Ferneyrigg moated site

Despite partial infilling of the southern arm of the moat and the present occupation and use of the eastern half of the enclosed platform, the moated site at Ferneyrigg remains well preserved and retains significant archaeological remains, including evidence of the buildings which originally occupied the western half of the platform. The importance of the monument is enhanced by the survival of other moated sites and a deserted medieval village in the area. Moated sites are uncommon in Northumberland and this one will contribute to any study of the wider rural settlement pattern at this time.

The monument is a medieval moated site occupying the western end of a low ridge. The moat includes a raised rectangular platform 120m east-west by 50m north-south. This is surrounded on the north and west sides and on the north-east angle by a ditch 8m wide, and an outer bank 8m wide which is 1.4m high above the bottom of the ditch. On much of the southern side of the site the ditch and bank have been infilled and built over. The eastern half of the central platform is now occupied by the present farm of Ferneyrigg. The original buildings are likely to have been more centrally placed on the platform. The monument is surrounded on all sides by an extensive system of medieval ridge and furrow.