Ilderton – Archaeology, History and Wide Landscapes

Ilderton is a destination for anyone who wants to experience landscape and history closely intertwined. Hillforts, prehistoric roundhouse settlements, Roman traces and historic buildings give the area an exceptionally diverse character. Added to this are wide views from several elevated sites and selected opportunities to explore the surroundings on foot or by bicycle. When planning your trip, the main question is therefore whether you want to focus on local history, archaeology, landscape or active days.

Church, Mausoleum and Medieval Local History

St Michael's in Ilderton is largely an 18th-century building and still has a 13th-century tower. The Roddam Mausoleum stands at the western edge of the churchyard. The stone building dates from 1795, has a barrel-vaulted interior and contains the tomb of Admiral Robert Roddam. These two buildings provide a more traditional introduction to the history of the place: architecture, local memory and different periods can be traced through tangible buildings.

North Middleton also adds to this historical picture. The well-preserved medieval village retains significant archaeological deposits. The place was originally called Midilest Middleton; it was first mentioned in 1242. Anyone who values cultural discoveries and historic village scenes when staying in a holiday apartment in Ilderton will find points of connection here that extend beyond individual buildings.

Hillforts and Settlement Remains from Many Periods

Middleton Dean Hillfort lies on the eastern edge of the Cheviot Hills in the parish or ecclesiastical district of Ilderton. It is situated on an almost level terrace above the confluence of two valleys, at an elevation of 230 metres. The original Iron Age opening was a simple entrance; during the Romano-British period, it was altered and reused. The site therefore tells not only of its fortification but also of later phases of use.

Another archaeological landscape lies at Brands Hill. The archaeological monument there comprises an enclosed native settlement from the Roman period, unenclosed roundhouse remains, a field system and a trackway. Near Cowboy's Cairn, in the elevated part of the enclosure, are three roundhouses or roundhouse platforms with an average diameter of 7 metres. The well-preserved native settlement on the north-eastern slope of Brands Hill is likely to contain significant archaeological deposits and forms part of a larger archaeological landscape.

Different forms of prehistoric settlement are also preserved at Heddon Hill. A Romano-British settlement north-east of the hill is well preserved and retains evidence of domestic life at that time. It consists of three roundhouses grouped around an inner courtyard and connected by an enclosure. North of Heddon Hill there is also an unenclosed roundhouse settlement, providing evidence of prehistoric settlement and agriculture. Another roundhouse settlement at Heddon Hill comprises five circular house platforms, cut into the natural slope or formed as raised earthen platforms.

Views, Burial Mounds and Distinctive Landforms

The burial mounds on Dod Hill lie in an east–west line and offer wide views in all directions. The three round barrows are well preserved and retain significant archaeological deposits. On Foxes Knoll, an Iron Age fortified settlement occupies the summit; it lies 740 metres south-east of South Middleton and offers wide views to the north and east.

The archaeological monument south-east of Middleton Dean documents land use and settlement over a period of three millennia. It includes a square medieval moated castle with an overall width of approximately 85 metres and an outer ditch 3 metres deep. Other traces reach further back in time: the stone circle and stone row 370 metres west of Threestoneburn House date from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age, respectively. They lie on a gently sloping promontory formed by the confluence of Threestone Burn and a smaller tributary.

Threestoneburn House is probably a house dating from the mid- to late-18th century, with later alterations, and is a listed building. A prehistoric rock art panel 190 metres south-west of Middleton Dean Hillfort lies on a high, level promontory at the confluence of Middleton Dene Burn and Lilburn Burn. The rock art is designated as a protected archaeological monument.

Active Days and Choosing Your Accommodation

Ilderton also offers specific starting points for planning an active trip. Several footpaths and bridleways cross the land around Ilderton Dod Barns. A loop of the official Sandstone Way mountain-bike route passes directly by Ilderton Dod Barns; National Cycle Network Route 68 also runs at the end of the road leading there. Ilderton Dod Barns lies within Northumberland National Park. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday cottage, you can match your preferred combination of historical discoveries, viewpoints and cycling days with the intended local and route destinations.

Other noteworthy remains include the roundhouse settlement and field plots at Rackside, on natural terraces on an east-facing slope below the Rackside crag. At Lamb Crag, an archaeological monument comprises one or two roundhouses within an approximately rectangular field plot enclosed by a bank, and offers wide views to the north-east. The Ringles is a reasonably well-preserved example of a northern prehistoric fortified settlement; the interior and the western defences are well preserved and clearly visible.

Further Places to Search

If you would like to compare destinations other than Ilderton, you can continue your research with Guyzance, Alnmouth, Blyth, Wylam, Hepple, Embleton, Longframlington and Wandylaw.

For the higher-level travel overview: Northumberland.