Unthank

NY39SE 5 3890 9485.

(Classified under 'Medieval and later settlements'). A small, enclosed settlement, probably a 12th/13th century fortified manor house, seat of the Lovel family, and other enclosures (sited from plan to NY 389949). Old field systems and ridge and furrow are visible on the uphill side and further ridge and furrow, with the characteristic medieval hooked terminal to the strips at their southern ends, is to be seen SW of Unthank (centred NY 384 946).

C A R Radford and R C Reid 1960.

NY 3890 9485. This enigmatic earthwork, which appears to be post-medieval in character, is situated on a level spur above Unthank Burn at 165m OD. It comprises four distinct compartments 75m E-W by 50m N-S. Thee is a scarp and bank around the W and N, and a simple scarp along the steep S side. A pronounced inturned entrance is centred to the W side.

The four compartments are at varying levels and are formed by earthen banks and low scarps; there are level stances, perhaps of minor structures, but there is no focal area or indication of a substantial structure to confirm that this could be a manorial site. Its distance from Unthank Church also may cast doubt on this classification.

There is a small area of old rig and furrow cultivation on the N side of the earthwork, but further enclosures to the E, shown on Radford and Reid's plan comprise turf field banks of probable late date. The field of rig and furrow to the west of Unthank is now almost levelled. Surveyed at 1/10,000.

Visited by OS (JRL), 8 October 1979