The Gatehouse website record for Tanfield, Magdalen Field

In the civil parish of West Tanfield. In the historic county of Yorkshire North Riding (Modern Authority of North Yorkshire, 1974 county of North Yorkshire).

Large enclosure formed by bank and ditch cutting off natural spur containing smaller semi-circular enclosure with foundations of probable medieval manor house and private chapel. Jackson suggests was also the site of a motte and bailey, Probably abandoned in favour of Tanfield Castle (qv). Licence to crenellate granted to Sir John Marmion in 1314, for his house called L'Ermitage' and repeated in 1348 when granted to his widow Matilda Depending on the date of the abandonment of the site at Magdelan Field this may refer to either site (or it's possible the 1348 licence was for the new house)
Jackson's suggestion as the site of a motte and bailey is clearly wrong, although the site may well date back to the Norman period. It has the form of a an Iron Age promontory fort but with the clear foundations of medieval mansion within it, there is no evidence of any form of motte.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SE23807742

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 52105
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is MNY21614 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

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