Report of Meetings for 1890. By Dr J. Hardy. 33 



are most probably the foundations of the Celtic houses. One group was 

 surrounded with a rampier ; the others were scattered about in its neigh- 

 bourhood. The former may have been the residence of a chieftain, with 

 his family and immediate dependents ; the other the dwellings of the other 

 members of the tribe, who, following their chieftain in war, dwelt near 

 him under his protection during peace. These are the most interesting 

 relics I have met with in Northumberland. 



July 1854. — Beanley and Eglingham. On the summit of Beanley Hill 

 (which has a cliff face to the west, and is about 200 feet above the plain 

 below) is a Gist formed in the usual manner of upright sandstone slabs, and 

 covered with another large one. It is 2 feet 9 inches long by 2 feet 6 

 inches broad ; the large cover is 5 feet 4 inches long ; the direction is from 

 N. to S. It is in the midst of trees, overgrown with moss or covered with 

 peat. It was discovered five years ago by the roadman and opened and 

 examined by him, bat nothing was discovered within. [Note.— A grinder 

 tooth, vei-y perfect, was found in this or another grave, which I saw at 

 Beanley. — J.H.] 



A large Camp is also on the summit of this hill with a treble rampier — 

 it occupies about two acres ; but owing to the denseness of the wood, its 

 various portions cannot well be made out. It is like that on Bewick Hill, 

 circular — and belongs to the Celtic era. [See subsequent notice of Oct. 

 10, 1855.] 



The prospect from this hill is extensive and interesting. The vale of 

 the Breamish and Till lies towards the West, bounded by the Cheviot 

 range, which consists of a succession of rounded hills. On the flanks are 

 the very beautiful undnlatory hillocks of Boulder and Gravel beds about 

 Roddam and Ilderton. The bright waters of the Breamish are seen far in 

 the distance winding their way from the hills, with here and there masses 

 of gra\el brought down by the wild floods when swollen with rains ; a 

 glimpse is occasionally caught of the Till as it bends round the rugged 

 chain of sandstone hills from Bewick to Doddington. The scene is studded 

 over with farm steadings, gentlemen's halls, and plantations. 



Eglingham Moor. — On this Moor I have seen two or three Encampments 

 or perhaps Celtic villages. The most Western I examined to-day. [A 

 rough sketch is given of three adjacent entrenchments, enclosing hollow 

 or defaced hut circles ; the western contains 4 ; the southern also 4 ; the 

 northern 1 ; with 2 on the exterior, and 3 on the exterior at the easteni 

 end ; a road entering at the east end of the combined N. and S. camps, 

 separates them into two.] It appears to me to be the foundations of 

 Celtic dwellings. The foundations are circular, consisting of Valiums ol' 

 earth and stone around central hollows or pits. The length of the whole 

 is about 60 yards, the breadth 30 yards. The entrance is on the East. 

 [This is enumerated subsequently, see No. 2, May 21, 1859.] 



Oct. 10, 1854. — Kemmer Lough. Visited the Lough. A drain has been 



cut from this Lough 3| feet deep, for the purpose of lessening the Lough 



and taking the water out the adjoining swampy ground. The Lough was 



10 acres in extent, and is pretty nearly round. Tlie water issues from the , 



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