Becks Plantation

Ruin on the site of East Matfen medieval village and open field system. The following detailed information is from Historic England. The monument includes the deserted remains of the medieval village of East Matfen and part of its surviving open field system, situated on the right bank of the now canalised River Pont. It is divided into two separate areas by a later trackway. In the 13th century the manor of East Matfen was held by the Fenwick family and a document records that in 1296 14 individuals from the village were eligible to pay taxes. Part of the manor was subsequently granted to the priory at Hexham, and later documents record a fall in the village population. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the manor was regained by the Fenwicks. During the mid- to late 17th century the estate was acquired by John Douglas of Newcastle who depopulated the village and dispersed the farms to other parts of the estate. Maps of a similar date indicate that the northern half of the village became incorporated into a formal park which was established in the area at this time. The plan of the medieval village is a type well known in this part of Northumberland in which two parallel lines of houses face onto a broad rectangular village green, with crofts, or garden areas to the rear. This type of village is thought to be the result of deliberate planning by Norman rulers attempting to exert control over a rebellious region during the 11th and 12th centuries. The two rows of houses are oriented east to west, and each is visible as a series of rectangular enclosures or tofts containing the foundations of timber long houses. The house foundations stand to an average height of 0.3m. The ruined remains of Pead House at the centre of the south row of the village indicate that at least one of the original medieval plots continued in use into the post-medieval period. To the rear of each street, there are the well defined remains of linear crofts, each bounded from its neighbour by a bank on average 0.5m high. Some of the crofts, particularly on the north row of the village, contain the remains of rig and furrow cultivation. The two streets face onto a broad rectangular open space containing the remains of banks and hollows. This was formerly the village green. Subsequent to its desertion, part of the village green was ploughed up, and the remains of rig and furrow are visible at its north eastern end. A well defined hollow way crosses the green and opens out at its eastern end to form a funnelled access or driftway across the surrounding open fields to the pasture beyond. At the eastern end of the village, part of the open fields which once surrounded the village on all sides, survive in the form of a large medieval furlong or field bounded on some of its sides by intact headland. The remains of two smaller furlongs beyond it to the south east. Each furlong contains rig and furrow cultivation which survives well and stands to a maximum height of 1m. All stone walls and fences which cross the monument are excluded from the scheduling as are the line of telegraph poles and the metalled surface of the road, although the ground beneath all of these features is included. Historic England East Matfen Link

The following detailed information is from Historic England. The monument includes the deserted remains of the medieval village of East Matfen and part of its surviving open field system, situated on the right bank of the now canalised River Pont. It is divided into two separate areas by a later trackway. In the 13th century the manor of East Matfen was held by the Fenwick family and a document records that in 1296 14 individuals from the village were eligible to pay taxes. Part of the manor was subsequently granted to the priory at Hexham, and later documents record a fall in the village population. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the manor was regained by the Fenwicks. During the mid- to late 17th century the estate was acquired by John Douglas of Newcastle who depopulated the village and dispersed the farms to other parts of the estate. Maps of a similar date indicate that the northern half of the village became incorporated into a formal park which was established in the area at this time. The plan of the medieval village is a type well known in this part of Northumberland in which two parallel lines of houses face onto a broad rectangular village green, with crofts, or garden areas to the rear. This type of village is thought to be the result of deliberate planning by Norman rulers attempting to exert control over a rebellious region during the 11th and 12th centuries. The two rows of houses are oriented east to west, and each is visible as a series of rectangular enclosures or tofts containing the foundations of timber long houses. The house foundations stand to an average height of 0.3m. The ruined remains of Pead House at the centre of the south row of the village indicate that at least one of the original medieval plots continued in use into the post-medieval period. To the rear of each street, there are the well defined remains of linear crofts, each bounded from its neighbour by a bank on average 0.5m high. Some of the crofts, particularly on the north row of the village, contain the remains of rig and furrow cultivation. The two streets face onto a broad rectangular open space containing the remains of banks and hollows. This was formerly the village green. Subsequent to its desertion, part of the village green was ploughed up, and the remains of rig and furrow are visible at its north eastern end. A well defined hollow way crosses the green and opens out at its eastern end to form a funnelled access or driftway across the surrounding open fields to the pasture beyond. At the eastern end of the village, part of the open fields which once surrounded the village on all sides, survive in the form of a large medieval furlong or field bounded on some of its sides by intact headland. The remains of two smaller furlongs beyond it to the south east. Each furlong contains rig and furrow cultivation which survives well and stands to a maximum height of 1m. All stone walls and fences which cross the monument are excluded from the scheduling as are the line of telegraph poles and the metalled surface of the road, although the ground beneath all of these features is included. Historic England East Matfen Link

The following detailed information is from Historic England. The monument includes the deserted remains of the medieval village of East Matfen and part of its surviving open field system, situated on the right bank of the now canalised River Pont. It is divided into two separate areas by a later trackway. In the 13th century the manor of East Matfen was held by the Fenwick family and a document records that in 1296 14 individuals from the village were eligible to pay taxes. Part of the manor was subsequently granted to the priory at Hexham, and later documents record a fall in the village population. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the manor was regained by the Fenwicks. During the mid- to late 17th century the estate was acquired by John Douglas of Newcastle who depopulated the village and dispersed the farms to other parts of the estate. Maps of a similar date indicate that the northern half of the village became incorporated into a formal park which was established in the area at this time. The plan of the medieval village is a type well known in this part of Northumberland in which two parallel lines of houses face onto a broad rectangular village green, with crofts, or garden areas to the rear. This type of village is thought to be the result of deliberate planning by Norman rulers attempting to exert control over a rebellious region during the 11th and 12th centuries. The two rows of houses are oriented east to west, and each is visible as a series of rectangular enclosures or tofts containing the foundations of timber long houses. The house foundations stand to an average height of 0.3m. The ruined remains of Pead House at the centre of the south row of the village indicate that at least one of the original medieval plots continued in use into the post-medieval period. To the rear of each street, there are the well defined remains of linear crofts, each bounded from its neighbour by a bank on average 0.5m high. Some of the crofts, particularly on the north row of the village, contain the remains of rig and furrow cultivation. The two streets face onto a broad rectangular open space containing the remains of banks and hollows. This was formerly the village green. Subsequent to its desertion, part of the village green was ploughed up, and the remains of rig and furrow are visible at its north eastern end. A well defined hollow way crosses the green and opens out at its eastern end to form a funnelled access or driftway across the surrounding open fields to the pasture beyond. At the eastern end of the village, part of the open fields which once surrounded the village on all sides, survive in the form of a large medieval furlong or field bounded on some of its sides by intact headland. The remains of two smaller furlongs beyond it to the south east. Each furlong contains rig and furrow cultivation which survives well and stands to a maximum height of 1m. All stone walls and fences which cross the monument are excluded from the scheduling as are the line of telegraph poles and the metalled surface of the road, although the ground beneath all of these features is included. Historic England East Matfen Link

The following detailed information is from Historic England. The monument includes the deserted remains of the medieval village of East Matfen and part of its surviving open field system, situated on the right bank of the now canalised River Pont. It is divided into two separate areas by a later trackway. In the 13th century the manor of East Matfen was held by the Fenwick family and a document records that in 1296 14 individuals from the village were eligible to pay taxes. Part of the manor was subsequently granted to the priory at Hexham, and later documents record a fall in the village population. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the manor was regained by the Fenwicks. During the mid- to late 17th century the estate was acquired by John Douglas of Newcastle who depopulated the village and dispersed the farms to other parts of the estate. Maps of a similar date indicate that the northern half of the village became incorporated into a formal park which was established in the area at this time. The plan of the medieval village is a type well known in this part of Northumberland in which two parallel lines of houses face onto a broad rectangular village green, with crofts, or garden areas to the rear. This type of village is thought to be the result of deliberate planning by Norman rulers attempting to exert control over a rebellious region during the 11th and 12th centuries. The two rows of houses are oriented east to west, and each is visible as a series of rectangular enclosures or tofts containing the foundations of timber long houses. The house foundations stand to an average height of 0.3m. The ruined remains of Pead House at the centre of the south row of the village indicate that at least one of the original medieval plots continued in use into the post-medieval period. To the rear of each street, there are the well defined remains of linear crofts, each bounded from its neighbour by a bank on average 0.5m high. Some of the crofts, particularly on the north row of the village, contain the remains of rig and furrow cultivation. The two streets face onto a broad rectangular open space containing the remains of banks and hollows. This was formerly the village green. Subsequent to its desertion, part of the village green was ploughed up, and the remains of rig and furrow are visible at its north eastern end. A well defined hollow way crosses the green and opens out at its eastern end to form a funnelled access or driftway across the surrounding open fields to the pasture beyond. At the eastern end of the village, part of the open fields which once surrounded the village on all sides, survive in the form of a large medieval furlong or field bounded on some of its sides by intact headland. The remains of two smaller furlongs beyond it to the south east. Each furlong contains rig and furrow cultivation which survives well and stands to a maximum height of 1m. All stone walls and fences which cross the monument are excluded from the scheduling as are the line of telegraph poles and the metalled surface of the road, although the ground beneath all of these features is included. Historic England East Matfen Link

Earthworks on the site of East Matfen medieval village and open field system. The following detailed information is from Historic England. The monument includes the deserted remains of the medieval village of East Matfen and part of its surviving open field system, situated on the right bank of the now canalised River Pont. It is divided into two separate areas by a later trackway. In the 13th century the manor of East Matfen was held by the Fenwick family and a document records that in 1296 14 individuals from the village were eligible to pay taxes. Part of the manor was subsequently granted to the priory at Hexham, and later documents record a fall in the village population. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the manor was regained by the Fenwicks. During the mid- to late 17th century the estate was acquired by John Douglas of Newcastle who depopulated the village and dispersed the farms to other parts of the estate. Maps of a similar date indicate that the northern half of the village became incorporated into a formal park which was established in the area at this time. The plan of the medieval village is a type well known in this part of Northumberland in which two parallel lines of houses face onto a broad rectangular village green, with crofts, or garden areas to the rear. This type of village is thought to be the result of deliberate planning by Norman rulers attempting to exert control over a rebellious region during the 11th and 12th centuries. The two rows of houses are oriented east to west, and each is visible as a series of rectangular enclosures or tofts containing the foundations of timber long houses. The house foundations stand to an average height of 0.3m. The ruined remains of Pead House at the centre of the south row of the village indicate that at least one of the original medieval plots continued in use into the post-medieval period. To the rear of each street, there are the well defined remains of linear crofts, each bounded from its neighbour by a bank on average 0.5m high. Some of the crofts, particularly on the north row of the village, contain the remains of rig and furrow cultivation. The two streets face onto a broad rectangular open space containing the remains of banks and hollows. This was formerly the village green. Subsequent to its desertion, part of the village green was ploughed up, and the remains of rig and furrow are visible at its north eastern end. A well defined hollow way crosses the green and opens out at its eastern end to form a funnelled access or driftway across the surrounding open fields to the pasture beyond. At the eastern end of the village, part of the open fields which once surrounded the village on all sides, survive in the form of a large medieval furlong or field bounded on some of its sides by intact headland. The remains of two smaller furlongs beyond it to the south east. Each furlong contains rig and furrow cultivation which survives well and stands to a maximum height of 1m. All stone walls and fences which cross the monument are excluded from the scheduling as are the line of telegraph poles and the metalled surface of the road, although the ground beneath all of these features is included. Historic England East Matfen Link

You can't leave your bicycle anywhere these days. This dubious looking character wearing a sheepskin coat was giving my bike the onceover at East Matfen. When confronted the culprit became sheepish and ran off, as usual the police weren't interested so no one ended up behind baa's.

A standing stone with cup markings. The following description is from the Ancient Monuments website. The monument includes the remains of a standing stone of Bronze Age date situated near the top of a prominent rise. The standing stone is 2m high and 0.5m square at the base and 1m wide at the top. It has been fashioned from a massive freestone block, the upper parts of which are weathered and deeply grooved and it leans slightly to the south. The eastern face of the standing stone displays at least four cup marks or shallow, circular prehistoric motifs pecked out of the surface of the stone. The standing stone is known locally as 'The Warrior Stone'. Ancient Monuments Link

Public footpath at Standing Stone near Matfen heading towards West Moorhouses.

Also known as the Stob Stone. See description here NZ0370 : Matfen Standing Stone

Matfen Standing Stone, also known as the Stob Stone, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, listed Grade II by Historic England (List entry Number: 1155462) Link The prehistoric sandstone monolith is about 7 ft. high and stands on the grass verge of the road opposite a farmhouse called Standing Stone Farm. It is likely to have been moved here from a previous location. The stone has cup marks near its base on three of its four sides and is naturally fluted NZ0370 : Matfen Standing Stone On three sides of its base, close to the ground, are many cup marks. It is not known if they were put there before or after the stone was erected. They are best seen in oblique sunlight. There are 29 cups and three fainter ones on the east side, five cups in an arc around a fainter cup on the north side, and 23 of various sizes on the west side. A 3D model made from 24 digital photos can be viewed here: Link A local farmer stated that the stone was ploughed up in a field at Moralees Farm near NY044743 before it was re-erected on the current site. If this is true, its original location would have been near the Ingoe Warrior Stone, possibly at the tumulus just to its SE. Interestingly, there is a Stob Hill about 200m NW of the Warrior Stone in Ingoe village. Old OS maps show the stone in its present location at least since the 1860s. Camden's Britannia, 2nd Ed. (1722) states that "W. Matfen is the seat of Sir William Blacket, Bart. And in an adjoining field is a circular mount with a cavity at top, and by it a stone nine feet high, three feet by one and a half thick, called the Stob stone." It is not clear where this mound was located. Link

On some earlier OS maps this farmhouse is down as West Moorhouse and West Moorhouse is down as Moorhouse.

This was an estate cottage for the Matfen Hall country house estate of the Rickman and Blackett families. The cottage was specifically built, in the earlier part of the 19th century, for the keeper of the kennels. It is in ashlar stonework and Welsh slate and is similar to others in the surrounding area. This is a Grade II Listed Building protected by law. Link

This icehouse was built in the 19th century for the Matfen Hall country house estate. It is a mixture of the conventional egg-shape and rectangular entrance vaults. It is likely that the ice used for the preservation and storage of meat would have been collected from the nearby pond. Elsewhere - such as at Berwick - more commercial fisheries used imported ice from the Baltic. These are common features of country house and landscaped park estates; an example of an icehouse can be visited at Wallington Hall. This is a Grade II Listed Building protected by law. Link

Farmhouses and cottages