More information : (SD 87558941) Earthworks (NR) (1)
Remains of banks supposed to be of Ro origin and connected with
the Ro camp at Bainbridge (SD 99 SW 1). (2)
The remains of a sub-rectangular enclosure situated on a small
natural spur and cut through by a modern road-way. The work
consists of an earth and stone bank with outer ditch, although
most of the ditch has been destroyed by cultivation. No trace of
occupation is visible within the enclosure nor are there traces
of an entrance. There is nothing to connect it with the Roman
fort at Bainbridge but its rectangular form and single ditch
suggest that it is a RB homestead. To the west of the earthwork
is a small sub-circular turf covered enclosure averaging 9.0m in
diameter but this is probably modern.
Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
Plans. (4)
SD 876894. Rescue excavations were carried out in 1978-79 by J
Bennett and P Turnbull on the small rectangular earthwork in Old Gayle Lane. Excavation on the interior of the enclosure revealed evidence of a medieval barn and post-medieval agricultural activity, beneath which was a roughly oval building of boulders, probably a temporary shelter. No dateable finds were discovered.
The outer side of the enclosure bank was revetted with dry stone
walling and the outer ditch in its primary silt contained a quantity
of waterlogged wood which was sent for radio carbon assay and produceda date of 1100 + or - 70 BP or 850 + or - 70 ad (HAR 3748).
The middle layer of the ditch also contained a small, round scraper
and a struck flint, but not in any useful context.
A series of other earthworks were associated with the main enclosure
and included a low penannular structure with the appearance of a
slight, turf-covered ring cairn. Excavation of this feature proved it to be a circular bank of stone and earth with some indications of an outer ditch. The nature or function of the structure was not
established but a dump of post-medieval pottery post-dated its
construction.
Around the main enclosure lay a series of low linear banks, apparently the boundaries of a mutilated field system, including a group of small, rectangular fields to the south.
Additional references. (5-7)
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