Very hard to describe this, it's a circular, curbed site with a wall within, containing cists, with mounds inside and surrounding. I think it has been restored, but only marked on the OS map as a cairn, it's much more.
The hillfort and carved stones of Old Bewick are not too far away and the mother hill visible as always.
The ruined farmstead nearby is also interesting (well it was for me), as are the rocky outcrops beside, which have been partly walled for shelters. You can see how people wanted to live up here. But you can also understand how it fell into ruin! Tried to work out when it was last lived in, perhaps early 20th century. Looks like it's used a lot by campers, and is on a mapped cycle route.
A lovely day although very overcast. Definitely one to come back to when sunnier.
Pebblethief mentions Blawearie House (the ruin). For a potted history of this place, check Stan Beckensall's lovely book "Northumberland, The Power of Place" published in 2001 by Tempus.
The Cairn was excavated by the legendary Canon Greenwell in the 1860's where he reported a central cist from which a pot had been taken. It was also excavated by the mighty Stan Beckensall 1984 - 1986 where he found further cists, amber beads, a jet bead, flint flakes, a melon bead, a number of cremations and a copper ring.
Log in |
Register
England
0 discussions
Show map (inline Google Map)
Add an image 
Posted by pebblesfromheaven
Posted by fitzcoraldo
Top of page