More information : Centred 934983. Remains of a Deserted Hamlet situated upon
a gentle south-east slope of moorland pasture, at approx 830 feet
above sea-level, and above the south-west banks of a little burn
flowing southwards, traces of which are visible on APs.
Foundations of eight steadings were located. Seven lie in a row,
five to the south-east and two to the north-west of a Defended
House(NY 99 NW 5). The eighth lies a little to the west of the
south-east end of the row. They are 8.0 to 9.0m in length, and 5.0m
deep. The foundations are of earth and stone, the banks generally
turf-covered being 1.0 to 2.0m wide, and up to 0.5m high. There are
fragments of walling standing, 0.7m thick and up to 1.5m height.
There is a pavement of stones running along the south-west side of
the row of steadings, and there are remains of garths further
south-west, bounded by stone walls, generally reduced to a tumbled
mass, turf-covered.
Sheepfolds, now disused and ruinous, built out of stone from the
site, are erected in parts upon the foundations of the steadings,
and garths, and stand to 2.0m or so in height. Rig and furrow
ploughing covers the adjacent moorland on the south-west, north-west
and north-east sides. There are no extant field names. (1)
Local legend gives the name Ironhouse to this village, which, it is
said, originally housed some 300 people whose main industry was iron
working.
No reason for its abandonment has been handed down. (2)
Woodside-DMV NY 925975 (Woodside is district name). (3)
The remains are consistent with minor depopulation.
Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
The earliest known documentary reference in 1398, though
the extant remains are probably mainly contemporary with the castle.
(? 16th century). (5)
NY 9336 9830. Deserted medieval village including bastle at Ironhouse
, 750m W of High Shaw. Scheduled RSM No 20912. To the E and W of the
standing bastle (NY 99 NW 5) there are the remains of the stone
foundations of at least 7 other buildings; these turf covered
buildings measure 9m by 6m and their stone walls stand in places up
to 1m high. A circular well is located immediately outside the bastle
on its SW side. Also to the SW of the settlement are the well-
preserved remains of walled enclosures; the paddocks, garths and
fields in which animals were kept. (6)
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