| Summary : The excavated site of a pre-12th century to 1720 settlement, now destroyed by quarrying. Excavation revealed pottery dating from the 12th to the 18th century, seven Saxon sherds, a 13th century coin, three 17th century coins, a corroded bronze coin and a probable Iron Age palisaded trench. The remains of a pele tower were recorded on the site in the 19th century, but no such structure was positively identified during excavation. |
More information : NY 975 837 Village [NR] (site of). (1)
Village of West Whelpington flourishing in the 12th.C. and deserted c 1720 Partly destroyed by quarrying; total destruction anticipated by 1985. A group of houses surrounding a village green, excavated 1958-60 by the Extra Mural Dept. of Durham University, and annually since 1965 by the D.M.V. Research Group [see plan].
Finds included pottery ranging from 12th.-18th.C. and seven Saxon sherds, a 13th.C. coin, three 17th. C. coins and a corroded bronze coin "probably a Scots turner, but might be a Roman antoninianus" John Hodgson [Hist. of Northumb. 1820-35]mentions a peel tower near the circular feature on the village green. A group of large stone blocks unearthed south of sites 2 and 3 [see plan] may constitute its remains. (2)
"In the croft south of site 16, more of the Iron Age palisade trench (Located 1971) was excavated". (3)
The central area of the site has been detroyed by quarrying and only fragmentary remains of banks survive along the northern lip of the quarry. Jarretts plan is now unintelligible apart from crofts 10-14 at the west end of the complex which show as turf-covered banks with occasional stone visible.
Excavation in advance of quarrying is carried out annually and
Dr. M. G. Jarrett is currently clearing crofts 9 and 15 and the area
between (centred NY 9745 8375) He was not prepared to confirm the identification of the peel mentioned by Hodgson and said that the remains that he found south of crofts 2 and 3 (now removed by quarrying) were so scant that no positive identification was
possible.
A semi-circular rock cut palisade trench found in 1971 is visible at NY 9747 8370 but more excavation is required to determine its
purpose. Dr. Jarrett said that a broken saddle quern and a fragment of "iron-age" pottery had been found at this point. The corroded bronze coin found during earlier excavations has not yet been identified but Dr. Jarrett is of the opinion that it is unlikely to be Roman.
The excavations currently in progress show little of interest as the bulk of the dwelling sites have now been destroyed. Quarrying
continues and the whole of the site will eventually be lost in the
next few years.
AO survey (1/2500) of 1968 revised. (4)
(NY 9735 8390) Medieval Village of West Whelpington [NAT] (site of) [NAT]. (5)
NY 975 839. Deserted village (site of) at West Whelpington Crag.
Scheduled No ND/312. (6)
The Rev John Hodgson, writing circa 1830, noted that the village consisted of two rows of houses and a large green with a cockpit at its centre, and nearby a pele with tower-like dimensions of 23.5 feet by 21.5 feet and a small barmkin in front. The date of construction of the pele is unknown. (7)
Listed by Cathcart King. (8) |