More information : (Centred NT 8126126) Enclosures. Habitation area? (1)
A collection of earth and stone embanked enclosures, rectangular and
sub-recangular, situated upon a gentle SE facing slope of pasture
moorland, and including foundations of several steadings. The banks
are from 2.0 to 4.0m in width, and of a max height of 0.8m.
'A' NT 81271253. 150.0m to the SE, a small ditched enclosure with a
strongly defined causewayed entrance in the NW side, being probably
the main habitation.
The number of large enclosures probably for stock, suggest this to
be a Pastoral Settlement. The period of construction cannot be
ascertained, but the
conditions of the banks and regularity of the features
suggest a possible Md date.
Adjacent areas are being drained for afforestation purposes. The
site falls within the bounds of an artillery range.
This site is well watered, there being streams and springs
250.0-300.0m distance in most directions. (2)
(NT 81271253) Enclosure (NR) (3)
The group forms part of a pattern of steadings and enclosures found
at the higher levels throughout the area, which are generally
throught to represent continuous rural colonization from mediaeval
times onwards. Correctly published on 6". (4)
NT813125. The clustes of small rectangular buildings at
Yearning Law are thought to be evidence of Scottish occupation. (5)
Situated on a gentle S facing slope in open moorland, now boggy and
peat-laden, is a group of rectangular steadings (B-G) and a number of
associated enclosures (A,H-S) representing the remains of an upland
settlement of post-medieval period. The site is overgrown with tussockgrass, and this has obscured details of the structures, notably the
steadings which have been reduced to their footings, and survive
merely as banks up to 2.0m wide and 0.4m max internal height. Very
little stone, and no wall faces are exposed which may indicate that
they were not wholly stone-built. (All measurements hereafter are
internal).
Steading B measures 13.2m E-W by 3.0m transversely, and adjoins
the S side of an enclosure (H) 23.0m x 13.5m. No entrance(s) or cross
wall(s) are visible.
C is 23.0m ENE-WSW x 4.0m with an entrance in the S wall
towards the W end. It seems to be within or alongside the fragmentary
remains of an enclosure (J)
D attached to enclosure K, is poorly preserved particularly at
the E end. It measures approx 14.5m NE-SW x 3.0m, with an entrance
through the S wall and one internal partition visible.
E is 8.0m NW-SE by 3.0m transversely with a gap in the SE end
wall; it is situated within the remains of an enclosure (L)
F measures 10.0m E-W by 3.0m N-S with opposing entrances in the
N and S walls towards the E end.
G is very indistinct and is either one extremely long house
36.0m NE-SW by 3.0m wide with an internal partition, or two similarly-sized steadings abutting each other end on, each with an entrance in
the SE wall.
The associated enclosures vary from 15.0m x 9.0m up to 32.0m x
24.0m; they are irregularly-shaped, some are incomplete, and, with theexception of A and S are bounded by earth and stone banks obscured by
turf, 0.5m average height.
Enclosure A, about 120m SE of the main group, is roughly oval,
and differs from the others in that it is bounded by a ditch, 2.5m
wide and 0.7m deep, and less prominent outer bank 0.2m above
surrounding ground level. It measures internally 12.5m NNW-SSE by 7.8mtransversely, with a well-defined causeway at the NNW. Material from
the ditch seems to have been spread evenly in the enclosed area which
is 0.1m - 0.2m above surrounding ground level and dry unlike the land
around the enclosure. No stones are visible in the fabric.
S is also ditched with outer bank; it is the largest of the
complete enclosures measuring 32.0m X 24.0m internally. The ditch is
1.5m - 2.0m wide and up to 1.2m above the internal ditch.
These enclosures (A & S) are almost certainly contemporary with
the remainder of the settlement, but, probably served a different
function necessitating that they be dry.
Within the main group are several turf-covered discontinous
banks of uncertain purpose. (6)
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