King Charles II Monument Black Dub, Cumbria. Archaeological Fabric Survey

Oxford Archaeology North undertook a photographic and descriptive survey of The King Charles II Monument, a Listed Grade II monument, also known as Black Dub, on the Crosby Ravensworth Fell, Cumbria (NY 6040 1080) in June 2002. The investigation was carried out at the request of Cumbria Council Archaeological Service in advance of the consolidation of the monument. The monument was subject to slumping and was recorded by fully-annotated description, a scale base plan and both rectified and conventional photography prior to consolidation. A watching brief was maintained during its dismantling, and proposals for consolidation and rebuilding were agreed in advance with Mr Philip Holdsworth, the County Archaeologist for Cumbria, and Mr Alan Andrews, stonemason and conservator.
The monument is a nineteenth century construction commemorating the use of Black Dub as a temporary marching camp by King Charles II en route to the battle of Worcester in 1651. It was originally of dry-stone construction, though some consolidation work has been attempted since it was erected. The monument is weathered and slumping in towards its centre. The dismantling of the monument revealed the cause of the subsidence and the internal structure was successfully rebuilt.