Natural England - Barn Restoration sheds light on Roman Britain
Barn Restoration sheds light on Roman Britain
18 February 2010
Restoration work funded by Natural England sheds light on the Roman occupation of northern England.
A stone carving dating from between the 1st and 4th Centuries AD, uncovered during a barn restoration in Cumbria, has been identified as a bovine image; the thick set legs and horns projecting from the head of the carving are thought to represent a bull or sacrificial oxen. It is similar to a number of Roman carvings in the area, notably at Chesters Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall and in Carlisle.
The restoration work carried out at Cunningarth Farm, near Wigton in Cumbria and funded through Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme, was deemed essential to maintain the form, function and long term agricultural use of the barn.
During the restoration, having removed the rendering from the barn, it became clear that much of this and the majority of buildings at the farm, were originally constructed utilising stone from the old Roman fort at Carlisle.
The carving is likely to have served as a symbol of sacrifice at the fort and was probably displayed above a statue niche or shrine. The primitive practice of displaying the heads of sacrificial oxen on the walls of temples dates back to the Neolithic era whilst some Roman legions used the bull as their insignia.
Martin Sowerby, Natural England’s Historic Environment and Traditional Buildings Adviser, said: “We had no idea that the carving existed until the restoration work was underway but this is a very significant find. It is of great importance for studies into Roman Britain.”
Liz Newton, Natural England’s Northwest Regional Director, said: “The repair of historic buildings and structures are not normally associated with farming and land management practices. However, these features add considerably to the landscape character of the countryside and are a vital part of the rural historic environment.”
Building restorations funded through HLS schemes are not confined to traditional farm buildings. Other buildings of historic significance can be considered, for example industrial or military buildings, such as mining structures and World War II pillboxes. Such buildings are often closely associated with land use and historically important functions allied to the rural environment.
Natural England’s Environmental Stewardship schemes such as HLS provide a valuable financial incentive for owners and occupiers of historic buildings to carry out appropriate renovation work and offer an alternative to conversion for buildings such as traditional barns which can still be utilised in sympathy with their surroundings.
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Notes to Editors:
Natural England strives to encourage the highest conservation standards on the work it funds, and this has recently been recognised by Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Buildings are prioritised for restoration based on a number of criteria and not only on their historic value; it is not a requirement that buildings are listed to receive funding. Natural England’s assessment procedure, which has been developed in partnership with English Heritage, also takes into account other factors including the significance of the building within the surviving farmstead and its contribution to the historic landscape character, landscape amenity value, wildlife value, public access, and the urgency of the required works.
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship (ES) replaced the Countryside Stewardship (CSS) Scheme in 2005. ES is an agri-environment scheme which provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver effective environmental management on their land.
Environmental Stewardship (ES) is designed to build on the recognised success of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Its primary objectives are to:
Conserve wildlife (biodiversity)
Maintain and enhance landscape quality and character
Protect the historic environment and natural resources
Promote public access and understanding of the countryside
Natural resource protection
Environmental Stewardship has three elements:
Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) provides a straightforward approach to supporting the good stewardship of the countryside through simple and effective land management that goes beyond the Single Payment Scheme requirement to maintain land in good agricultural and environmental condition. It is open to all farmers and landowners.
Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) is the organic strand of ELS. It is geared to organic and organic/conventional mixed farming systems and is open to all farmers not receiving Organic Farming Scheme aid.
Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) concentrates on the more complex types of management where land managers need advice and support and where agreements will be tailored to local circumstances. HLS applications assessed against specific local targets and agreements will be offered where they meet these targets and represent good value for money.
Higher Level Stewardship
Natural England recently launched a new approach to the targeting of funds through the Higher Level of Environmental Stewardship (ES) schemes. Anyone wishing to register their interest in an HLS scheme should contact their usual land agent or local Natural England office in the first instance.
North West (Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria)
Natural England
PO Box 380
Crewe, CW1 6YH
Tel: 0300 060 1113
Fax: 0300 060 1123
Email: iss.crewe@naturalengland.org.uk
For further information contact:
Will Herman North West Regional Communications on 07919 303452, William.herman@naturalengland.org.uk
