'The Castles', West Shipley Farm Hamsterley, Co. Durham; Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results

In April 2007 an archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Channel 4's Time Team at 'The Castles', a scheduled monument situated on land at West Shipley Farm, Hamsterley, Co. Durham (centred on NGR 410353 533078). The programme of fieldwork was to include both non-intrusive (geophysical and standing remains surveys) and intrusive (seven evaluation trenches and targeted environmental augering) investigations. A full topographical survey was to be undertaken, but the extensive tree cover rendered this physically difficult and substantially interfered with the satellite reception; consequently, the survey was limited to those readings assisting with other parts of the project. 'The Castles' comprises a large, rhomboidal dry-stone monument with a single entrance to the east and a substantial ditch which appears to surround the monument on all sides. The monument was first recorded in late the 18th century and subject to a series of investigation by Hodgkin in the early 20th century, including, at times, extensive rebuilding of parts of the walls. No evidence for internal structures or dating had been found, but the monument was believed to represent the remains of a fortified site of Late Iron-Age, Romano-British or post-Roman date. The geophysical survey revealed few features within the interior other than northsouth ridge and furrow across most of the area; confirming evidence from aerial photographs and written sources for post-medieval cultivation. Potential archaeological anomalies within the interior proved to be mostly natural in origin, one anomaly in the south corresponding with an area of flagged flooring. Further ridge and furrow was observed in a survey area to the north of the monument, and 19th century field boundaries in an area to the east. Investigation of the walls showed a vertical dry-stone rubble construction built directly on the purposely levelled old ground surface or natural. The single eastern entrance probably originally had a cobbled surface, later flagged. A large upright flag placed in the wall on the north side of the entrance (no surviving evidence for pair to the south) may have formed part of a gateway. The 'guard cell' within the wall on the south side of the entrance has no pair to the north, and is probably a later addition inserted after almost total collapse of the wall. Evidence for only two internal archaeological features was recovered. In the southern part of the enclosure an area of rough stone flagging, probably some sort of yard, is likely to have been contemporaneous with the monument. An east-west rubble-filled linear feature in the central area of the enclosure is probably associated with terracing and drainage; the date is uncertain. No artefactual dating evidence was recovered from the site and the palaeoenvironmental data was very sparse and is undated. The monument remains enigmatic both in terms of date and function. Though clearly constructed by a substantial work force as a defensive fortification, there is little evidence to support by whom and for what it was used. It may have served as a demonstration of power, its use may have proved unnecessary by change of circumstances, or occupation may only have been temporary or seasonal. The date of the original construction seems most likely to be Late Iron Age, with possibly post- Roman reuse of parts of the structure.

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