More information : [Area centred SE 70009395] Rudland close, situated on
Rudland Beck, about half a mile north of Spaunton Lodge,
consists of an extensive earthwork enclosing an area of moor
either side of the beck, and the foundation remains of a long
'barn' with outbuildings.
Preliminary excavations have been unable to date either the
building or the earthwork but Pacitto thinks they are probably
early Medieval and suggests a connection with one of the
monastaries. (1-2)
This enclosure centred at SE 699939 is mainly visible as an
earthen bank (averaging 3.0m wide and 0.6m high), often overgrown
and eroded, with an external ditch (averaging 3.0m wide and
0.6m deep) which has been deepened and widened in some places by
natural water courses and in others almost filled in by bog.
(See attached illustration card). There is no trace of a bank
in the SE and it may be possible that the stream alone was used
as the boundary. From Rudland Beck in the S to the building,
the SW part is traceable as a collapsed stone wall almost covered
by peat. It is possible that there was an 'entrance' at the bank
in the NE but the ditch has carried away the bank. The 'oval
enclosure' shown to the E of this bank is a natural shelf and
heather growth has given it the appearance of an enclosure.
The building at SE 69909363 measures 56.5m NE/SW by 9.0m between
wall centres and is mainly as planned by Pacitto. About 18.0m to
the SW of the W gable on stone culvert has been exposed over the
stream, which is now mainy a boggy hollow. The 'wall' to the
NE of the building has been excavated at one point exposing a
'lynchet' revetted with a layer of stones which terminates on the
scarp in the E. The whole compares favourably with the proven
medieval vaccary on Lewisham Moor (SE 89 SW). Enclosure and
building surveyed at 1:10 000. (3)
Rudstone Close was a bercarie, or sheep farm, of St Mary's Abbey York. The close covers over 25 acres and is surrounded by a low bank and ditch defining the enclosure boundary. At the Southern extremity is the functional core of the grange. The buildings excavated by Pacitto are interpretted as being an aisled barn (sheep house) and ancillary buildings. Scheduled, RSM Number 32659. (4)
The probable medieval grange is visible as earthworks on air photographs centred at SE 6997 9393. The large main enclosure is irregular in shape, and mostly bank and ditch defined. Natural watercourses are utilised to complete the enclosure at the southwest and southeast extents. Internal divisions are of the same form as the enclosure and includes the use of Rudland Beck which extends northwest to southeast through the enclosure. Within the scheduled area described by the above authority, the remains of the aisled barn is visible as earthworks centred at SE 6992 9364. Two probable small quarries have been recorded at the eastern edge of the enclosure and a number of possible trackways extend throughout the site. The earthworks are extant on the latest 2009 vertical photography. (5-6) |