Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Vale House
Hob Uid: 17600
Location : County Durham Bowes
Grid Ref : NY9470012790
Summary : Earthwork remains of a mutilated mound, 10m across. It is bounded by a slight bank 4m wide and 0.4m high. It is possibly the site of a Roman signal station. Scheduled.
More information : (NY 94701279) On Vale House spur, 165 yards west of Vale House and 80 yards north of the road is an earthwork. It takes the form of a circular rampart 10' across with a 10' ditch, and has an overall diameter of 54'. (1) It commands a clear view of the Roman fort at Bowes, and is evidently a Roman Signalling Station auxiliary to that at Bowes Moor (NY 91 SW 4) which although in direct communication with the more westerly Roper Castle (NY 81 SE 1) is cut off from Bowes Fort by Vale House spur. Recognisable only by the mutilated remains of the upcast mound, which has a maximum height of 0.7m, overall, dimensions as quoted by Richmond; no trace of the ditch survives. The original causewayed entrance appears to have been on the north side. Surveyed at 1:10 000. (2) (NY 94701279) ROMAN SIGNAL STATION (R) (3) Roman Signal Station at Spital Park (near Vale House). Scheduled. J S Johnson visited the site in 1976 and observed a "roughly square earthwork about 15 m square" with slight rampart 0.50 metres high. Two gaps were seen in the rampart but no trace of ditch. (4-5) Shown as a site of uncertain nature by Farrar. Farrar notes that Richmond did not trench the site or make a plan, and he gave it a ditch, presumably external of which there is and can have been no sign. Also its external diameter is at most 10m as against Richmond's 16.3m and its plan is that of a split apple rather than a true circle. The remains are regular enough to permit the assumption that this was a ring requiring means of access; rather than a damaged mound. Richmond saw its northern breach as the entrance, although his reason for preferring this to the southern break is not clear. Farrar notes that the remains do not resemble those of any known signal tower. The space available is adequate for a tower alone without provision for stores and its only recommendations as a site are its circular shape and its situation. Farrar concludes that he is disposed to reject Vale House altogether as a link in the Stainmore System. (6) Description by Authority 6 correct. (7)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source : Aspects of archaeology in Britain and beyond : essays presented to O G S Crawford
Source details : Richmond IA "A Roman Arterial Signalling System in the Stainmore Pass"
Page(s) : 299
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Source Number : 2
Source : Field Investigators Comments
Source details : F1 ASP 13-MAY-75
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Source : Vale House/field sheet
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Source Number : 3
Source : Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)
Source details : 1:10000 1976
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Source Number : 4
Source : VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION
Source details : DOE (IAM) AM Record Form 29-MAR-76
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Source Number : 5
Source : Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments
Source details : Inf: J S Johnson DOE (IAM) Savile Row London Feb 1979
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Source Number : 6
Source : Roman frontier studies 1979: papers presented to the 12th International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies
Source details : Farrar, RAH
Page(s) : 211-31
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Vol(s) : S71 (i-iii)

Source Number : 7
Source : Field Investigators Comments
Source details : Peter Topping/29-AUG-1991/RCHME: Durham SAMs Project
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Source Number : 8
Source : Scheduled Monument Notification
Source details : 19-Mar-99
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Source : Vale House/profile
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Source : Vale House/ink
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Signal Station
Evidence : Conjectural Evidence

Monument Period Name : Uncertain
Display Date :
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Mound
Evidence : Earthwork

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : DU 123
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 28597
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 91 SW 6
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments : 1031457
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities : Primary, FIELD OBSERVATION ON NY 91 SW 6
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1975-05-13
End Date : 1975-05-13

Associated Activities : Primary, RCHME: DURHAM SAMS PROJECT
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1991-06-01
End Date : 1991-12-01