Transactions of the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society 92 (series 2)

Correlates evidence from past excavation reports and museum collections for Pleistocene exploitation of a geographical area often overlooked in analyses of the period. Contrary to geological and glaciological opinions indicating that conditions would have been too harsh for human habitation, the sites of High Furlong, Lindale Low Caves, and Kirkhead Cave are found to produce reliable evidence for Pleistocene exploitation.

An introduction to work so far undertaken is followed by `Appendix 1' (14--22) which presents a synopsis of a report by Paul T Nicholson on analysis of thin sections of prehistoric pottery from the limestone uplands of Cumbria, including sherds from ten sites in the area. There are details of inclusions and fabric types from ware groups including Grimston Ware, Grooved Ware, Peterborough Ware and miscellaneous Late Neolithic pot.

The section of turf wall at Appletree was recorded during cutting as part of the Pilgrimage of Hadrian's Wall in 1989. Previous cuttings to reveal the structure had not been recorded. This article provides section drawing and photographic evidence for the structure of the turf wall which exhibits five main components: heavily leached subsoil; original ground surface; overlapping turf blocks forming the wall core; a clay revetment; and the present-day ground surface.

Presents a review of evidence for a medieval Gilbertine cell at this location. Three groups of buildings or rooms were observed and three phases of development are isolated. The first is supposed to relate to the late twelfth century founding of the cell, followed by late thirteenth or fourteenth century remodelling, and final, apparently piecemeal, post-Dissolution building. There is a call for further investigation of the site.

Reports the findings of work at Brougham Castle, lying close to the Roman fort of Brocavum, undertaken as part of a broader survey of the fabric and development of the castle, and here published in advance of completion of the whole. An unexpectedly complex six-phase sequence of development was uncovered, from a possible ditch associated with the Roman fort through early occupation to phase three construction of a substantial rectangular stone building. Later activity involved further wall construction in the area of the chapel and evidence for the later post-medieval refurbishment of the castle, including seventeenth century window glass -- some of it found in seemingly incongruous contexts beneath apparently earlier flagged floors. There are specialist reports on `The pottery' by M R McCarthy & F Wild (117--18), `The glass' by Christine Howard-Davis (118--19), `The metalwork' by Christine Howard-Davis (119--20), `The Roman tiles' by John H Williams (120), `The hone' by John H Williams (120), and`The animal bone' by L Gidney (120--1).

Presents details of High Quarry, including information on the office building, riving shed and weigh house. Also the small scale eighteenth century Stockdalebank Quarry, along with the quarry at Wrengill, with details of its forge and barracks. Two nineteenth century engravings depicting Wrengill quarry are illustrated as are the power house or workshop structure. There follows an `Appendix: Kentmere Head slate quarries [&] Wrengill and Stockdalebank slate quarries' (225--7) giving some documentary references to the sites.

Clears up confusion caused by reference in the writings of the antiquary Alexander Gordon to `turrets' along what was supposed to indicate the Solway coastline. Closer examination of the text and consultation with other experts prompted the realisation that the writer in question was referring to the Yorkshire coast.

Antiquarian references (namely those of Sir John Clerk writing in 1734) to a Roman altar in the garden of Brigadier Stanwix's house in Carlisle had led to some confusion. Other mentions of a Roman inscribed stone at this location had not described it as an altar. However, further investigation relocates it and thus leaves open the possibility that it was and/or is still as Clerk described.

Brief note on the find spot of this spindle whorl. The area in question, Great Grassoms, includes the site of a medieval farmstead with which the stone spindle whorl was probably associated.