Whickham, Long Hill

HER Number:
1923

District:
Gateshead

Site Name:
Whickham, Long Hill

Place:
Whickham

Map Sheet:
NZ15NE

Class:
Gardens Parks and Urban Spaces

Site Type: Broad:

Site Type: Specific:
Tree Enclosure Ring

General Period:
Post Medieval

Specific Period:
C18

Form of Evidence:
Earthwork

Description:
A hill said to be surrounded by a ditch and outer bank {1}. Recommended as an area with potential C17 coal workings including shafts, adits and wagonways. Several features were identified, but these were all much later and of minor importance. No evidence of surface C17 features, but potentially important undisturbed underground workings {2}. A small domed hill (natural geological outcrop) surrounded by a low earthen bank. Probably a mid to late 18th century landscape improvement associated with the original entrance to Gibside. The bank would have been topped by either fencing or dead-hedging and its purpose was to protect the young trees until they were established. Once the tree had reached a degree of maturity, the fence was removed or the dead-heading allowed to disperse. These copses provided landscape interest, provided timber and game cover. The visible rubble, narrowness of the bank, the overlaying of ridge and furrow and the mature conifer and broadleaf trees shown on the historic OS maps all suggest this site type.

Easting:
1977

Northing:
5945

Grid Reference:
NZ19775945

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 1923 >> Pers comm. A. Rounding, 2001, letter to County Archaeologist- HER; English Heritage, Monumets Protection Program Site Assessment; Pers comm, Dr Rob Young, 12 April, 2017; Chris Mayes, Heritage at Risk Landscape Architect North East & North West Regions, Historic England, 13 April 2017