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Martinlee Sike
Cairnfield (Period Unknown), Cultivation Terrace(S) (Medieval), Pen(S) (Post Medieval), Rig And Furrow (Medieval) - (Post Medieval), Stock Enclosure(S) (Post Medieval)
Site Name Martinlee Sike
Classification Cairnfield (Period Unknown), Cultivation Terrace(S) (Medieval), Pen(S) (Post Medieval), Rig And Furrow (Medieval) - (Post Medieval), Stock Enclosure(S) (Post Medieval)
Canmore ID 74618
Site Number NT60NE 20.03
NGR NT 655 076
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/74618
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Southdean
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Roxburgh
- Former County Roxburghshire
Field Visit (10 January 1992)
NT60NE 20.03 655 076.
There are three types of cultivation remains visible within the area of the two enclosures: small cairns; rig; and cultivation terraces.
The small cairns extend for some 300m to NW and SE of Martinlee Sike, the largest measuring about 6m in diameter. The cultivation terraces are confined to a small area at c. NT 6566 0765 within the E enclosure and extend immediately S of Martinlee Plantation some 150m from WNW to ESE by less than 100m transversely, and there is a single terrace in the W enclosure at NT 6542 0796. The cultivation terraces in the E enclosure are cut through by furrows of the rig that occupy the same ground. The rig varies in width from 3m to 9m with a slight reverse-S shape. The thick heather and bracken made it difficult to be sure if all the traces were mapped, and indeed aerial photographs showed there is more than could be ascertained on the ground (visible on oblique aerial photograph taken by J Dent B 83690/po). The rig was confined within the bank and ditch of the enclosure except for a few patches to the N of the W enclosure. The precise nature of which could not be determined.
In the SW corner of the E enclosure, in part impinging upon the farmstead (NT60NE 20.01), there are several small stock enclosures defined by earthen banks often still standing as much as 1m in height. One of the banks runs across the banks and ditch of the E enclosure and continues SW, along the line of the outside of the ditch for a short distance.
A rectilinear enclosure with banks of similar type to those of the stock enclosures in the E enclosure lies immediately NW of the Martinlee Sike at NT 6540 0785; it overlies one of the small cairns, some of the rig and the later roadway (NT60NE 20.05).
Several pens or bothies were located amongst cultivation remains, including one at NT 6562 0757 and another at NT 6543 0775 (ROX92 19, 25). These two are of similar dimensions at about 3m in length by 2m in breadth within spread stony banks up to 1.5m in thickness and standing about 0.5m in height with a single entrance in the side or end. Two of the pens are built against the sides of the later stock enclosures (NT 6553 0761 and NT 6562 0758).
A stone-walled enclosure on the haugh of the Carter Burn at NT 6562 0755 and a sheepfold on the Millstone Sike at NT 6598 0747 are depicted on the 1st edition OS 6-inch map (Roxburghshire 1863, Sheet 34).
Visited by RCAHMS (PJD) 10 January 1992.
