More information : (Centred NT 890088) Cross-Dyke, distinguished by having
foundations (stone) of a rectangular house, on either side of the
road-gap. (1)
Remains of a cross-dyke are situated in a saddle on a north-south
ridge of moorland pasture at its narrowest point. The dyke, a
turf-covered earthern bank, 3.0 - 5.0m in width, with a maximum
height of 0.2m, fades out on the west and east sides of the ridge
above very steep slopes which fall to two moorland streams.
On its north side is a ditch 2.0 - 3.0m wide, with a max depth of
0.2m.
A trackway along the ridge top passes through a gap in the dyke,
either side of which, against the south face of the bank, are
foundation remains of two steadings. That on the west side measures
12.0m by 4.0m, that on the east side, 16.0m by 4.5m. Both have
entrances in the south side, and both are orientated east and west.
The foundations are of earth and stone, the banks being 2.0m-3.0m
wide, with a maximum height of 0.5m. The eastern steading has an
internal division towards the east end. The cross dyke is approx
140.0m in length. The ground rises to a hump immediately to the
north, and to the south, rises gently beyond a local depression. (2)
The cross dyke extends to the W of the trackway for a distance of
110m to the top of a steep slope, while on the E side it continues
almost to the Wholehope Burn, making a total length of 250m. The
slight nature of both the bank and ditch makes them of little
obstructive value, and the whole may be no more than a boundary
feature. Probing of the two 'steadings' revealed no stone work
suggesting them to be possible sheilings. A further five similar
steadings,some with subdivisions, were identified along the ridge
to the S of the dyke.
Surveyed at 6" scale. (3)
NT 890 091. Cross dyke at Copper Snout. Scheduled No ND/629. (4)
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