Irton Archaeology Project
Added on 11 January 2024
documents/general/irton-dig.pdf
Latest Update July 2025
Dear All,
I became involved in this project when in 2012 Irton church of St. Paul’s received the donation of a field to the west of its present graveyard.
So began its unintended beginnings when the Senior Archaeologist, John Hodgson at LDNP called for an excavation to evaluate a ‘change of use’ because so many prehistoric flint and stone artefacts had been found in the past and to so determine if there was any evidence of human settlement. That work was funded by St. Paul’s church PCC and I organised the radiocarbon dating analysis by obtaining a grant from Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society (CWAAS).
The results of that excavation have been previously reported but I am attaching a copy of the Wardell Armstrong report once more for completeness. Basically, evidence of settlement was found, consisting of a soil filled ditch and postholes. Finds were charred grain, wall plaster daub and some fine metal working debris (see report for details). The dates were from the early medieval period 7th to 10th centuries which spans what is believed by experts to be the time of the erection of Irton Cross (800-850AD).
Those findings gave rise to thoughts as to what may have been in the field to the north of St. Paul’s church. Grants were provided by South Copeland Geological Disposal Facility Community Partnership and CWAAS. That part of the project started with a magnetometry survey in 2021, as had the one in 2012.
Evaluation excavation took place in September 2023 when three 15m long trenches were opened to target various features shown in the magnetometry. It was a limited excavation which unfortunately could not include training for volunteers but we did have an Open Day when visitors could view and hear about all that was occurring.
The work was carried out by Eden Heritage Ltd. and the landowner and a full report is attached.
Essentially the features found were similar to those found in 2012 with dates of a slightly greater range of 6th to 11th century ie 500 to 1099AD.
My questions now are, was this a Romano-British settlement which evolved into an Anglian one say about 700AD, further on to Irish/Manx/Scottish Norse around 900AD?
Was it an early christian settlement? Any settlement in place at the time of the installation of Irton Cross would probably be so.
Could it also be that it was a precedent for Irton Hall in the 11th century?
Hopefully these questions might be answered someday.