Shilling Pot, Yarrow (The Gatehouse Record)

In the civil parish of Falstone.
In the historic county of Northumberland.
Modern Authority of Northumberland.
1974 county of Northumberland.
Medieval County of Northumberland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NY71628716
Latitude 55.17801° Longitude -2.44761°

Shilling Pot, Yarrow has been described as a probable Bastle.

There are no visible remains.

Description

NY 71628716. Remains of this pele are visible, consisting of wide banks of earth and stone corresponding with the exterior walls. Traces of other banks indicate the sites of adjacent buildings on its west side. A small rectangular earth banked enclosure (also probably a building) south-west of the pele has an entrance on its south-west side. The internal surface is very disturbed and includes a shallow rectangular depression of doubtful purpose. Situated on the summit of a small hillock which slopes steeply to the north and east, the pele had an extensive view in those directions and commanded a large portion of the valley of the River North Tyne. To the west and south the site is overlooked by higher ground but is separated from it on the west side by a narrow gorge and on the south side by a little stream which would have provided some protection as well as convenient water supply. No dating information is provided by the remains (F1 DAD 03-AUG-1956).
The remains are now in poor condition, average 0.3m in height (F2 BHP 24-JUL-1970).
'A' - NY 71618717 The remains of a rectangular stone-walled building now visible as turf-covered footings (0.9m maximum height and spread to 2.2m where best preserved in the west) 11m east/west by 6m between wall centres. No other features are discernible. To the immediate west are ill-defined traces of probable outbuildings now too indistinct for measurements.
'B' - NY 71598716 The remains of a rectangular stone-walled building now visible as turf-covered footings 0.3m maximum height and 11m east/west by 8m between wall centres. No other definite features are discernible.
The remains are surrounded by rig and furrow cultivation and about 120m to the north west are a series of cultivation terraces. Situated on an isolated ridge these buildings are now too indistinct for precise interpretation but it is most probable that they are the remains of a defended farm-stead with 'A' probably the main building (almost certainly a bastle rather than a peel tower) as it is the more prominent and situated on the highest point on the ridge (F3 ISS 04-MAY-1977).
Site of a pele demolished for building material. Old field boundaries in the area (Long 1988). (Northumberland HER)

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 15730.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) N6964.

Books
- Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 310
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 356
  Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 360
  Long, B., 1967, Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) p. 176
Periodical Articles
- Christopherson, R., 2011, 'Northumberland bastles: origin and distribution' Medieval Settlement Research Vol. 26 p. 21-33 (listed in appendix)
Other sources: Theses; 'grey' literature; in-house reports; unpublished works; etc.
- Long, B., 1988. List of Ancient Monuments - The Kielder Forests. Unpublished (Forestry Commission)

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