Whickham, Limekiln Hill

HER Number:
3670

District:
Gateshead

Site Name:
Whickham, Limekiln 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:
1st edition Ordnance Survey map mapping shows an area covered by trees and labelled "Limekiln Hill" {1}. Alan Rounding, co-author of "A Fighting Trade" says that this hill, like the three adjacent hills (SMR 1922-1924) are surrounded by a ditch and outer bank {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:
1960

Northing:
5944

Grid Reference:
NZ19605944

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 3670 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 6; Pers comm. A. Rounding, 2001, letter to County Archaeologist- Historic Environment Record; 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