NT8610 : Archaeological excavation of Barrowburn Fulling Mill
taken 7 years ago, near to Barrowburn, Northumberland, Great Britain

Archaeological excavation of Barrowburn Fulling Mill
An excavation of the remains of a C13th fulling mill by members of the Coquetdale Community Archaeology Group in July 2011. The main site shown here along the edge of the River Coquet, just upstream from the remaining piers of a old footbridge, consists of the remains of a water channel and water wheel pit along with a horizontal wooden structure on the river bed. Finds of a cut silver halfpenny and shards of medieval pottery confirmed the radiocarbon dates already obtained.
Barrowburn Fulling Mill
Remains of the C13th Fulling Mill in Upper Coquetdale, founded by the monks of Newminster Abbey near Morpeth NZ1885 : Newminster Abbey 1, were found in 2010 by members of the Coquetdale Community Archaeology Group at a location previously suggested in a description written by David Dippie Dixon in 1903 LinkMany of the dressed stone blocks on the site had already been robbed for other buildings in the neighbourhood.
The group arranged and conducted a full archaeological excavation in July 2011. Masonry blocks and wooden structures on the river bed and its northern bank were identified as part of the water channel and water wheel pit with a likely water control system a further 60m upstream.
In a fulling mill, newly woven woollen cloth was beaten with water-powered hammers to remove grease and close up the threads, a process involving chemical agents probably derived from urine, fuller's earth and burnt bracken. In Scotland and parts of northern England, the process is known as 'waulking'.
A search of Geograph shows a much better preserved example from Hampshire SU5833 : Alresford - Fulling Mill but it is likely the one formerly here would have been a much cruder structure.
The full story, detailed ongoing report Linkand excavation diary Link
are available here Link
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- Grid Square
- NT8610, 34 images (more nearby
)
- Photographer
- Andrew Curtis (find more nearby)
- Date Taken
- Friday, 29 July, 2011 (more nearby)
- Submitted
- Saturday, 30 July, 2011
- Geographical Context
- River (from Tags)
- Subject Location
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OSGB36:
NT 8655 1096 [10m precision]
WGS84: 55:23.5445N 2:12.8329W - Camera Location
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OSGB36:
NT 8654 1097
- View Direction
- Southeast (about 135 degrees)
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Geograph
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