| Abstract: |
This archaeological assessment informs proposals for woodland planting on seven distinct and widely separated parcels of land on the Healey Farm Estate, near Riding Mill in southern Northumberland. The programme of assessment was required by the Northumberland Assistant County Archaeologist in order to assess and, if necessary, mitigate harm to the most significant and sensitive archaeological remains within the area(s) proposed for forestry.
These remains comprised areas of surviving ridge and furrow in fields to the south and west of Eastwood House, further ridge and furrow in a field in Helister’s Wood, on the south side of Ridingmill Burn, west of Broomhaugh, plus the site of Balehill Quarry, which features on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey.
The archaeological assessment focussed on:
Plotting the extent and character of archaeological earthworks across the site (particularly, but not limited to ridge and furrow earthworks) utilising available LIDAR data and aerial
photographs; an assessment of the approximate age and significance of the identified archaeological earthworks, an assessment of the approximate age and significance of the quarry site at Balehill.
To facilitate implementation of the objectives listed above, relevant HER data and historic maps were consulted and a site visit was undertaken to examine, verify and photographically record the visible archaeological remains.
The results of this exercise helped to identify constraints and opportunities for forestry
development and potentially inform the detail of a final proposed Forest Plan.
This report resulting from the survey and assessment work contains the following:
A descriptive list of the sources of information utilised in the preparation of the archaeological assessment (Section 3); a catalogue of known heritage sites and assets (Section 4), based primarily on Northumberland HER data, and a discussion of the cultural heritage background of the surrounding area (Section 5), which additionally draws on the Northumberland County History and historic maps data. The catalogue is accompanied by a site location map. Copies of historic maps plus interpretative maps outlining the historic development of the wider area are also included; plots of the layout of the extant ridge and furrow earthworks in the relevant planting areas, based on available LIDAR and aerial photographic resources, with a description of their form and patterning, plus analysis of their likely dating (Section 6); recommendations for measures to facilitate management or mitigation of this resource (Section 7). The assessment concluded that the creation of Balehill Quarry cannot be firmly dated, though it was clearly prior to 1860 when it featured on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. The quarry still appears to have been functioning then but had probably gone out of use by the end of the 19th century. It does not feature on any earlier mapping, but that may simply reflect the less comprehensive nature of those tithe, estate and county maps and the relative unimportance of the quarry. It probably originated in the late 18th or early 19th century when there were substantial building projects in the surrounding area with the rebuilding of Healey Hall and the creation of Healey village. As such it is one on many small and relatively short-lived or episodically exploited quarries to be found in the rural landscape at that time.
The place-name, Balehill, suggests there was lead smelting activity in wider area during the Middle Ages, but there is no evidence to associate that activity specifically with the quarry site. Rather Balehill was just the name for the area where the quarry was located, like Balehill Plantation and Balehill Wood further east. |
