Antonstown

Description

Antonstown comprises a group of large enclosures each about 70 yards long on each side covering about an acre. A large earth and stone wall passes it on the east side and a spring called the 'Fountain' rises in the middle. The general area appears to have been well populated at some time. (Maughan)
Centred at NY 571776 on a gentle south facing hill slope between Fountain Sike on the west, a small stream on the east and close to a natural spring in the north, are the four turf-covered remains of two rectangular buildings an enclosure and associated banks. The main building at NY 57157765 measures 24.3m east-west by 4.2m between the centres of a wall about 1.2m wide and 0.5m maximum height. It is sub-divided into four compartments and two banks converge on its north east corner. A similar but smaller building measuring about 16.0m east-west by 4.2m is sub-divided into three compartments and its east end abutts onto a bank. The irregular shaped enclosure measures about 17.0m east-west by 11.0m between centres of a turf-covered stony bank about 1.5m wide and 0.7m maximum height. The whole is the remains of a relatively modern steading of house, outbuilding and stock enclosure. (The name Antonstown was not confirmed) (F1 ISS 09-AUG-78)
NY 57257766. The farmstead at Antonstown was reduced to "a large plot of enclosures of groundworks called Antonstown by 1854. The works consist of two houses and an enclosure". (Ramm, McDowall, Mercer). (PastScape)

The monument includes the earthworks and buried remains of Antonstown medieval dispersed settlement. It is located on the hillside approximately 450m south east of Crew Farm and includes the turf covered remains of two houses and two sub-rectangular stock enclosures; one of the enclosures lies to the north of Fountain Sike while the remainder of the monument is situated south of the sike.
The southern house lies with its long axis aligned east-west and measures approximately 20m by 7m externally with walls 1.2m wide and up to 0.5m high. It is subdivided into a central narrow room with larger rooms to east and west, each room being on a slightly different level because of the natural slope. The second house, with its long axis at a slight angle to the first, measures c.12m by 5m externally with walls 1.2m wide and up to 0.5m high, and is subdivided into two rooms of unequal sizes. A short distance north of the second house, and immediately south of Fountain Sike, is a stock enclosure measuring approximately 18m by 12m internally which is bounded by a turf and stone wall 1.2m wide and up to 0.8m high. There are narrow entrances at the south west and north west corners of the enclosure. On the northern side of Fountain Sike are three sides of a larger enclosure measuring c.30m by 20m which is bounded on three sides by a turf and stone wall. The enclosure's north east wall has been partly disturbed by a later field dyke while Fountain Sike appears to have formed the boundary on the enclosure's south east side. A later field dyke also crosses that part of the monument to the south of Fountain Sike. The settlement was not included in the 1839 Tithe Award and is thus thought to have been abandoned by that date. (Scheduling Report)

Comments

Foundations of two rectangular houses with walls 4 ft (1.2m) thick but no actual evidence these were two storeys. However the location is entirely consistent with a pelehouse type bastle.