Barry Richard Carlton 5 The Archaeological Practice Ltd
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0 0 4 9 he Holystone History and Holystone History and Archaeology Group 100 TArchaeology Group have taken a 100 first step in their investigation of a 95 95 previously unrecorded manmade 2 n Dry Burn earthworks survey structure in Coquetdale. 75 r 75
u done surveying work before his anything without creating disturbance. 2 B The group’s chairman, Ian retirement and who assembled the y r Glendinning, spotted the mound-like final drawing from the surveys carried The survey results have been 25 25 D
out. discussed with the landowner who
: structure while walking in an area
5 p close to Holystone Grange and 5 has agreed that further investigation u
o decided it was worth further inquiry. The feature consists of a raised oval- work could be carried out in the 0 r shaped earthwork of approximately 0 future. The group hopes to progress
G So, after a visit by county
y archaeologist Chris Burgess, who 75m by 60m, with a deep ditch at the site investigation if grant subsidy can g western end plus a circular earthwork be found to fund an excavation led by
o agreed that no records existed of this l of about 35m diameter with a large a trained archaeologist. Only further o site and who guessed that it may well e central depression. After completing expertly-led investigation will solve
a be a previously unrecorded palisaded
h enclosure dating from the medieval the survey, it was agreed from what the mystery of exactly what the c r period, the group decided to survey emerged that the dimensions and feature is and from which period it A what was visible so that some record general shape are suggestive of a dates. d
n would be available in the future. motte and bailey type structure. The a
whole is situated on a large mound Jan Frazer y r Accordingly seven group members which appears to be of natural origin. Holystone History o t A terrace is visible around the entire and Archaeology Group
s took part in carrying out a plane table i circumference which suggests a
H survey of the mound-site close to Dry palisade. In several places exposed e Burn. Two tables were used by the n group, under the direction of member stonework is visible but not in o t sufficient quantity to be diagnostic of s David Robinson who had regularly y l o
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5 discussed with the landowner who T 5 r has agreed that further investigation Region u 0 s 0
work could be carried out in the t :
future. The group hopes to progress he Battlefields Trust is a non- N site investigation if grant subsidy can political registered charity o T r t
be found to fund an excavation led dedicated to the preservation, h
by a trained archaeologist. Only interpretation and presentation of E further expertly-led investigation will a battlefields as educational and s t
solve the mystery of exactly what the historical resources. The Trust is a R
feature is and from which period it national organisation with a network e dates. of local groups. Activities include g i o
walks, talks, conferences and projects n Photograph and Illustration to investigate and present battlefields. 1. Survey drawing of Dryburn The Trust also campaigns and lobbies 3 2. Earthworks at Dryburn to protect battlefields and works with other stakeholders to bring about Jan Frazer better management and access. Holystone History and Archaeology Group The main threats to battlefields are from building development and from uncontrolled metal detecting. Building development can (and does) destroy vital archaeological evidence that can change our understanding of how a battle was fought. Illicit metal detecting allows important artefacts to be removed from a site before they can be properly assessed by archaeologists.
Details of the Trust membership can be found at:
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0 0 5 1 Geoffrey Carter the Heritage at Risk register published by Going to work on our Industrial Heritage English Heritage. The reasons why so 100 1 100 many sites are vulnerable are many and ow do we compare the imposing this is a building (listed at grade II*) that varied but vacancy and vandalism are 95 95 Hcoastal majesty of Bamburgh Castle survives as a monument to a rare failed regular traits of industrial sites. So the
s against the scattered remnants of a lead Heritage at Risk experiment by the great industrialist Lord 75 t 75 race is on to preserve these pieces of our
n mine sprawling over several acres of Armstrong. Using water sourced from the has been wiped from the landscape in heyday is long gone but which has left a history that so many people have said are e windswept moorland? In aesthetic terms Blackburn Lake situated within the the past few decades, there remains definite mark on the landscape of important to them. Unless urgent action is m there appears to be only one winner; yet grounds of Cragside Mansion House,
u plenty of outstanding fabric to feed the Northumberland, particularly those areas of taken on many of these sites,
25 n both are integral to the story of 25 Armstrong’s home, the idea was to use imagination. Ford Colliery is a scheduled the county overlapping the North Pennines. schoolchildren will have to rely on images o Northumberland and, indeed, the entire hydraulic power to process grass into ancient monument that was worked from Several notable sites contain fine and words rather than being able to visit, 5 M 5 North East. And, whilst the castles and silage for animal feed and the silo was l at least 1650 and continued to produce examples of the different components that touch and see for themselves the
a country houses of the region will always designed to accommodate the necessary i coal up until 1914. Extant remains comprise a lead mining operation. The buildings and monuments that might well 0 r 0 t remain as architectural showcases, the include the engine house chimney and engineering. Much of the equipment still have played a significant role in much of
s Allenheads Lead Ore works dates back to often more functional relics of our survives inside the building today, u the engine house itself. Another fine the 19th century and was the largest single their own family history. For information d industrial past are fast disappearing from example is Stublick at Langley on Tyne. including a hydraulic engine in the on how you can help, please visit
n lead mine in the North Pennines, while the
I the landscape. That is why English basement and a turbine at the entrance Although later in date than Ford, and www.english-heritage.org.uk/industrial-
: Langley Barony Mines are unusual in being Heritage has launched a national initiative k level. However, the “ensilage” procedure serving a relatively small coalfield, steam-powered and still contain a wide heritage-at-risk. The Heritage at Risk s
i to discover just how much of our industrial still required a significant amount of Stublick has probably the finest group of range of features such as arched adits, register can also be viewed online, so R heritage is at risk and to prompt a debate manual labour and there were also colliery buildings still standing, including everyone can learn of sites within their
t buddle pits, smithy and stone-lined stream as to what should be saved and how. problems with fumes emanating from the a an engine house listed at Grade II*. With own community that perhaps they can
reservoirs. fermenting grass, so the silo was e ashlar dressings, Welsh slate roofs and become actively involved in saving. g There is sound reasoning behind the coped gables, Stublick highlights the fact abandoned after a relatively short
a Coal and lead mining would feature high
t initiative, as there is clear evidence to i that industrial heritage does not always existence. Throughout the rest of the Photographs
r up on any list of industrial activities named show that people value and appreciate county, examples can be found of lime e have to be prosaic in nature. Further by people in the region and there is no 1.
H their industrial heritage; 86% said so in a kilns, quarries, pottery bottle kilns and proof is provided by the pithead baths at doubting their legacy on our heritage is 2. national survey conducted early in 2011 tileries; all of which helped the North East the former Lynemouth Colliery, which massively important. However, it is 3. on behalf of English Heritage. The support drive the country’s emergence as an 2 opened in 1927 and employed 1,823 misleading to focus too much on these 4. becomes even stronger when the focus is industrial powerhouse. people at its peak in 1947. The baths activities alone, for it is the sheer range of placed purely on the North East, with the were built in 1938 by noted mining industry in Northumberland that is Stephen Allott region containing the highest number of Apart from industry, the common factor architect Frederick George Frizzell fascinating. All this activity has left some English Heritage people stating a pride in their industrial linking all of the sites featured above is in the “Modern Movement” style, intriguing reminders dotted around the Business Manager heritage and the enduring link it provides that they are considered to be “at but now stand in less than landscape. Take the hydraulic (North East) to so many family histories. risk” and are recorded splendid isolation, amid a silo at Cragend Farm, 0191 269 1235 as such on partially cleared mining near Rothbury, for Northumberland, of course, has its very landscape, slowly example; own fascinating and rich vein of industrial decaying and prone to activity running throughout its history. vandalism. From Iron Age stone quarries, such as that at Brough Law, through to more A different sort of modern lead and coal mining; the mining, for lead, is evidence is there to show that the people another industry of Northumberland have always kept whose busy. The only thing that has changed is the scale and complexity of the operations.
Although much of the obvious evidence of the county’s coal mining past
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2 5 the Heritage at Risk register published by Going to work on our Industrial Heritage English Heritage. The reasons why so 100 many sites are vulnerable are many and 100 this is a building (listed at grade II*) that varied but vacancy and vandalism are 95 survives as a monument to a rare failed regular traits of industrial sites. So the 95 experiment by the great industrialist Lord H
Heritage at Risk e race is on to preserve these pieces of our 75 75 heyday is long gone but which has left a Armstrong. Using water sourced from the history that so many people have said are r i t definite mark on the landscape of Blackburn Lake situated within the important to them. Unless urgent action is a grounds of Cragside Mansion House, g
Northumberland, particularly those areas taken on many of these sites, e
25 Armstrong’s home, the idea was to use 25
of the county overlapping the North schoolchildren will have to rely on images a
hydraulic power to process grass into t
Pennines. Several notable sites contain and words rather than being able to visit,
An unusual and rare survival from World War Two was R 5 fine examples of the different components silage for animal feed and the silo was touch and see for themselves the 5 i
recorded in 2010 at Heiferlaw, near Alnwick by Colin s designed to accommodate the necessary buildings and monuments that might well
that comprise a lead mining operation. The k Anderson and Ian Hall with permission of the 0 0 engineering. Much of the equipment still :
Allenheads Lead Ore works dates back to have played a significant role in much of I Northumberland Estates. Following research on general the 19th century and was the largest single survives inside the building today, their own family history. For information n World War Two structures in the county, they have more including a hydraulic engine in the d
lead mine in the North Pennines, while the on how you can help, please visit u recently turned their attention to Auxiliary Unit Operational Langley Barony Mines are unusual in basement and a turbine at the entrance www.english-heritage.org.uk/industrial- s t
level. However, the “ensilage” procedure r
Bases. These were secret underground bunkers that would being steam-powered and still contain a heritage-at-risk. The Heritage at Risk i still required a significant amount of a wide range of features such as arched register can also be viewed online, so l have been used by small, specially trained units of soldiers
manual labour and there were also M in the event of a successful invasion of the United Kingdom adits, buddle pits, smithy and stone-lined everyone can learn of sites within their stream reservoirs. problems with fumes emanating from the own community that perhaps they can o in 1940. fermenting grass, so the silo was n become actively involved in saving. u
There are about 15 or so of these bases in Northumberland m Coal and lead mining would feature high abandoned after a relatively short and although most are in a very poor state of survival, the e up on any list of industrial activities named existence. Throughout the rest of the Photographs 70-year Auxiliary Unit (Special Duties) Zero Station at county, examples can be found of lime n by people in the region and there is no 1.Pithead baths Lynemouth (Exterior) t s Heiferlaw remains in very good condition. The base is on doubting their legacy on our heritage is kilns, quarries, pottery bottle kilns and 2.Pithead baths Lynemouth (Interior) private land and not accessible to the public. The survey was 3 massively important. However, it is tileries; all of which helped the North East 3.Hydraulic Silo, Cragend Farm, Rothbury carried out with gas monitoring equipment to ensure the misleading to focus too much on these drive the country’s emergence as an 4.Hydraulic Silo, Cragend Farm, Rothbury atmosphere was safe. activities alone, for it is the sheer range of industrial powerhouse. industry in Northumberland that is Stephen Allott fascinating. All this activity has left some Apart from industry, the common factor English Heritage Historically, there were two discrete branches of the Auxiliary linking all of the sites featured above is Units: the first was established to carry out sabotage behind intriguing reminders dotted around the landscape. Take the that they are considered to be “at risk” the advancing enemy lines, and the second was the Special hydraulic silo at and are recorded as such on Rothbury, Duties section. In the event of an invasion, this branch would Cragend Farm, for example have been responsible for gaining and communicating near intelligence about the deployment of the enemy forces. The Special Duties section recruited people whose work allowed them relatively free movement, such as doctors, district nurses and vicars. They would prepare simple intelligence reports based on what they had seen, which would be left in concealed ‘letter boxes’ (under rocks, in holes in trees etc). These reports were then collected by the next level of operatives, who would have access to a secret radio transmitter, known as an out-station. The transmitted reports would be collated by a local control station who would then relay them to the main military headquarters. This control station or ‘zero station’ would be constructed in an underground hide. Each zero station would have a radius of operation of about 30 miles. The Heiferlaw base was one of these zero stations and would have been used to coordinate the activities of other bases A
in the vicinity. As such Heiferlaw is relatively large, has r c h
an aerial still existing in a tree nearby and has tubes which 100 a 100 e would have been used by locals to pass messages of enemy o l 95 o 95 positions to the people inside the base. g y
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The hide consists of an underground building with three N o r
interlinked rooms, built of concrete blocks and mostly t h plastered and painted white. All that is visible on the surface u 25 m 25 is the outline of the underground elements where the earth b e r l has settled. The vertical entrance shaft opens into the 5 a 5 n entrance room, which leads to the central room and then to d
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0 0 the escape room and a 14-metre escape tunnel which exits 5 into another vertical shaft. The floor was covered with 3 concrete paving slabs. All the walls show signs of where items such as shelving had been secured. The doorways all had spaces where wooden lintels would have been but these are now missing or in a very rotten condition. In the entrance room there are two metal tubes, which are connected to a larger underground glazed pipe system that may have been a means of getting messages into the 1 Royal Observation Corps’ even today these sites look like the were maintained by means of kind of agricultural or rural water tank telephones to the regional reporting 100 100 installations which are comonly seen in centre and other bunkers in the group
95 95 the countryside (Figure 1). and should these fail the lead bunker in each group also had use of a VHF r Bamburgh Bunker 75 e 75 Access to the bunker was by means of radio. k he Observer Corps was decided the threat of nuclear war was
n a heavy steel hatch (Figure 2) that was
u established in 1925 as a means of diminished and cut the number of T lifeted by means of a counter weight to Space was also provided for 2 small B
providing early warning of air attacks. ROC volunteers from 25000 to 12000 25 25 provide access to a 14 foot steel ladder bunks usually at the far end of the C Originally manned by volunteers who and halved the number of active 2 (Figure 3). At the foot of this ladder was main room - however in Bamburgh O 5 were appointed as special police monitoring5 bunkers to 876 many of
R a metal great that covered a sump these seem to have been situated just
: constables the groups soon came these however remained in regular (Figure 4). This sump was designed to inside the doorway. (Figure 10) 0 h under the control of the Air Ministry use0 until 1991 when the colapse of the g
r collect all water that penetrated the and was made part of the RAF. Eastern Bloc and communism led to u bunker and which could be pumped to The Bamburgh bunker seems to be b Honoured with the title Royal the decomissioning of many Cold War the surface my means of a rotary hand one that has remained dry and has m Observation Corps in 1941 it worked defences. a pump. In many cases this arrangement undergone many modificaitons
B through World War 2 providing early kept the bunker dry but in some cases including new switch gear and the warning information and intelligence When the ROC was finally stood down 7 additional duck boards had to be instalation of polistrene insulatoin on on aircraft movements but was in 1991 the surviving 876 bunkers installed as the interior was perpetually the walls. Many of its feature remain dispanded when hostillities ceased in where locked up and for the most part wet. intack including paperwork, furniture 1945. returned to the owners of the land on and even the wellies of the last which they stood with little other than At the bottom of the entrance shaft monitroing team to use the site though Two years later, in 1947 it was the monitoring equipment being partition separated the shaft and a as with all other sites the instruments reformed, again formed primarily of removed. small cupboard contain a chemical themselves have been removed. volunteers again to follow aircraft toilet and storage area (Figure 5) from Disucssions are being held with the 3 movements. By 1954 the goverment The bunkers were generally sited on the main operational room. This 12 x 6 owners of the Bamburgh Bunker to tasked the ROC with a new, Cold War hill tops and were constucted to a foot space included a table, discuss how best to perserve, manage role - the identification of nuclear pattern. A hole 12 feet deep was instruments and a storage cupboard as and interpret the remains which for the explosions and the monitoring and excavated and within this a well as batteries for power that were moment remained locked and sealed reporting of nuclear fallout and air ‘monocoque’ concrete cell was cast stored in two large wooden crates and behind the heavy steel trap door. contamination. In 1956 this role was with 6” thick steel reinforced concrete whic could be recharged by means of a solidified in the decision to build a walls and an 8” thick concrete roof. petrol generator. Power was however Photographs series of monitoring ‘bunkers’ within This box, measuring approximately 14 carefally managed with switch units 1 Outside the bunker which four person teams would shelter feet by 6 feet was then supposed to having timers on them to ensure they 2 The top of the entrance shaft at the time of an attack to monitor and be thoroughly ‘tanked’ with a did not get left on when not in use 3 The entrance shaft report on the risks of fallout following a tar/bitumin lining to ensure it was 4 (Figure 6). Three main instuments were 4 The sump and pump 8 nuclear exchange. water proof. Above this box the soil monitored in the bunker. A device to 5 Stores and toilet was then reinstated often with a small detect explosions stood at the top o the 6 Switch and timer Over the next 10 years nearly 1600 of mounding (up to 2 feet tall) at ground entrance shaft while twoto monitor air 7 The two monitoring instrument these bunkers would be built across level through which 4 ‘opening’ contamination and fallout had their own pipes the UK, generally with no more than protruded. These were the entrance conduits to the surface from the centre 8 The pipes in the ops room ceiling eight miles lying between any two. All hatch (and ventilator) at one end, two of the bunker (Figure 7). These passed 9 The main instrument mount and were built to the same basic design instrument tubes from the centre of through stainless steel tubes into the battery boxes amd telephone though the work was done by local the bunker and at the far end from the main room (Figure 8) where careful junction boxes contractors supervised by local entrance a second ventilator. None records were kept at the small desk 10 A view of the main room members of the ROC command. By protruded more than 3 feet from the (Figures2 9 and 11). Communications 11. The desk and paperwork 1968 the then Labour government surface and generally from a distance CB
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4 5 from the surface and generally from a steel tubes into the main room (Figure Royal Observation Corps’ distance even today these sites look 8) where careful records were 100 like the kind of agricultural or rural maintained by means of telephones to 100 water tank installations which are the regional reporting centre and other 95 commonly seen in the countryside bunkers in the group and should these 95 B
Bamburgh Bunker a (Figure 1). fail the lead bunker in each group also 75 75 ldecided the threat of nuclear war had had use of a VHF radio. m diminished and cut the number of b
Access to these bunkers was by u
ROC volunteers from 25,000 to r means of a heavy steel hatch (Figure Space was also provided for two small g 25 25 12,000 and halved the number of 2) that was lifted by means of a bunks, usually at the far end of the h :
5 active monitoring bunkers to 876. counter-weight to provide access to a main room - however in Bamburgh R 5 Many of these however remained in 14 foot steel ladder (Figure 3). At the these seem to have been situated just O 0 regular use until 1991 when the foot of this ladder was a metal grate inside the door (Figure 10). C 0
collapse of the Eastern Bloc and that covered a sump (Figure 4). This B u
communism led to the sump was designed to collect all The Bamburgh bunker seems to be n k
decommissioning of many Cold War water that penetrated the bunker and one that has remained dry and has e defences. which could be pumped to the undergone many modifications r surface my means of a rotary hand including new switch gear and the When the ROC was finally stood down pump. In many cases this installation of polystyrene insulation in 1991, the surviving 876 bunkers arrangement kept the bunker dry but on the walls. Many of its features were locked up and for the most part in some cases additional duck boards remain intact including paperwork returned to the owners of the land on had to be installed as the interior was (and bible), furniture and even the which they stood with little other than perpetually wet. wellies of the last monitoring team to the monitoring equipment being use the site, though as with all other removed. At the bottom of the entrance shaft a sites the instruments themselves have partition separated the shaft and a been removed. Discussions are being The bunkers were generally sited on small cupboard containing a chemical held with the owners of the Bamburgh hill tops and were constucted to a toilet and storage area (Figure 5) Bunker to agree how best to perserve, pattern. A hole twelve feet deep was from the main operational room. This manage and interpret the remains excavated and within this a 12 x 6 foot space included a table, which for the moment remain locked ‘monocoque’ concrete cell was cast instruments and a storage cupboard and sealed behind the heavy steel with six inch thick steel reinforced as well as batteries for power that trap door. concrete walls and an eight inch thick were stored in two large wooden concrete roof. This box, measuring crates and which could be recharged Photographs approximately fourteen feet by six feet by means of a petrol generator. 1 Outside the bunker was then supposed to be thoroughly Power was, however, carefully 2 The top of the entrance shaft ‘tanked’ with a tar/bitumin lining to managed with switch units having 3 The entrance shaft ensure it was waterproof. Above this timers on them to ensure they did not 4 The sump and pump box the soil was then reinstated often get left on when not in use (Figure 6). 5 Stores and toilet with a small mounding (up to two feet Three main instuments were 6 Switch and timer tall) at ground level through which four monitored in the bunker. A device to 7 The two instrument pipes ‘openings’ protruded. These were the detect explosions stood at the top of 8 The pipes in the ops room ceiling entrance hatch (and ventilator) at one the entrance shaft while two to 9 The main instrument mount and end, two instrument tubes from the monitor air contamination and fallout battery boxes centre of the bunker and at the far end had their own conduits to the surface 10 A view of the main room from the entrance a second ventilator. from the centre of the bunker (Figure 11 The desk and paperwork None protruded more than three feet 7). These passed through stainless CB
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he publication last year of ‘Frontiers However, the second camp, close to These discoveries therefore show that s ’ of Knowledge’, a framework for future Shield on the Wall, was more complex there are amazing new discoveries to be
n T 25 made along Hadrian’s Wall, one of the 25 a archaeological research on Hadrian’s and is perhaps more representative of i r Wall, clarified what most archaeologists the type of discovery currently being most closely studied monuments in Britain. 5 d However, they also show the importance 5 a were already mindful of: that there is still made. Here, and at a number of other
H a huge amount to understand about this sites in Northumberland and Cumbria, not only of new survey techniques such as 0 0 f amazing frontier system. However, the the LIDAR data showed the presence of the use of LIDAR data, but also of more o discovery this year of new Roman camps an earthwork of the right shape for a traditional work, and the increased y
e on the Wall has highlighted the potential Roman camp but further evidence was understanding we get of such sites when v
r both of the new techniques becoming needed to confirm that interpretation. these techniques are combined together. u available to archaeologists and also of the This is where tried and tested S
: importance of continuing to apply more techniques, such as aerial photography Mike Collins e traditional methods. and analytical survey come into their English Heritage g
a own. At Shield on the Wall, the potential t
i LIDAR discoveries made by Pete Horne (EH) r The recent discoveries were started site was investigated by English
e and by Bryn Gethin. Aerial photography by thanks to the increasing availability of Heritage’s Aerial Survey Team and low
H David Macleod (EH). Article draws on material LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) winter sun allowed them to capture the written by Humphrey Welfare. h
s survey data. This technique, which illustrated image of what is very clearly a i l employs an airborne laser, bounces a Roman camp just to the rear of the
g . 3 n pulse of light from an aircraft onto the Vallum. The details of this camp were
E ground below. Sensors in the aircraft further investigated on the ground by measure the time it takes for that light to English Heritage and these two reflect back from the ground surface and techniques suggested that the camp had convert it to a height value. This allows been established during the construction very small changes in height to be phase of Hadrian’s Wall, after the line of detected, which means that earthworks the Vallum had been surveyed but before from archaeological sites can often be it was constructed, possibly in recognised, even where they cannot be connection with stone quarrying for the seen on the ground. LIDAR also allows Wall here. the results to be filtered to remove things like tree cover, showing underlying This kind of evidence for the dating of archaeology which would otherwise be such a camp is quite rare and could not invisible to normal aerial photography. have been established from the LIDAR data alone. Likewise, the LIDAR data Along Hadrian’s Wall, investigation of has shown the presence of other LIDAR data has shown the presence of at possible Roman remains along the Wall, least three previously undiscovered but where we need further investigation Roman camps, two of which are in (primarily aerial photography in good Northumberland. conditions) to allow a judgement as to their origins. The first of these, close to the Roman fort at Carrawburgh, has been ploughed in the past, meaning that ridge and furrow earthworks masked the remains of the camp, making it very difficult to see on the ground. Manipulating the LIDAR data digitally allowed archaeologists to identify the regular shape of the camp beneath. d n a
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6 5 Northumberland Conservation 100 100 he two years since Northumberland reorganised its will in coming months be finding a replacement for him. 95 Tlocal goverment systems from the two tiers of districts 95 and county to a single unitary system have seen massive The AONB Team’s arrival has also coincided with N 75 o 75
changes not only within the new authority (as a whole) but upheaval in central government and major cuts in many r t centrally funded grants. Much of the spring of 2011 has h
also for Northumberland Conservation. u
been taken up with securing the funding for the m
25 It has been said that it takes five years to build an Northumberland Coast designation for the coming three b 25 e
organisation [such as the new Northumberland County years both through negotiations with Natural England and r l
5 a 5
Council] from scratch and two years in we are still refining DEFRA and also with the County Council for their n 0 what we started out with in April 2009. Now however things contribution (now amounting to around 30% of the costs). d 0
are starting to take a more definite shape for C o
Northumberland Conservation, with the family of disciplines While more change may be on the cards for the coming n s
and designations managed within the team reaching its months when the Council institutes a further e r
current postion during the summer of 2010 when we were reorganisation, the process of which started in the v Autumn of 2010, we hope that the services of a joined by the members of the Northumberland Coast Area t i of Outstanding Natural Beauty Team, Mel Nicholls, Tom Northumberland Conservation have been secured for the o n Cadwallender, Iain Robson and Catherine Gray. While Tom coming years so we can provide the best and most has subsequently retired after nearly 30 years of service we efficient service possible with the resources available. CB/SR
3
Nick Best: Assistant Chris Burgess: Team Claire Carey: European Karen Derham: Assistant David Feige: County County Archaeologist Manager and County Marine Site County Archaeologist Ecologist (Development Archaeologist (- 2.5 days) Implementation Officer (Development (Development Management) 01670 534058 01670 533780 Management - 0.5 days) Management) 01670 534095 [email protected] [email protected] 01670 534057 01670 533153 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Catherine Gray: AONB Elaine Gray: Senior Colin Marlee: Ecologist Mel Nicholls: Annette Reeves: Berwick Grants Administration Building Conservation (Development Northumberland Coast AP and THI Schemes Officer (Thursdays Only) Officer (Listed Buildings Management) AONB Officer Implementation Officer 01665 511213 and Conservation Areas) 01670 533907 01665 511207 01289 301884 [email protected] 01670 533076 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] A r c h
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Vacant: Vacant: Vacant: Vacant: t h
HER Building Building AONB Built u 25 Assistant Conservation Conservation and Natural m 25 b
Officer Officer Environment e r
Iain Robson:AONB Sara Rushton: Team Liz Williams: HER Officer l 5 Project a 5 Access and Projects Manager and County (and Historic Landscape n
Officer d
Officer Archaeologist ( - 2.5 days) Characterisation) /
0 0 01665 511206 01670 534058 01670 534060 5 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 7 works were undertaken, entailing minimum interventions such as ny traveller on the A68 retaining the natural soft capping of Aand A686 driving down Shittleheugh: Otterburn 100 100 moorland grasses established in the through Otterburn has wall tops to protect the masonry 95 probably seen Shittleheugh 95 below. The masonry repairs and Bastle many times, through
e Surveying a bastle and its landscape pointing were undertaken using 75 l 75 2 t its prominent position on the s elevations were photographed and next to them the Reades, Potts, time of survey for any first floor months (April to August), moving hydraulic lime mortar which is
a western slope of Blakeman’s Law, ‘rectified’ – ie made flat – in order to Hedlies, Dawgs and Fletchers’. windows which presumably lit the from the lower valleys to the upper sensitive to extreme weather B and its tall gables standing as domestic accommodation, or for a pastures through a practice known as conditions, especially frost, until the
h produce a permanent pictorial record Armstrong’s Map of Northumberland 25 landmarks, sometimes picked out in 25 g of the walls prior to consolidation (1769) shows a representation of a first floor although there are the transhumance. In 1495, the main carbonization process or setting has u pink in the setting sun against the
5 e works. house labelled ‘Shittleheugh’ with the 5 footings for an external staircase shieling grounds (a temporary completely finished. As the work was h darkening skies. However, they may against the south elevation; it is summer shelter for herdsmen) were being undertaken in the winter
e name ‘Mr Reed’. l not have realised the importance of 0 t 0
t The remains of Shittleheugh Bastle possible that there was access listed in a valuation of the estate of months, extensive precautions were i the site, nor its wider landscape. The h are characteristic of a defensive A typical bastle consisted of a first- between the ground floor and first Sir Robert Tailbois, Lord of undertaken to protect the walls from
S roofless structure is a Scheduled floor through the timber flooring in the Redesdale; they included 7,000 frost and the bastle walls were
: floor hall sometimes with a smaller Ancient Monument and a Grade II n form of a ladder, although no hectares in Redesdale, all located to wrapped in Hessian blankets after the r 1 room at one end and garret room listed building; the position of the u above. The ground floor was used for evidence for this survives. A line of the north-west of Shittleheugh Bastle. work was completed. This very visible b
r site, being so marginal, has accommodating cattle and horses, projecting corbels against the internal Transhumance continued for ‘mothballing’ of the gables e
t probably in part ensured its survival t whilst the first floor domestic west elevation suggests a fireplace centuries up until the 17th century, precipitated press articles on the despite its close proximity to the O accommodation raised the existed in this location and some after which some of the temporary theme of ‘all wrapped up for Ministry of Defence firing ranges household above direct attack by holes in the internal east elevation dwellings were abandoned or Christmas’! (evidence of previous firing range assault or battering ram. The may indicate that there was an attic became permanent settlements. The activity was seen within the site thick defensive walls meant that room, or garret, or perhaps a 17th and 18th centuries saw changes The bastle was kept wrapped up until boundary). Nevertheless, the family and stock were firehood. Above the projecting in land tenure in upland areas, with a spring, and was finally unveiled in 3 continued battering by the secure against sudden raids. corbelling are two small cupboards. move from customary tenure to April 2010. The consolidation of the elements and structural weakness With one or two exceptions The doorway to the building opened leasehold tenure. This led to the bastle lead to Countryside saw the bastle surviving examples of bastles inwards and showed evidence for two formation of larger farms and the Consultants being recently awarded placed on the are within around 20 miles of horizontal drawbars used to provide division of common land, first by the Constructing Excellence in the English Heritage the Border; this may be some degree of security for the private agreement then by Enclosure North East Small Heritage Project Building at Risk significant as 20 miles from the occupants (Plate 3). Award. Award 2010. Register and Border was the distance within prompted the owner which an Act of Parliament in The wider landscape around the The remains of a possible shieling NPA Ltd cordially thanks the landowner, Linden to seek professional Craven, for all her assistance during the works. structure, possibly erected in the 16th 1555 required castles and forts to be bastle is one of open grazing land and stock enclosure lie north-west of help. The works could also not have been or 17th century in response to Border repaired and open ground enclosed with large fields in places enclosed Shittleheugh Bastle. This dry-stone undertaken without the dedicated enthusiasm warfare. Bastle houses were erected with ditches and quick-set hedges in by low earth banks and walls. The walled building has many of the and skill of the NPA staff involved, often In 2009, a team lead by prominent farming families, or order to impede the movements of topographic survey (Plate 6) revealed characteristic features of a shieling, working in very difficult conditions and this by Countryside article draws heavily on their results for which I ‘kinships’, headed by a laird. Each raiders. Within areas where bastles remains of ridge and furrow including: a rectangular plan divided Consultants was am grateful. kinship was identified by a particular are found, they tend to be sited in cultivation, potential corn-drying kilns, internally into two with the smaller commissioned to undertake a surname strengthened in the system clusters or within close proximity to field boundaries, cattle droveways, room at the west end, a doorway Photographs and illustrations complex multi-disciplinary of inheritance known as ‘gavelkind’ another. stone quarries, a shieling and through the south wall, and no 1: site location showing surrounding Management Plan for the monument, by which a dead man’s land was possible stack-stands, all providing evidence for windows (and there may features funded by Natural England, designed divided equally among all sons. Shittleheugh Bastle is constructed of evidence of an extensive use of the have never been any Ð light only 2: Shittleheugh Bastle to halt the progressive deterioration of Shittleheugh Bastle has been massive masonry blocks, with walls land over hundreds of years. The being provided through small hole 3: the draw-bar sockets the monument. attributed to the Reed family in the measuring about 1.10m thick. It is field and boundaries suggest how the close to the eaves). Other features 4: ventilation slits North Pennines Archaeology 16th century, and searches of parish rectangular in plan with ventilation slits land was used, with crops located on include masonry blocks at the east 5: the shieling undertook detailed archaeological registers also show links to the Halls at ground floor level. The presence of the east side of the bastle and end which may indicate the location 6: GPS survey underway surveys of Shittleheugh Bastle and its and Andersons. In a 1551 report on ventilation slits and lack of evidence presumably livestock to the west, of a fireplace or hearth, and a small 7: the eastern droveways wider landscape. The landscape the state of the Borders, Sir Robert for fireplaces or windows suggest that suggested by the lack of ridge and room at the west end which may 8: the bastle after consolidation features were surveyed using a Bower observed the ‘Countrey of the ground floor of the bastle was furrow on that side. have been a cupboard, or a primitive survey-quality GPS system and Riddersdale standeth much by never intended for humans, and that form of bread oven. Matthew Town
d standing structures were subject to surnames, of which surname the The land to the north-east marks the
n animals were brought into the building North Pennines Archaeology
a detailed building recording using a 100 l Haulls be the greatest and moste of 100 r for security during times of border start of the upland pasture, where Once the archaeological works were e Reflectorless Total Station. All b the reputation in that country and raiding. There was no evidence at the stock would be grazed in the summer complete, ‘light touch’ consolidation
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95 wall tops to protect the 95 Surveying a bastle and its landscape masonry below. The O 75 t 75 masonry repairs and t time of survey for any first floor lthrough a practice known as e pointing were undertaken using r windows which presumably lit the transhumance. In 1495, the main b hydraulic lime mortar which is u domestic accommodation, or for a first shieling grounds (a temporary r 25 sensitive to extreme weather n 25 floor although there are the footings summer shelter for herdsmen) were :
conditions, especially frost, until the S for an external staircase against the listed in a valuation of the estate of 5 carbonization process or setting has h 5 i
south elevation; it is possible that Sir Robert Tailbois, Lord of t t
completely finished. As the work was l 0 there was access between the ground Redesdale; they included 7,000 e 0
being undertaken in the winter h
floor and first floor through the timber hectares in Redesdale, all located to e
months, extensive precautions were u flooring in the form of a ladder, the north-west of Shittleheugh Bastle. undertaken to protect the walls from g although no evidence for this survives. Transhumance continued for h
frost and the bastle walls were A line of projecting corbels against the centuries up until the 17th century, B
wrapped in Hessian blankets after the a
internal west elevation suggests a after which some of the temporary s
work was completed. This very visible t l
fireplace existed in this location and dwellings were abandoned or e ‘mothballing’ of the gables some holes in the internal east became permanent settlements. The precipitated press articles on the elevation may indicate that there was 17th and 18th centuries saw changes theme of ‘all wrapped up for an attic room, or garret, or perhaps a in land tenure in upland areas, with a Christmas’! firehood. Above the projecting move from customary tenure to corbelling are two small cupboards. leasehold tenure. This led to the The bastle was kept wrapped up until 3 The doorway to the building opened formation of larger farms and the spring, and was finally unveiled in inwards and showed evidence for two division of common land, first by April 2010. The consolidation of the horizontal drawbars used to provide private agreement then by Enclosure bastle lead to Countryside some degree of security for the Award. Consultants being recently awarded occupants (Plate 3). the Constructing Excellence in the The remains of a possible shieling North East Small Heritage Project The wider landscape around the and stock enclosure lie north-west of Award 2010. bastle is one of open grazing land with Shittleheugh Bastle. This dry-stone large fields in places enclosed by low walled building has many of the NPA Ltd cordially thanks the landowner, Linden earth banks and walls. The characteristic features of a shieling, Craven, for all her assistance during the works. topographic survey (Plate 6) revealed including: a rectangular plan divided The works could also not have been remains of ridge and furrow cultivation, internally into two with the smaller undertaken without the dedicated enthusiasm potential corn-drying kilns, field room at the west end, a doorway and skill of the NPA staff involved, often working in very difficult conditions and this boundaries, cattle droveways, stone through the south wall, and no article draws heavily on their results for which I quarries, a shieling and possible evidence for windows (and there may am grateful. stack-stands, all providing evidence of have never been any Ð light only an extensive use of the land over being provided through small hole Photographs and illustrations hundreds of years. The field and close to the eaves). Other features 1: Site location showing surrounding boundaries suggest how the land was include masonry blocks at the east features used, with crops located on the east end which may indicate the location 2: Shittleheugh Bastle side of the bastle and presumably of a fireplace or hearth, and a small 3: the draw-bar sockets livestock to the west, suggested by the room at the west end which may 4: ventilation slits lack of ridge and furrow on that side. have been a cupboard, or a primitive 5: the shieling form of bread oven. 6: GPS survey underway The land to the north-east marks the 7: the eastern droveways start of the upland pasture, where Once the archaeological works were 8: the bastle after consolidation A r
stock would be grazed in the summer complete, ‘light touch’ consolidation c
Matthew Town h 100 months (April to August), moving from works were undertaken, entailing a 100 e
the lower valleys to the upper pastures minimum interventions such as North Pennines Archaeology o l 95 o 95 g y
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n o t Industrial Building Record s e r 2 P Preston Smithy photographic and measured has partly collapsed. In both the side its internal fittings except for the forge Asurvey record was carried out at and rear walls of the forge are small itself. Preston Smithy, near Ellingham (NU rectangular openings, now infilled; 186 258) in November 2010 in that on the east was presumably The forge is an attractive feature, advance of the proposed associated with the bellows, to although its hood is currently in redevelopment of part of the building. accommodate which the brick inner parlous condition, occasioned by skin of the east wall has been movement of the southern gable end, A range of outbuildings contains a roughly cut back and ranks as one of the better smithy at its south end. The forge preserved examples of a diminishing itself, the most significant part of the This is a simple village forge of later number of such structures in structure, is set against the centre of 19th-century date, of a type often Northumberland. the south end wall, has brick side found on large planned farms walls, a cracked stone hearth 0.73 m although here accompanied only by Photographs and Illustrations above the floor (resting on a course of the smith’s cottage. The use of 1. The west elevation of the smithy fire bricks), and a massive tooled-and- snecked stone Ð usually a late 2. The smithy interior margined lintel 2.26 m by 0.48 m, Victorian feature, perhaps points to a 3. Plan of the smithy 0.88 m above, carrying a tapering date in the 1880s or 1890s. The brick hood which steps back, course building remains relatively unaltered Richard Carlton by course, to the chimney which caps (except perhaps for the insertion of and Peter Ryder the gable. The front face of the hood one window on the east) but has lost The Archaeological Practice Ltd
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Holy Island Partnership o 75 75 r
he Holy Island of Lindisfarne, to bone of contention, the management To fully implement the principles and t h
Tgive it its full title, is, according to of visitor traffic, became impossible. tasks of the Action Plan it was u many, the jewel in the crown of the Holy Island Parish Council recognised, at an early stage, that m 25 b 25
beautiful Northumberland coast, recognised that help was needed finance was needed to help restore e r
indeed a very special place. This is not and interpret some of the natural and l
5 and asked the Northumberland a 5
a cliché. In terms of a combination of Coast AONB Partnership to help find cultural wonders of Holy Island and n 0 d 0 nationally important natural and a solution. To that end an AONB staff very importantly to enable Islanders C
cultural features there are few equals, member was seconded to work on to have a major input into conserving o anywhere. As a result Holy Island has Holy Island for an initial two days per the fabric and history of Holy Island. a s
been become a victim of unrelenting t week. The first task for the AONB The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) tourism promotion and interest with A officer was to bring together `Landscape Partnership` was seen to O
visitor saturation point being reached representatives of all the fit the bill. So through the later part of N on most summer days. As expected a organisations working on Holy Island 2010 and early 2011 a B :
range of organisations have interests with members of the community comprehensive series of consultation H
on the Island, but in the past that through Holy Island Parish Council sessions and working groups were o l interest has only extended as far as held to formulate a bid, by the name y
and Holy Island Development Trust, I the boundary of their resource e.g. a unbelievably this had not happened of Peregrini Lindisfarne, into the s l building, site or reserve. Very little real HLF Landscape Partnership fund for a before. After establishing regular n
3 d thought of the bigger `Island` picture, meetings, in 2010, this group formed a total of £2.8m. A project board was
including erosion of the island the Holy Island Partnership (HIP) created to oversee the drawing P a
environment, village infrastructure or with a guiding credo of a sustainable together of the `first stage` r t indeed the impact on the way of life of application, which was submitted at n
future for Holy Island through co- e
the `Islanders`, has been given. Whilst the end of February 2011 under the r ordinated management. To achieve s some Island enterprises have this ambitious aim the HIP produced aegis of the Holy Island Development h i prospered from the increasing an Action Plan, which contained the Trust. A decision on this `first stage’ p numbers of visitors there can be no key guiding principles and delivery application is due late July 2011. In argument about the declining quality of plan. All representatives have the meantime the HIP carries on with life for the `Islanders` and crucially, the pledged their support. A clear sign of its good works under the guidance of devaluing of the very thing most constructive joint working was in a team of committed people who visitors come for and that is Holy early 2011 with the production by the believe in the wellbeing of Holy Island Island and all its treasures. HIP of the first integrated leaflet for everyone. highlighting all of the speical features What was to be done? In 2009 things on the Island. Tom Cadwallender came to a head over the long running Formerly of the Northumberland Coast AONB A r c h
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a 1 metre orthumberland National Park matched funding from English
25 e 25
g Authority, in partnership with Heritage and the National Park
a N
5 t 5 i English Heritage and the Institute for Authority. The project will focus on r
e Archaeologists, has secured funding filling crucial gaps in our knowledge 0 0 H
to undertake an exciting new project. to gain a better understanding of the :
k The Heritage at Risk Project is based current state and condition of the r
a on the concept that heritage, in its Park’s Scheduled Ancient P
l broadest sense, is a finite resource Monuments. a that once lost is gone forever. The n o
i project has been developed in Through the involvement of the t
a conjunction with English Heritage, National Park’s Voluntary Rangers N
who are responsible for publishing the and National Park Volunteers the d Heritage at Risk Register, and will project aims to produce an accurate n a
l require close co-operation between condition assessment for the r
e both organisations. monuments at risk, to enable priority b 3 sites to be identified and m
u Northumberland National Park has a conservation actions developed in h
t rich archaeological heritage, with 424 order to reduce the number of SAMs
r Since 2002,
o Scheduled Monuments and over within the Park that are registered as excavations in the N 4,000 recorded sites of historic ‘at risk’. This project will promote best central part of the interest within an area little more than practice and build the capacity of West Ward of 1,000km2. Some 55% of the Park’s Voluntary Rangers, National Park Bamburgh Castle scheduled monuments are currently volunteers and volunteers drawn have worked through a identified as being at high or medium from the local community to become series of deep medieval risk. actively involved in the unique midden layers and have archaeological landscape of the now revealed features of A Heritage at Risk Officer has been National Park. probable ninth century appointed in order to begin the task of date. surveying the Park’s heritage assets. The National Park welcomes Natalie Ward has been appointed on enquiries from local people who A Metal working area? a 12 month, full-time secondment might like to take part in the project. he layers currently under from the Institute for Archaeologists excavation are made up of a as part of the HLF funded Workplace For more information please contact T series of interleaving lenses of ash and Learning Bursaries scheme, with [email protected] silt with a substantial charcoal content. Although no pottery has been found, there are frequent animal bone fragments together with a noticeably greater concentration of metal finds than seen elsewhere in the trench. The finds include copper alloy, iron, and even two rare (and small) finds of
d decorated gold, adding to the styca n a
100 l coin hoard reported last year. This 100 r e
b collection of metalwork has been
95 m stylistically dated to the ninth century 95 u h t
r AD and its variety and quantity has led 75 75 o
N to the speculation that this part of the
n
I trench was used for a metalworking
y
g process, perhaps recycling. o
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5 a As well as the finds, the remains of a 5 h c
r possible building have been A
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discovered. Fragments of small- to 2 6 Bamburgh Castle (indicative of high temperature forging or fire-welding). Although the th 100 evidence is very limited it is an 100 95 encouraging basis on which further 95
sampling and analysis can build. B
9 Century Industry a 75 75 m
The significance of an early b medieval building u 1 metre r g 25 If the present interpretation is correct 25 h
then a somewhat ephemeral timber R 5 5 structure is present within the e s
0 southern part of the excavation area, e 0 associated with a variety of metal a r c
finds, together with layers of ash and h
burnt material. The absence of deep P r
structural cuts would indicate a sill o j beam or ground surface construction e c
technique for the structure. The t presence of gaps within the lines of the traced walls may be indicative of a building that contained gapped, semi- open, sides, which could be functionally associated with an 3 industrial, metal working, function, where control of light and the movement of air would be Since 2002, advantageous. excavations in the central part of the The presence of an area of West Ward of metalworking activity within the West Bamburgh Castle Ward of the fortress is not surprising. have worked through The West Ward represents the lower a series of deep lying part of the defended area of the medieval midden layers fortress and is therefore a suitable and have now revealed place for a culturally important but features of probable ninth generally noxious and dirty activity, century date. lying as it does within the controlled and defended perimeter, but just far A Metal working area? enough from the focus of royal power he layers currently under Ð within the Inner Ward at the summit excavation are made up of a medium-sized sandstone appear to west of this structure, a linear spread T of the hill, to avoid too much direct series of interleaving lenses of ash form intermittent lines that define the of pebbles set in layer of silt has exposure. Evidence for industrial and silt with a substantial charcoal outline of a structure. It measures been interpreted as a path. The path processes and their associated content. Although no pottery has been about 2.6m by over 4m with an extends to the central part of the structures is of particular interest in found, there are frequent animal bone apparent internal partition dividing it; if trench beyond which it could not be advancing our understanding of how fragments together with a noticeably each half was equal in size this would traced due to the presence of high status sites in the early medieval greater concentration of metal finds mean a structure about 6m long. numerous pits. period were organised spatially, in than seen elsewhere in the trench. Areas of burnt material were also addition to informing our appreciation The finds include copper alloy, iron, revealed in the trench and most were Since we now have a possible of how production of goods for the and even two rare (and small) finds of contained within the structure. The building associated with numerous consumption of the ruling class fits A decorated gold, adding to the styca distribution of ash has helped to reveal metal finds and burnt material it r c an entrance, defined by the ‘spilling into early medieval society. Further h coin hoard reported last year. This 100 seems reasonable to suspect that we a 100 excavation in coming seasons, e collection of metalwork has been out’ of burnt material through a gap in are dealing with a metal working o l 95 together with the analysis of the o 95 stylistically dated to the ninth century the stone alignment that formed the area. As a result of this small sub- g y
material recovered so far, will greatly
south-west wall. Two possible samples of soil have been taken from I AD and its variety and quantity has75 led n 75
add to our understanding of this N to the speculation that this part of the opposing entrances and an internal each 20cm by 20cm grid in the o
doorway through the partition wall may outstanding site. r trench was used for a metalworking planning square as the site is t h
be identifiable, although it is possible planned. So far six samples have u process, perhaps recycling. m 25 25 that some gaps in the wall lines could been processed and they have Graeme Young b e
Bamburgh Research Project r l As well as the finds, the remains of5 a represent merely an absence of identified both hammer scale (the a 5 n possible building have been surviving evidence for a more flakes and detritus produced by d
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0 0 discovered. Fragments of small- to continuous wall. Immediately north- blacksmithing) and small spheres 6 3 Latest developments at the National Trust’s newest Northumberland property 100 100 t is one of the North East’s stonework will be stored at The Brewhouse so that the smell of fermentation was 95 95 architectural masterpieces and Seaton Delaval and an The estate brewhouse is named carried away by the prevailing south-
l I l Seaton Delaval Hall 75 thanks to a tremendous fundraising interesting exercise of spot 75 on an the 1808 estate plan but westerly wind. Beer was brewed a from the walled garden to the house shrubbery, either a feature which was H effort Seaton Delaval Hall was saved which piece fits where on the old does not fit easily with the layout of between October and March because
l at Seaton Delaval. The view developed between 1808 and 1818, or the pleasure ground and the other
a for the public to enjoy forever in photographs awaits us. it was not possible to cool the
v December 2009, with the doors eastwards from the (now demolished) was shown by more representative early 18th century buildings and it is fermentations in the summer months.
25 a 25 l east wing is described in the 1770s… plan drawing. possible that it may pre-date the
e opening to the public in May 2010. Archaeological recording during Here are several walks disposed with 5 D Since then work to improve access to new access and car park works 5 present house. Its utilitarian purpose Hot off the press!
n the hall and on-site facilities has Initial evaluation trenching was great taste, some of which are shaded The First Edition Ordnance Survey has been masked by the addition of Investigation at roof level on the west 0 o 0 t entailed works which have revealed undertaken within the walled garden as well by lofty old trees as plan is the first really accurate larger an ornamental brick façade and it has wing revealed a tantalising boarded a scale map of the pleasure ground and e more about the history of the house to investigate the impact of modern plantations, through which various been much altered over the years. In up doorway to the small turret behind
S vistas are cut, some of them being reflects the shift of emphasis in the and its grounds. Alongside this, work land use of the site (used as a market the mid 20th century it served as the the pediment. A picture taken through : t terminated by elegant stone buildings, pleasure ground from east to west
s on cataloguing the contents of the garden in the 20th century) and to estate joiner’s shop and the large a crack in the boards revealed some
u and others opening delightful following the 1822 fire which r house has produced further valuable confirm the original extent of the opening in the north wall was added surviving mechanism of a clock.
T prospects to the sea towards the east, effectively destroyed the east wing and evidence in the form of pictures and central pool and to establish the to improve access, and it was later Further investigation for structural l
a plans. degree of survival of path surfaces. greatly heightened by ships which are rendered the central block roofless restored by the late Lord Hastings to purposes later in the year required n frequently sailing in sight of the and uninhabited. Detailed gardening is o This was followed by a watching brief house a collection of wheeled access to the space and the boards i t windows (Hutchinson 1777, A View of now developed in the fenced area on vehicles. Several timbers from the old
a A “missing” element at Seaton during key stages of the ground were removed. The clock mechanism the western side of the main vista, N Delaval re-discovered disturbance by TWM Archaeology. Northumberland p.332). roof have been retained in the looked early and interesting so Keith A large heap of stone and soil which This work revealed path surfaces adjacent to the still inhabited west present roof structure. Scobie-Youngs was invited to take a lay on the approach to the walled which tally with mapped features Although there are some 18th century wing. look in more detail and give advice on 3 garden has been removed to enable within the pleasure ground so we writings and views of the house, an Clues to its original purpose can be conservation. He was full of access to a new car park. Discovered have had chance to learn a little more 1808 estate plan is the earliest The Second Edition Ordnance Survey seen in the surviving raised plinth enthusiasm about the clock which amongst the heap was stonework about their nature and extent. The available depiction of the layout of the plan reflects the increasingly moth- which stands above the general floor appears to be of the right period for from the original monumental new access route narrowly missed 18th century pleasure grounds. eaten appearance of the original level at the south end of the building the initial fitting out of the house and entrance to the estate – Vanbrugh’s the footprint of the now demolished pleasure ground plantings Ð trees now and which probably formed the base has clearly been out of commission massive gate piers, which marked the east wing of the house but the The plan shows a formal terrace to perhaps approaching 170 years old for a boiler. The substantial brick for a long time and appears to have start of the West Avenue and the proximity of the building was the east of the east wing, which has and giving the appearance of an open chimney stack which took the smoke little wear suggesting a limited processional approach to the house confirmed by a spread of demolition developed into a broad sweep (of woodland rather than a tightly from the boiler fire away remains working life. His report is awaited with for 18th century visitors. Old material. gravel?) named the Stable Yards. controlled 18th century “Wilderness”. against the outside of the south wall. interest! photographs show clearly how This, together with the Coach House The general layout of the elaborate, sophisticated and large the The discovery of a linear spread of and the Brew House are effectively Partnership working with English components of an estate brewhouse Photographs and Illustrations pillars were. They are essentially full rounded stones across one trench screened by a deep belt of deciduous Heritage can be seen at Traquair, near renaissance aedicules with sculpture (and which continued as a visible trees, which would also help to The English Heritage archaeological Innerleithen, and a visit there towards Photo: Work on clearing the stone niche between attached columns on earthwork) produced pottery thought provide shelter from the north- survey team at York is supporting the the end of 2010 made a lot more heap the west (public face) and pilasters on initial inspection to be late easterlies! A walk is shown tucked development of a survey brief for sense of what remains at Seaton Photo: Work in the walled garden on the east (park) face, and medieval in date. This is particularly into the plantings heading for the Seaton Delaval. A visit by Stewart Delaval. Photo: Archaeological work on the pedimented cornices. They even had useful as it tends to confirm Stewart north-east bastion and the little door Ainsworth in 2010 has confirmed the line of the new path surmounting plinth blocks Ð possibly Ainsworth’s conclusions that the site leading out of the pleasure ground good survival of earthworks in and The brewing of large quantities of Detail from 1808 estate plan (at to support armorial crests. The wing preserves earthworks which may and into the walled gardens. around the pleasure grounds together beer was an essential part of the Seaton Delaval) walls to either side of “The Pillars” at represent an earlier landscape (see with a strong indication of clustering estate economy as beer was the Detail from 1818 estate plan (at Avenue Head were modified in the below). Another estate plan of 1818 shows which suggests remains of an drink of choice when the quality of Seaton Delaval) early 20th century to provide safe much the same arrangement on the extensive medieval settlement are water supplies was uncertain. It is no Extract from First Edition Ordnance pedestrian access to either side of Assessment of the pleasure eastern side of the pleasure grounds focused on the early church and accident that half the cellar provision Survey 1/2500 plan. c.1860 the roadway and the pillars grounds but makes a distinction in the supposed castle site. A similar of the house was devoted to beer! Extract from Second Edition themselves were finally removed in An assessment of the eastern side of plantings between the larger trees investigative approach is being taken Ordnance Survey 1/2500 plan. c.1890 1938. Only the stubs of the wing the pleasure grounds was carried out framing the eastwards vista and a with the fabric of the buildings on the The brewhouse was perhaps sited Photo: Brewhouse external chimney
d more detailed planting Ð presumably a site with the help of Adam Menuge. n walls remain in situ today. The to help plan a proposed new path away from the house and to the east stack a
100 l 100 r Photo: The clock mechanism e b
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u 1 2 3 h t 75 r 75 Harry Beamish o N
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4 6 Latest developments at the National Trust’s newest Northumberland property 100 100 The Brewhouse carried away by the prevailing south- 95 The estate brewhouse is 95 westerly wind. Beer was brewed N
Seaton Delaval Hall a 75 named on the 1808 estate between October and March because 75 t
shrubbery, either a feature which was plan but does not fit easily with the i it was not possible to cool the o developed between 1808 and 1818, or layout of the pleasure ground and the fermentations in the summer months. n a
was shown by more representative other early 18th century buildings and l
25 plan drawing. T 25 it is possible that it may pre-date the Hot off the press! r u
5 present house. Its utilitarian purpose Investigation at roof level on the west s 5 t
The First Edition Ordnance Survey has been masked by the addition of : wing revealed a tantalising boarded 0 plan is the first really accurate larger an ornamental brick façade and it has S 0
up doorway to the small turret behind e
scale map of the pleasure ground and been much altered over the years. In the pediment. A picture taken through a t reflects the shift of emphasis in the the mid 20th century it served as the a crack in the boards revealed some o n
pleasure ground from east to west estate joiner’s shop and the large surviving mechanism of a clock. D
following the 1822 fire which effectively opening in the north wall was added Further investigation for structural e l destroyed the east wing and rendered to improve access, and it was later purposes later in the year required a v
the central block roofless and restored by the late Lord Hastings to access to the space and the boards a l
uninhabited. Detailed gardening is now house a collection of wheeled were removed. The clock mechanism H
developed in the fenced area on the vehicles. Several timbers from the old looked early and interesting so Keith a l western side of the main vista, roof have been retained in the present Scobie-Youngs was invited to take a l adjacent to the still inhabited west roof structure. look in more detail and give advice on wing. conservation. He was full of 3 Clues to its original purpose can be enthusiasm about the clock which The Second Edition Ordnance Survey seen in the surviving raised plinth appears to be of the right period for plan reflects the increasingly moth- which stands above the general floor the initial fitting out of the house and eaten appearance of the original level at the south end of the building has clearly been out of commission pleasure ground plantings Ð trees now and which probably formed the base for a long time and appears to have perhaps approaching 170 years old for a boiler. The substantial brick little wear suggesting a limited and giving the appearance of an open chimney stack which took the smoke working life. His report is awaited with woodland rather than a tightly from the boiler fire away remains interest! controlled 18th century “Wilderness”. against the outside of the south wall. The general layout of the components Partnership working with English of an estate brewhouse can be seen Photographs Heritage at Traquair, near Innerleithen, and a 1. Brewhouse external chimney The English Heritage archaeological visit there towards the end of 2010 stack survey team at York is supporting the made a lot more sense of what 2. Stone boundary feature found on development of a survey brief for remains at Seaton Delaval. the line of the proposed new path Seaton Delaval. A visit by Stewart 3. Work to clean and record the Ainsworth in 2010 has confirmed the The brewing of large quantities of stone heap, the remains of the good survival of earthworks in and beer was an essential part of the avenue gate piers around the pleasure grounds together estate economy as beer was the drink 4. Topsoil stripping in the walled with a strong indication of clustering of choice when the quality of water garden which suggests remains of an supplies was uncertain. It is no 5. Archaeological work reveals the extensive medieval settlement are accident that half the cellar provision line of a path with the walled focused on the early church and of the house was devoted to beer! garden supposed castle site. A similar 6: The turret clock mechanism investigative approach is being taken The brewhouse was perhaps sited with the fabric of the buildings on the away from the house and to the east
Harry Beamish A r
site with the help of Adam Menuge. so that the smell of fermentation was The National Trust c h
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y World War 2 Inventory 75 75 d In 2009 the Northumberland Coast AONB possible and at other important locations around Dunstanburgh Castle, on the u t commissioned ARS Ltd to carry out a such as road junctions, railway crossings shore at Boulmer and as single instances S rapid assessment of the remains of and other strategically important in Scremerston, Goswick, Beal, Budle and s
25 e Second World War structures in the locations. Alnmouth. 25 r
u AONB. The field work for the study was 5 t 5
c carried out in January 2010 and the report What is also evident from the AONB Static Defences u
r delivered in early February 2010. study is the wide range of forms these Originally, static defences would have 0 t 0 structures take. While the UK’s wartime been deployed all along the S
y The main objective of the study of the government issued detailed plans for a Northumberland Coast. These would have r World War 2 remains in their area was to range of pillboxes to perform a variety of taken the form of obstacles constructed of a t i
l record, survey and photograph remains of tasks, these were often modified locally, scaffolding, wood and concrete that were i any type that are associated with the either by the military engineers planning designed to slow and stop the progress of M
: military fortification of the coast between their construction or by the contractors any invasion force landing on the
B 1939 and 1945. The study examined all building them. In the AONB there are Northumberland shore. N 138 sq km of the AONB and gathered 141 thirty-seven pillboxes all of differing O records including all types of remains construction and size. Today the concrete elements are almost A
t from static beach defences to defensive exclusively the one feature to survive s structures. Defensive Fieldworks (although scaffolding obstacles have a
o At the time of their construction pillboxes previously been recorded at Alnmouth).
C Pillboxes These defensive blocks (generally 1m or
and static beach obstacles (see below)
3 d Thirty-seven pillboxes were recorded formed an integrated scheme of defence. 4ft cubes of concrete) were designed to n during the 2010 study, these structures stop the progress of enemy vehicles and
a These manned and unmanned structures l
r are the most prominent and well- were glued together with defensive are a common sight along the coast. The e recognised World War 2 structures on the nature of erosion and movement of sand b fieldworks that took the form of trenches,
m coast. This group includes a wide range foxholes and weapons pits. Such works means that they can appear and
u of structures that performed a variety of might be described as earthworks and as disappear almost overnight but there are h t differing functions. such have not survived well over the 60 several locations where they can be r
o years since the the end of the war as regularly seen including at Alnmouth,
N While the perceived wisdom is that many they are generally easy to fill up or Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh. The best of the pillboxes in the coastal area are of plough out. The AONB study has surviving set are at Goswick however, in the ‘lozenge’ type this study has revealed however that the survival of the dunes in front of Goswick Golf Club. demonstrated a broad range of forms and these structures is more widespread than types constructed both of cast concrete, previously thought in marginal areas, The full report is available to be read at shuttered either with wood or corrugated such as dune land or on the edge of field the Northumberland Conservation HER or iron, or constructed of sand bags filled margins, but in inland areas they have on the AONB Website. with concrete, stacked, soaked and cast largely disappeared. The report raises in place. the threat to these features from Summary of the continued agricultural improvement and ARS Ltd report by CB Pillboxes in the AONB are generally well coastal erosion. preserved and are located both at tactical Photos - remains of a concrete sandbag locations along the shore, at points where Concentrations of these features have pillbox at the north end of Goswick Sands access to and from the shore might be been found to survive in the areas d n a
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Unusual Hollow Ways u 75 75 n May of 2010 I was taken to see carved through the local bedrock e s
some unusual hollow ways at the far (photo 3). 1 h
I i l
western edge of the Dues Hill Farm l
25 Scouting around, my local guide (Ian F 25
estate, around 12 miles to the west of a r
5 Rothbury near Holystone in the Glendinning) pointed us to a m 5
Coquet Valley. Initially presenting beautifully carved, but broken stone :
0 themselves as a very impressive set of trough (photo 4). We soon found the C 0 o
‘hollow ways’ (photo 1) typical of the remains of several others which q drove roads seen on the slopes and perhaps point to the true origin of u e t
crests of hills throughout the area these features not only as routes of d including just to the south of this site transport but as quarries presumably a l (photo 2), it soon became clear that of late medieval or post-medieval e these features were something more. date. 2 Some of the hollow ways certainly The site is another example of the were just that, reaching an average breadth and depth of the un-recorded depth of around 2 metres and with the archaeology in Northumberland and expected U-shaped profile, however will provide an interesting survey the majority in this area were deeper, project for one of the County’s some as much as 3 metres deep and growing number of volunteer groups with considerably more vertical sides in the future. which seemed in places to have been CB
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n A Mill on the Coquet 75 75 o
t he remains of buildings, livestock substantial well-worked masonry wheel. The upstream site may be some n i Tenclosures and rig and furrow are blocks in the bank, together with form of water control system, with the w l all evidence that the Cheviot uplands some restraining timbers. Next to large timber artefact on the riverbed
25 A 25 were once much busier than they are these, in the river, are two horizontal being a sluice gate or section of a dam. : l l 5 i today. In the summer of 2010, timbers and a post driven into the Our search for a millpond has been 5 M
members of Coquetdale Community riverbed; one of these timbers unsuccessful but, given the gradient of t 0 0 o Archaeology took advantage of a quiet contains the remains of a large the river and the rocky banks, it would o
f day on the ranges to start surveying mortice. Photographs were sent to make sense to create a head of water
m what may be the remains of a long Damian Goodburn, a timber specialist by damming the river itself. Indeed, y l house on the south bank of the Coquet at the Museum of London, whose there are deep pools just above the S at Windyhaugh, about 10 kilometres view is that this is typical of the early upstream site. upstream from Alwinton. high medieval period, with the two Grants from the Council for British holes at the end being the overcuts of Archaeology and the Society of A real bonus was that we located what a spoon auger used to cut the end Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne may be the remains of a medieval grain of such a joint so that the rest of have helped us get radiocarbon dates fulling mill about 200 metres the timber can be chopped out with a for the timbers. There is good downstream from where we were twybill. correlation with the documentary working. The presence of this mill has evidence from Newminster Abbey and been suspected for some time; an The upstream site is simpler, but when combined with other data, such entry in the Newminster chartulary equally interesting. There are two as the earliest date for fulling mills in dating to 1226 contains a licence for a posts in the bank and a much larger this country, it looks as if the millpond, while David Dippie Dixon timber construction on the riverbed. downstream site originated between claimed that in the 19th century “the This consists of at least five large AD1175 and AD1225. The upstream foundations of an ancient building beams with a cross-member that also site Ð the possible dam or sluice Ð is were discernible when the water was has the remains of mortice and tenon probably a bit later at between AD1226 low and clear”. But its actual position joints. Preliminary investigation has and AD1270. has been lost for 100 years. shown this to be a substantial piece of work, perhaps weighing a few English Heritage and the Heritage Fulling was a key part of cloth hundred kilograms. We have Lottery Fund have been very generous production, both removing oil and conducted extensive photography of in funding two seasons of excavation. consolidating the fibres. the site, both above and below water These have taken place mostly in the and, with the help of Richard Carlton, river bank so far but, depending on the Clooth that cometh fro the wevyng is have used a total station to conduct a water level and temperature, it may be noght comly to were. Til it be fulled site survey. possible to explore the river itself Ð one under foot or in fullyng stokes of our members has offered his Piers Plowman Ð William Langland. It seems possible that the services (with a wet suit) to explore the downstream site represents the pools upstream. Watch this space. Remains were found at two sites lying remains of a small mill built out over about 60m apart. Downstream are the river, perhaps with a horizontal David Jones Coquetdale Community Archaeology d n a
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95 The following list contains details of Beadnell 76 Ravensdowne Road: 95
archaeological assessments, The Haven, Beadnell: archaeological test-pit evaluation. A 75 s 75
evaluations and other work carried out archaeological desk based CFA Archaeology for Northern s in Northumberland in 2010-11. They e assessment. TWM Archaeology for Southern Ltd (event 14682) s
mostly result from requests made by idpartnership northern (event s i n
25 the County Archaeologist for further 14509) Railway Street: watching brief. TWM g 25
research to be carried out ahead of Archaeology for Northumbrian t 5 h 5 planning applications being Watching brief at Beadnell Water (event 14689) e
P 0 determined. Copies of these reports Campsite. Archaeological Research 0 a
are available for consultation in the Services for Lindisfarne Leisure Ltd Berwick Infirmary: historic s t
Archaeology Section at County Hall. (event 14676) environment desk-based appraisal. :
Northern Archaeological Associates 1 Akeld Bellingham for DTZ on behalf of Northumbria Lanton Quarry: report on an Redesmouth Farm, Redesmouth: Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust archaeological excavation. watching brief report. Northern (event 14692) Archaeological Research Services Archaeological Associates for Mr for Tarmac Northern Ltd (event Scott (event 14538) Birtley 14496) Green Rigg Wind Farm: Demesne Farm, Bellingham: archaeological watching brief. Alnwick archaeological monitoring. Northern Archaeological Services Durham 3 Installation of an Electricity Cable at Archaeological Associates for Mr University for Wind Prospect Hotspur Street and Bondgate and Mrs Telfer (event 14539) Developments Ltd (event 14650) Without. Bamburgh Research Project for Power On Connections (event Berwick-upon-Tweed Blyth 14543) Archaeological evaluation at the Plessey System: archaeological ‘Steps of Grace’ site, Berwick-upon- watching brief: Area 2. TWM Ancroft Tweed. Bamburgh Research Archaeology for Northumbrian Excavation of Bird Scrapes, Beal: Project for Community Renewable Water (event 14564) report of archaeological monitoring Energy Ltd (event 14474) and recording. Bamburgh Research Historic Environment Desk-Based Project for the Environment Agency Spittal Point, Spittal, Berwick-upon- Assessment: South West Newsham. (event 14580) Tweed: archaeological desk-based Northern Archaeological Associates assessment. TWM Archaeology for for Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners Ashington Box 22 Ltd (event 14478) (event 14668) Archaeological watching brief at the Ashington Mine Pipeline Diversion. The Former Blackburn and Price Cheviotside Archaeological Research Services Site, Silver Street, Berwick-upon- An Archaeological Survey of for United Utilities (event 14686) Tweed: historic building report. Threestoneburn Forest. CgMs Consulting for Lindisfarne Archaeological Research Services Bamburgh Homes Ltd (event 14487) for Scottish Woodlands (event Mizen Head: archaeological 14693) watching brief. The Archaeological Land at Spittal Point: Practice for Country and Coastal archaeological evaluation. North Corbridge Homes Group (event 14546) Pennines Archaeology for Royal 7 Trinity Terrace, Corbridge: Carleton Estates (event 14579) archaeological watching brief. The Land adjacent to Mizen Head Hotel: Archaeological Practice for Mr
archaeological strip and record Pier Road Maltings: archaeological Farrar (event 14528) A r c
watching brief. The Archaeological watching brief. North Pennines h
100 a 100
Practice for Country Homes and Archaeology for C and V 2 Princes Street, Corbridge: e o l 95 Estates (event 14578) Developments Ltd/Box 22 (event archaeological monitoring. o 95 g y
14632) Archaeological Services Durham I
75 n 75
Bavington University for County Life Corbridge N
Kirkharle Wind Farm: archaeological John Dewar's Granary Ltd (event 14532) o r t h
evaluation. Archaeological Services Development, Berwick-upon- u 25 Durham University for Arcus m 25 Tweed: report of archaeological 39 Roman Way: archaeological b e
Renewable Energy Consulting (event monitoring and recording. watching brief. The Archaeological r l
5 a 5 14665) Bamburgh Research Project for Practice for Mr and Mrs Norton n d
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0 Berwick-upon-Tweed Conservation (event 14536) 0 6
Trust (event 14641) 9 3 0 5 25 75 95 100 0 5 25 75 95 100
70 / Archaeology In Northumberland Assessing the Past: 2 East Bedlington Craster Cramlington Corbridge (continued) Project: archaeological desk-based North BlythRenewable Energy (event 14533) University forBanksProperty Ltd Archaeological ServicesDurham Cambois: geophysicalsurvey. Land adjacenttoValdBirn Factory, (event 14501) University forEnglishHeritage,2009 Archaeological ServicesDurham archaeological monitoring. Dunstanburgh Castle: for BalfourBeatty(event14633) based assessment.SLRConsulting Cramlington: archaeologicaldesk Northumbria ECC,East Build (event14597) The ArchaeologicalPracticeforMoy Buildings: historicbuildingrecording. Damdykes FarmHouseand (Europe) Ltd(event14473) Archaeology forSinclairKnightMerz brief report.NorthPennines Windmill IndustrialEstate:watching Developments Ltd(event14670) Archaeological PracticeforIsos archaeological watchingbrief.The Trinity Court,RomanWay: (event 14647) Northumberland CountyCouncil Construct Archaeologyfor signing improvements.Pre- roundabout (B6318/A68junction) Watching briefonStagshaw 14621) University forCEElectricUK(event Archaeological ServicesDurham archaeological monitoring. Princes Street,Corbridge: Ashworth (event14577) Archaeological PracticeLtdforMr archaeological watchingbrief.The Cow Lane,Corbridge: (event 14541) Northumberland CountyCouncil Pre-Construct Archaeologyfor Watching briefonCorbridgeBridge. Ellington andLinton Ford Greenhead Harbottle Hartburn Hartleyburn Haydon Property Ltd(event14699) Durham UniversityforBanks stage 2.ArchaeologicalServices Cambois: archaeologicalevaluation Land adjacenttoValdBirnFactory, 14567) W AFairhurst&Partners(event assessment. TWMArchaeologyfor Developments (event14681) Archaeology forBanks based assessment.TWM site, WiddringtonStation:desk Ferneybeds proposedopencast 14598 and14599) for Ford&EtalEstates(events survey. Pre-ConstructArchaeology assessment andtopographic archaeological desk-based Ford MossColliery,Village: Vindolanda Trust(event14638) land atCarvoran,Greenhead.The Archaeological watchingbriefon (event 14589) Northumberland CountyCouncil Williams Archaeologyfor during drainageworks.Alan archaeological watchingbrief Greenhead Cycleway,Carvoran: 14500) and MrsWaddington,2009(event Archaeological PracticeLtdforMr building recording.The Priory Farm,Holystone:historic (event 14544) Archaeological PracticeforNEDL archaeological watchingbrief.The St Andrew’sChurch: 14497) 2009/2010. PeterRyder(event archaeological watchingbrief and archaeologicalassessment/ Ash CleughFarmhouse:historical Archaeology for LangleyCastle watching brief. NorthPennines Langley Castle: archaeological Heddon-on-the-Wall Hebron Electricity Alliance (event14662) Ian FarmerAssociates forEastern archaeology report -tower4ZY458. 4ZY StellaWestÐEcclesOHL: 14661) for EasternElectricityAlliance (event and 4ZY461.IanFarmerAssociates archaeology report-towers4ZY460 4ZY StellaWestÐEcclesOHL: Electricity Alliance(event14659) Ian FarmerAssociatesforEastern archaeology report-tower4ZY454. 4ZY StellaWestÐEcclesOHL: Electricity Alliance(event14658) Farmer AssociatesforEastern archaeology report-towerYG74.Ian YG BlythÐStellaWestOHL: Associates Architects(event14548) Archaeology forLancaster archaeological watchingbrief.AOC Stable Cottage,Rudchester: Associates Architects(event14547) Archaeology GroupforLancaster archaeological watchingbrief.AOC Rudchester ManorandBarn: 14507) _space forCloseHouseHotel(event Durham Universityonbehalfof recording. ArchaeologicalServices Stables, CloseHouse:building (event 14688) Northern ArchaeologicalAssociates survey. GSBProspectionfor Northgate Hospital:geophysical (event 14687) Associates forMottMacDonald evaluation. NorthernArchaeological Northgate Hospital:archaeological Northumbrian Water(event14542) brief. TWMArchaeologyfor Hebron: archaeologicalwatching (event 14513) Northumberland CountyCouncil behalf ofAECOMfor Services DurhamUniversityon geophysical survey.Archaeological Morpeth NorthernBypass: Hotel (event14683) 0 5 25 75 95 100 0 5 25 75 95 100 Heddon-on-the-Wall (continued) Construction of domestic dwellings Rudchester Farm and Roman Fort: at West House, Longframlington: Wingates Moor Farm Wind Farm: 100 archaeological assessment and archaeological monitoring and archaeology and cultural heritage 100
95 historic buildings survey. Mouchel for recording. Bamburgh Research desk based assessment. WYG 95
Northumberland County Council Project for W B G Fletcher (event Environment for British A
75 s 75
(event 14690 and 14691) 14640) Telecommunication Plc (event s 14678) e s
Henshaw Meldon s i Eastbanks Bothy, Gallowshieldrigg: n
25 Todd Hill Wind Farm, Morpeth: Ponteland g 25
watching brief. The Archaeological archaeological evaluation. YG Blyth Ð Stella West OHL: t 5 h 5 Practice for Mr Mitchell (event Archaeological Services Durham archaeology report - tower YG48. e
14552) P 0 University for Arcus Renewable Ian Farmer Associates for Eastern 0 a
Energy Consulting Ltd (event Electricity Alliance (event 14656) s t
Holy Island 14498) :
The Rocket Field: heritage statement YG Blyth Ð Stella West OHL: 3 of significance. Archaeological Milfield archaeology report - tower YG66. Services Durham University for Milfield Threefolds North Ian Farmer Associates for Eastern Natural England (event 14573) excavations: interim statement. R Electricity Alliance (event 14657) Miket and B Johnson (event 14596) St Mary’s Church: archaeological 4ZY Stella West Ð Eccles OHL: evaluation and watching brief. The Newbiggin by the Sea archaeology report - tower 4ZY431. Archaeological Practice for St Mary’s Land near St Bartholomew’s Ian Farmer Associates for Eastern Parochial Church Council (event Church, Church Point. North Electricity Alliance (event 14660) 3 14604-5) Pennines Archaeology for Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Heritage Prudhoe Horsley Partnership Ltd (event 14619) Former West Lodge, Prudhoe Hall: Land at Northside Farm, Harlow Hill. archaeological watching brief. TWM The Archaeological Practice for Mr Newbrough and Fourstones Archaeology for Northumberland, Lockey (event 14620) Carraw Stables, Carraw: Tyne and Wear NHS Trust (event archaeological watching brief. Alan 14581) Welton Farm, near Harlow Hill: Williams Archaeology for JSA building recording. North Pennines Dodds & Son (event 14588) Rochester and Byrness Archaeology for Tims Morris Ltd High Rochester Roman Fort: (event 14643) Newton-on-the-Moor and Swarland archaeological evaluation. The Newton Greens Farmhouse: Archaeological Practice for Messrs Humshaugh archaeological watching brief. P Corbett & Co (event 14671) Walwick Hall: archaeological Ryder (event 14499) monitoring during installation of Rothley with Hollinghill NEDL cables and associated works. Hartlaw Cottages: tree-ring analysis Fallowlees, Ewesley: watching brief. Alan Williams Archaeology for G of timbers. English Heritage (event Northern Archaeological Associates Wylie (event 14570) 14554) for The National Trust (event 14667)
Knaresdale with Kirkhaugh North Sunderland and Seahouses Seaton Valley Whitlow Bastle (Whitlow III), Castle Seafield Caravan Park, Seahouses: Land at Seghill Caravan Park, Nook: archaeological watching brief archaeological desk based Seghill: archaeological evaluation. during developments. Alan Williams assessment. Archaeo-Environment North Pennines Archaeology for Mr Archaeology for Mr and Mrs Edgar for Anthony Walker and Partners M Burke (event 14642) (event 14571) (event 14553) Shotley Low Quarter
Kyloe Archaeological Building Recording Boundary Lane Wind Farm, near A r c
East Kyloe Tower: archaeological of Thorburn’s Yard, South Street, Whittonstall: geophysical survey. h
100 a 100
recording report. AOC Archaeology Seahouses. Archaeological Archaeological Services Durham e o l 95 Group for Natural England (event Research Services for Hush Homes University for Wind Prospect o 95 g
14514) Ltd (event 14639) Developments Ltd (event 14556) y
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Longframlington Nunnykirk Boundary Lane wind farm, near o r t Laundry building at Embleton Hall Wingates Moor Wind Farm: Whittonstall: archaeological h u 25 Hotel: archaeological recording. geophysical survey. Archaeological evaluation. Archaeological Services m 25 b e
Archaeological Services Durham Services WYAS for WYG Durham University for Wind r l
5 a 5
University for Mr and Mrs Lacroix Environment Planning Transport Prospect Developments Ltd (event n d
(event 14506) Ltd (event 14669) 14655) /
0 0 7 1 underground hide.Inthecentral, ormain,roomthereare may havebeen ameansofgettingmessages intothe connected to a largerundergroundglazed pipesystemthat In theentrance roomtherearetwometal tubes,whichare are now missingorin averyrotten condition. had spaces where wooden lintels would have been butthese items such as shelving had been secured. The doorways all concrete paving slabs. All the walls show signs of where into another vertical shaft.Thefloor wascovered with the escaperoom anda14-metreescape tunnelwhichexits entrance room, whichleadstothecentral roomandthento has settled.Theverticalentrance shaftopensintothe is theoutlineofunderground elementswheretheearth plastered andpaintedwhite. Allthatisvisibleonthesurface interlinked rooms,builtofconcrete blocksandmostly The hideconsistsofanunderground buildingwiththree enemy positionstothepeopleinsidebase. which wouldhavebeenusedbylocalstopassmessages of has anaerialstillexistinginatreenearbyandtubes bases inthevicinity.AssuchHeiferlawisrelativelylarge, would havebeenusedtocoordinatetheactivitiesof other The Heiferlawbasewasoneofthesezerostationsand operation ofabout30miles. underground hide.Eachzerostationwouldhavearadius of station or‘zerostation’wouldbeconstructedinan relay themtothemainmilitaryheadquarters.Thiscontrol would becollatedbyalocalcontrolstationwhothen transmitter, knownasanout-station.Thetransmittedreports operatives, whowouldhaveaccesstoasecretradio These reportswerethencollectedbythenextlevelof concealed ‘letterboxes’(underrocks,inholestreesetc). reports basedonwhattheyhadseen,whichwouldbeleftin nurses andvicars.Theywouldpreparesimpleintelligence them relativelyfreemovement,suchasdoctors,district Special Dutiessectionrecruitedpeoplewhoseworkallowed intelligence aboutthedeploymentofenemyforces.The have beenresponsibleforgainingandcommunicating Duties section.Intheeventofaninvasion,thisbranchwould the advancingenemylines,andsecondwasSpecial Units: thefirstwasestablishedtocarryoutsabotagebehind Historically, thereweretwodiscretebranchesoftheAuxiliary atmosphere wassafe. carried outwithgasmonitoringequipmenttoensurethe private landandnotaccessibletothepublic.Thesurveywas Heiferlaw remainsinverygoodcondition.Thebaseison 70-year AuxiliaryUnit(SpecialDuties)ZeroStationat and althoughmostareinaverypoorstateofsurvival,the There areabout15orsoofthesebasesinNorthumberland in 1940. in theeventofasuccessfulinvasionUnitedKingdom have beenusedbysmall,speciallytrainedunitsofsoldiers Bases. Theseweresecretundergroundbunkersthatwould recently turnedtheirattentiontoAuxiliaryUnitOperational World WarTwostructuresinthecounty,theyhavemore Northumberland Estates.Followingresearchongeneral Anderson andIanHallwithpermissionofthe recorded in2010atHeiferlaw,nearAlnwickbyColin An unusualandraresurvivalfromWorldWarTwowas 0 5 25 75 95 100 0 5 25 75 95 100
72 / Archaeology In Northumberland Assessing the Past: 4 Whittington Whittingham Whalton Warden Warkworth Thirston Stannington Stamfordham Durham University forxsite monitoring. Archaeological Services Hallington Hall: archaeological 14491) Project forAMSAssociates (event assessment. BamburghResearch site, Alnwick:deskbased Swarland BrickCompanyextraction 14527) Archaeology forMrIrwin(event assessment. AlanWilliams (event 14537) Practice forButlerHaighAssociates recording. TheArchaeological Frankham Farm:historicbuilding Environment Agency(event14701) Research Projectforthe monitoring andrecording.Bamburgh habitat creation:archaeological Castles Dike,Warkworthintertidal 14545) for WarkworthParishCouncil(event 2010. TheArchaeologicalPractice historic buildingsrecording2008- archaeological excavationand Church ofStLawrence: (event 14702) Research ServicesforMrDawe Thirston Mill.Archaeological Archaeological watchingbrief, Mr andMrsDawe(event14486) significance. CgMsConsultingfor Thirston Mill,Felton:statementof Prudhoe (event14511) Develop onbehalfofThompson’s Archaeological PracticeforBHP archaeological assessment.The Well HillSurfaceMine: (event 14646) Northumberland CountyCouncil Construct Archaeologyfor improvements, HarlowHill.Pre- Watching briefonB6318signing Bonas HillFarm:standingbuildings Wylam Wooler Widdrington Village (event 14551) University forEnvironmentAgency Archaeological ServicesDurham Oakwood Burn:geophysicalsurvey. 14477) Silvercoin InvestmentsLtd(event North PenninesArchaeologyfor archaeological evaluationreport. South Road,Wooler: Land atFerguson’sTransportYard 14476) Silvercoin InvestmentsLtd(event North PenninesArchaeologyfor Wooler: deskbasedassessment. Transport Premises,SouthRoad, The FormerFerguson(Redpath) for UKCoalLtd(event14700) watching brief.TWMArchaeology archaeological excavationand Steadsburn OpencastSite: Abraham (event14530and14531) Archaeology forMrandMrs mitigation works.AlanWilliams Shellbraes Farm:archaeological 14508) architecture LLPforFBarratt(event 1 North EastFindsLiaisonOfficer,along prehistoric finds,DrRobCollinsthe an expertonflintsandother by DrRobYoung(EnglishHeritage) The Flodden500teamwassupported the battle. just thosefromthe16thcenturyand artefacts ofalltypesanddates,not the teamfullyexpectedtobeshown the post-medievalandmodernperiod, history, themedievalperiodandalso through thewholeofprehistory,early the mesolithic(7000+yearsago) remains recordedinthearea-from Given therangeofarchaeological events ofSeptember1513. the village,whichmightrelateto gardens orinthefieldssurrounding they mighthavefound,eitherintheir to comeforwardwithanyartefacts (1513) aroundthevillageofBranxton, living closetothebattlefieldofFlodden Roadshow wastoencouragepeople late January2011.Theaimofthe held atBranxtonVillageHallduring but cancelledduetoheavysnow,was A scheduled forNovemberof2010, n ArtefactRoadshow,originally Artefact Roadshow Flodden 500:Arc projectiles fromtheScottishn diameter andweretypicalof being eitherca4or6inches were oftwoprimarytypes fields aroundBranxton.Theses battle andwerefoundinthe these tenareattributedtothe presented foridentificaiton.Of unrecorded cannonballswere Fourteen previously area. reported findsforthebroader providing awiderangeofnewly examined bytheexperts Scotish Borderswere Northumberland andthe from allovernorthern event collectionsofartefacts Over thefourhoursof other artefacts. and post-medievalpottery provided expertiseinmedieval Archaeological Service)who John Nolan(NorthernCounties and alsoJennyVaughan Prehisotric andSaxonfinds Roger Miketanexpertin with severalofhisstudents, 0 5 25 75 95 100 0 5 25 75 95 100 haeology 6. Leadtradeweightfrom 5. BeadsfromLowick Beadnell 3. Romanartefactsfrom Branxton 2. 6Inchcannonballfrom Branxton 1. 4Inchcannonballfrom of Seahouses. Brooches fromthecoastsouth collection ofbronzeRoman weight fromBarmooranda Lowick, afinemedievaltrade prehistoric (ironage)beadsfrom well asafinecollectionoflate medieval potteryandflintsas prehistoric, medievalandpost- fields includingspinlewhorls, artefacts typicalofthearea’s indentification included Other findsboughtfor guns werereported. representertive oftheEnglish inch leadcannonballs smaller Scottishguns)orthe2 balls (againtypicalofthe none ofthe3inchleadcannon guns of1513.Interestingly
Flodden 500: Archaeology 2 100 100
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n Artefact Roadshow, originally with several of his students, Roger Other finds brought for identification w i Ascheduled for November of 2010, Miket an expert in Prehistoric and included spindle whorls, prehistoric, c k
but cancelled due to heavy snow, was Saxon finds and Jenny Vaughan and medieval and post-medieval pottery, held at Branxton Village Hall during25 John Nolan (Northern Counties flints, as well as a fine collection of U 25 p o late January 2011. The aim of the 5 Archaeological Service) who provided Iron Age beads from Lowick, a fine 5 n
Roadshow was to encourage people expertise in medieval and post- medieval trade weight, made of lead, T 0 0 living close to the battlefield of Flodden medieval pottery and other artefacts. found in the fields to the east of w
(1513) around the village of Branxton, Barmoor Castle and a collection of 3 e e to come forward with any artefacts Over the four hours of the event bronze Roman brooches from the d :
they might have found either in their collections of artefacts from all over coast south of Seahouses. C gardens or in the fields surrounding northern Northumberland and the A the village, which might relate to the Scottish Borders were examined by 1. Branxton Hall during the event A G events of September 1513. the experts providing a wide range of 2. 4 inch cannon ball from Branxton newly reported finds for the broader 3. 6 inch cannon ball from Branxton Given the range of archaeological area. 4. Roman artefacts from Beadnell remains recorded in the area - from 5. Beads from Lowick the mesolithic (7000+ years ago) Fourteen previously unrecorded 6. Lead trade weight from Barmoor through the whole of prehistory, early cannonballs were presented for history, the medieval period and also identification. Of these ten are It is hoped that further similar events the post-medieval and modern period, attributed to the battle and were found will bring more of Northumberland’s the team fully expected to be shown in the fields around Branxton. These hidden history to light helping us to 4 artefacts of all types and dates, not were of two primary types being either further understand events such as just those from the 16th Century and about 4 or 6 inches diameter and were the Battle of Flodden. A future the battle. typical of projectiles from the Scottish Artefacts Roadshow is proposed for guns of 1513. Interestingly none of the Barmoor Castle near Lowick. This The Flodden 500 team was supported 3 inch lead cannon balls (again typical was the camp site of English Armies by Dr Rob Young (English Heritage) of the smaller Scottish guns) or the 2 for over 800 years. an expert on flints and other inch lead cannon balls representative CB preshistoric finds, Dr Rob Collins the of the English guns were reported. Northeast Finds Liason Officer along
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0 0 7 3 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
100 Northumberland Conservation Contributors: Chris Burgess, Tom Cadwallender, Colin Marlee, Annette Reeves, Sara 95 Rushton, Liz Williams
75 Other Contributors: Stephen Allott English Heritage, Harry Beamish The National Trust, Rosie Bishop, Richard Carlton The Archaeological Practice Ltd, Geoffrey Carter, The Battlefields Trust, Mike Collins English Heritage, 25 Rob Collins Portable Antiquities Scheme, Peter Davis Newcastle University, Philip Deakin Borders Archaeology Society, Robin Dower 5 Spence and Dower, Benjamin Edwards Liverpool University, Jan Frazer Holystone History and Archaeology Group, Paul Frodsham Oracle 0 Heritage Services, Duncan Hale Archaeological Services Durham University, Erlend Hindmarch AOC Archaeology Group, Ben Johnson Archaeological Research Services, David Jones Coquetdale Community Archaeology, Debbie Maxwell Newcastle University, Aron Mazel Newcastle University, Roger Miket, Jennifer Morrison CBA North, Steve Pullan Natural England, Ian Roberts, Alan Rushworth The Archaeological Practice Ltd, Peter Ryder, Kate Sharpe Newcastle Northumb University, Robert S Shiel Newcastle University, Matthew Town North Pennines Archaeology, Alan Williams Alan Williams Archaeology, Graeme Young Bamburgh Research Project
Northumberland Conservation can be contacted on the following telephone numbers and e-mail addresses:
Chris Burgess & Sara Rushton: Northumberland Conservation Managers and County Archaeologists (Job Share) (01670) 534058 [email protected] [email protected]
Nick Best and Karen Derham: Assistant County Archaeologists Development Control & Planning (01670) 534095 / 534057 [email protected] [email protected]
Elaine Gray: Building Conservation Officer Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas & Grant Schemes (01670) 533076 [email protected]
Annette Reeves: Berwick THI Project Officer Berwick Conservation Areas and Grant Schemes (01289) 301884 [email protected]
Liz Williams: Historic Environment Record Officer Historic Environment Record, Aerial Photographs and Historic Landscape Characterisation (01670) 534060 [email protected]
Northumberland Conservation, Development Services, Local Services, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF. 100 Tel: (01670) 534166 Fax: (01670) 533409 e-mail: [email protected] 95 Published in 2011 by 75 Northumberland County Council with the support of the Friends of Archaeology in Northumberland ISSN 1357 7255 25 Retail £5.00
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