Ting Mound

The Ting Mound or Thing Moot at Fellfoot Farm, Little Langdale, Cumbria, England is an Ancient Monument (a 'nationally important' archaeological site). It is a natural mound which has been deliberately terraced, possibly in the tenth century, although it has not been dated archaeologically. It is believed that the mound was used as an open-air meeting place for local government, specifically for a Thing (from the Old Norse þing), a type of early assembly found throughout Northern Europe where there was Scandinavian influence. The mound is very similar to the Tynwald Mount on the Isle of Man. This supports the idea that it was established by Viking settlers, who have left a legacy of Norse toponyms in the Langdales, and possibly built some of the dry-stone walls which are a feature of the landscape. It is situated close to a Roman road and other transport routes through the Cumbrian mountains. Towards the end of the nineteenth century the site attracted the interest of local antiquarians. It was described by Henry Swainson Cowper (see note1) and painted by W.G. Collingwood.