I seem to have spent a long time this summer wandering in the Cheviot Hills and looking at the archaeology. At the end of one of these days, accompanied by a few friends, we investigated the interesting site of the deserted medieval village (dmv) of Old Middleton Town.
Old Middleton lies just to the west of a cluster of Middleton place names (Middleton Hall, North Middleton and South Middleton) on the east edge of the Cheviot Hills, just south of Wooler.
Old Middleton lies just to the west of a cluster of Middleton place names (Middleton Hall, North Middleton and South Middleton) on the east edge of the Cheviot Hills, just south of Wooler.
View Old Middleton aqueduct in a larger map
The map above shows Old Middleton dmv (purple) flanked by an unnamed stream to the south and improved fields to the north. The stream swing round to the north where it enters the forest plantation and descends steeply to a junction with Coldgate Water in Happy Valley. The two recently deserted shepherd's cottages on the north side of the old village are shown in yellow. The course of the aqueduct is shown in blue.
Our first view of the aqueduct was from the west side of the valley standing on the bank near the deserted modern cottages. Its line of covering cap-stones appeared almost level running along the valley side on the side of the hill.
The photos below show the aqueduct close up. In the central part it is made of a deep, slit-like, stone-lined ditch, partly covered by large irregular cap-stones. There was no sign or sound of running water and it appeared unused. We asked the questions, what was it for, and when was it built?
At its north end, the cap-stones end and the ditch appears splayed-out, and filled in adding to appearance of its disuse. Standing on its line, it distinctly appears to dip towards the south. If that was the case, where did the water come from 'at the top of the hill', and why was it carried into the valley below the deserted village? Surely a supply of water was not needed there, as the stream flowing past the old settlement would have always been an adequate source.
At its north end, the cap-stones end and the ditch appears splayed-out, and filled in adding to appearance of its disuse. Standing on its line, it distinctly appears to dip towards the south. If that was the case, where did the water come from 'at the top of the hill', and why was it carried into the valley below the deserted village? Surely a supply of water was not needed there, as the stream flowing past the old settlement would have always been an adequate source.
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