Antonstown

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Anton’s Onset

In the civil parish of Bewcastle. In the historic county of Cumberland (Modern Authority of Cumbria, 1974 county of Cumbria).

The earthworks and buried remains of Antonstown medieval deserted settlement. It is located on the hillside 450 metres south east of Crew Farm and includes the turf covered remains of two houses, possibly bastles, and two sub-rectangular stock enclosures; one of the enclosures lies to the north of Fountain Sike while the remainder of the monument is situated south of the sike. The southern house lies with its long axis aligned east-west and measures 20 metres by 7 metres externally with walls 1.2 metres wide and up to 0.5 metres high. The second house, with its long axis at a slight angle to the first, measures circa 12 metres by 5 metres externally with walls 1.2 metres wide and up to 0.5 metres high, and is subdivided into two rooms of unequal sizes. A short distance north of the second house is a stock enclosure measuring 18 metres by 12 metres internally which is bounded by a turf and stone wall 1.2 metres wide and up to 0.8 metres high. There are narrow entrances at the south west and north west corners of the enclosure. On the northern side of Fountain Sike are three sides of a larger enclosure measuring circa 30 metres by 20 metres which is bounded on three sides by a turf and stone wall. The enclosure's north east wall has been partly disturbed by a later field dyke while Fountain Sike appears to have formed the boundary on the enclosure's south east side. A later field dyke also crosses that part of the monument to the south of Fountain Sike. The settlement was not included in the 1839 Tithe Award and is thus thought to have been abandoned by that date. (PastScape)

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is NY571770

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 12915
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 3869 '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.

• Books
  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (CWAAS)
    Ramm, H.G., McDowall, R.W. and Mercer, E., 1970, Shielings and Bastles (London) p51
• Journal Articles
  • Maughan, John, 1854, 'The Maiden Way, section III - survey of the Maiden way through the parish of Bewcastle' Archaeological Journal Vol11 p223-5