Infell Wood, Ponsonby

Has been described as a Questionable Pele Tower

There are earthwork remains

NameInfell Wood, Ponsonby
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishPonsonby

A rectangular medieval pele-garth 82 yds a x 55yds with the east corner cut off, is situated on the eastern slope of a hill in Infell, Ponsonby, it consists of two parallel earthen banks with interior ditch, and entrances in the east and west angles with what appear to be hollow ways leading off from them. Nearest to the north angle is a circular banked artifical pond of 45' diameter, with a spring at its east side. (PastScape– ref. Parker)

The feature is not a moat; the hill slope precludes this; the section is too weak to be purely defensive and too sharp to suggest great age. Its probable purpose was an enclosure for stock, though the hill-top immediately SW offers slight evidence of underlying foundations. (PastScape– ref. Field Investigators Comments F1 FRH 29-JUN-67)

Gatehouse Comments

Scheduled as a medieval moated site. Salter suggests perhaps site of grange of Calder Abbey. Parker did some slight excavation, and found no masonry on site, he concluded this was a defended stock enclosure of medieval date, used to protect stock from cattle raids and points out the presence of drovers routes. A report of finds of clay pipes suggest use into the early modern period. A single find of unglazed grey pottery, identified as Roman, is probably not significant. There doesn't seem to be any evidence of any permanent residential structure (of stone or timber) within the earthwork, nor does Parker seem to suggest such although his use of the term pele-garth seems to have lead to this idea. The unusual strength of this stock enclosure may have something to do with it being defensive and/or may represent it being built for Calder Abbey who, presumably, had more money than the usual tenant farmers.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY060061
Latitude54.441780090332
Longitude-3.4502100944519
Eastings306040
Northings506130
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 100 (slight)
  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 104
  • Parker, C.A. (new edn rev. Collingwood, W.G.), 1926, The Gosforth District: Its Antiquities and Places of Interest (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 15) p. 99-101

Journals

  • Cherry, J. and P.J., 1984, 'Prehistoric Habitation Sites in West Cumbria: Part II, The Nethertown and Seascale Areas' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 84 p. 9 online copy
  • Parker, C.A., 1905, 'The Earthwork on Infell, Ponsonby' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 5 p. 145-9 online copy

Other

  • English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 43 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 46 online copy