Settlement (destroyed): OS Grid Reference – SJ 959 928
Archaeology & History
Known by this name – Werneth – since at least the 12th century, place-name masters Ekwall, Smith and others have tended to think the place derives from a hypothetical British word, *verno-, meaning alder trees – though I aint so sure misself.
It’s been difficult to ascertain the precise nature of this prehistoric arena. Many mesolithic flint finds and old stone axes have been found around the area, but it seems primarily to have developed into a neolithic and Bronze Age settlement and burial site. A number of cairns were once here, and both rounded and linear earthwork features occur in the area; but there’s been considerable disturbance in and around the site and without in-depth archaeo-surveillance, much remains hidden.
References:
- Abraham, John Harris, Hidden Prehistory around the North West, Kindle 2012.
- Ekwall, E., The Place-Names of Lancashire, Manchester University Press 1922.
- Marriott, W., The Antiquities of Lyme and its Vicinity, Stockport 1810.
- Nevell, Michael, Tameside before 1066, TMBC 1992.
© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian
