Tynemouth, possible Neolithic henge monument

Cropmark site recognised by Neil Stevenson from three aerial photographs taken by the County Borough of Tynemouth Surveyor's office; two taken in 1956 and the other earlier. The photographs show a circular cropmark with a bank between the two ditches. Post Medieval ridge and furrow overlies the circular cropmark, indicating that it pre-dates the post medieval period and is therefore of some antiquity. It is thought that the circular feature is approximately 50m in diameter. The circular shape and outer and inner ditches of the cropmark suggest a number of possibilities including a Neolithic henge or a Bronze Age ring cairn. One of the photographs appears to show that the feature has two entrances orientated WNW and SSE. This site may therefore represent the most northerly class A henge so far discovered, delineated by an external and internal ditch with a central bank {1}. As there is evidence of Second World War sites nearby, the features may have been associated with some military activity (NMR).