Medieval Village (remains), Abberwick

The medieval village of Abberwick is well preserved and retains significant archaeological deposits. The village is a good example of its type which, taken together with the remains of its open field system and the associated tower house, will add greatly to our knowledge and understanding of medieval settlement in the region.

The monument includes the deserted remains of the medieval village of Abberwick, the foundations of a tower house and a section of the surviving open field system.

The earliest documentary reference to the village at Abberwick is contained in a document of 13th-century date where it was recorded as a member of the barony of Wark on Tweed. In common with other Northumberland villages, the population of the village fell between the end of the 13th century and 1336, when there were only six individuals eligible to pay taxes. The fall in population is usually attributed to devastation of villages by the wars with Scotland, a series of failed harvests and the effects of the Black Death. By the 17th century, the population had recovered and 17 households are recorded, but by the early 18th century the village had been depopulated and all but one of the farms were dispersed to other parts of the township.

The remains of the village, the tower and its field system are visible as a series of earthworks in the fields to the north, north east and west of the modern farm of Abberwick. The most prominent feature is a raised rectangular mound 12m by 7m standing to a height of 1.5m. Situated upon this mound there are the foundations of a rectangular enclosure divided into two compartments and visible as low earthen banks. This building is thought to be the remains of a tower which was recorded at Abberwick in a document of 1572. Surrounding the site of the tower are the foundations of other rectangular buildings visible as low platforms, mounds and small enclosures. Associated with the foundations of these buildings, and attached to some of them, are a series of larger enclosures, interpreted as crofts or small allotments, which are bounded by banks standing to a maximum of 1m high.

A series of five larger crofts situated immediately north of the modern farm of Abberwick contain the well preserved remains of rig and furrow cultivation. Surrounding the village part of the open field system farmed by its inhabitants is visible. Immediately to the north there is a large furlong, or field, with intact headlands; this furlong overlies an earlier feature which is visible on aerial photographs and is interpreted as a former headland. To the west of this furlong there are a series of smaller furlongs with intact headlands and furlong boundaries. All of the furlongs contain extensive remains of rig and furrow cultivation on average 8m wide between furrows and standing to an average height of 0.3m.