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Summary

The remains of a Post Medieval breastwork, dating to the civil war, on the eastern side of Toll's Hill, St Mary's. Now visible as two linear earthworks on the east side of the hill.

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 15476: PREHISTORIC HUT CIRCLE AND CIVIL WAR FIELDWORKS ON EASTERN TOLL'S HILL, ST MARY'S

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SV 91 SW 69
• National Record of the Historic Environment to Historic Environment Records data transfer
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 304147
• SMR No. (OS Quarter-sheet and SMR No.): SV 91 SW 69

Monument Type(s):

• BREASTWORK (Civil War (1642 to 1651) - 1642 AD to 1651 AD)

Full description

The remains of a Post Medieval breastwork, dating to the Civil War, on the eastern side of Toll's Hill, St. Mary's. The breastwork now survives in two lengths, having been effected by coastal errosion. It appears in the 1908 second edition OS map (1), and is visible in aerial photographs (8, 9).

The breastwork is referenced by Troutbeck in 1794 (2), who describes: 'About a furlong further on the shore N. W. from Toll's Island, is another breast work, for the security of the bay on the N. side of the said island'. The earthworks probably form part of the continuous breastwork between Toll's Island and the Blockhouse recorded by O'Niel (3).

The site was visited in 1978 (4). Two stretches of breastwork were identified on the south east side: one 40m long (SV 9282 1213 - SV 9281 1209), and the other 15m long (SV 9279 1206 - SV 9278 1205); both are 0.7m high on the inner, landward, side and o.8m on the outer side. There were traces of a ditch.

The site was visited in 1988 (5). The breastwork was found as described by the OS fieldworker. The banks of earth and stone averaged 1.0m wide, and had been damaged by coastal erosion in places, causing several gaps.

The site was visited in 2008-10 (6, 7). Extant earthworks were noted, but the identification as a breastwork was deemed uncertain, and it was suggested they may be a combination of collapsed field walls and errosion caused by the footpath.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1900s, 2nd Edition 1:2500 Map, Cornwall LXXXVII.8 (Cartographic materials). SCO4050.

<2> Troutbeck, J, 1796, Survey of the Ancient and Present State of the Scilly Islands, 96 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4965.

<3> O'Neil, BH St J, 1961, Isles of Scilly MOW Guide, 32 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4042.

<4> Field Investigator's Comments, OS/Barton, JB 1978 (Survey). SCO29739.

<5> Field Investigator's Comments, CAU/Parkes, C 1988 (Survey). SCO29739.

<6> Field Investigator's Comments, HE/Bowden, M 2008-10 (Survey). SCO29739.

<7> Bowden, M, 2011, Isles of Scilly Military Defences, 1540-1951: Earthwork Sites and Minor Features, 30 (Cornwall Event Report). SCO25530.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1976, OS76/F164/73 (Aerial Photograph). SCO29973.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1976, OS76/F164/74 (Aerial Photograph). SCO29974.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• ECO3819 - Isles of Scilly Military Defences, 1540-1951 (Ref: RDRS 56-2011)

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