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Summary

The most southerly of a group of four Prehistoric bowl barrows on the summit of a high ridge to the south-west of Patchacott. This barrow has suffered rather more from ploughing than the others in the group and survives as a mound 23.8 metres diameter and 0.5 metres high.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020985: Four bowl barrows 340m north west of Mount Pleasant Farm
• SHINE: Earthworks of four prehistoric barrows north west of Mount Pleasant Farm
• Scheduled Monument 1020985: Four bowl barrows 340m north west of Mount Pleasant Farm

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 438165
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX49NE/16
• Old SAM Ref: 32194
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX49NE3
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BOWL BARROW (Early Bronze Age to Early Iron Age - 2200 BC to 700 BC (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Not shown on 19th century map.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1951, SX49NE3 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV261403.

A fourth barrow to the south of 'Three Barrows' is shown. No description is given. Other details: Plan.

Grinsell, L. V., 1970, The Barrows of North Devon, 110 (Article in Serial). SDV7849.

Possible barrow under arable. Diameter 30 paces, height 1 foot. The mound is of darker "mould" than the surroundings.

Devon Committee for Rescue Archaeology, 1979 - 1981, North Devon Barrow Survey, DCRA ND107 (Archive - Survey). SDV341310.

Diameter 24.0 metres, height 0.2 metres. Now ploughed out mound in same field three other barrows. Rather uncertain, but Grinsell is definite about this being a barrow. Strange that this has suffered more than others in this field. No visible ditch.

Bayer, O. J., 1996, Barrows in the Torridge District of North West Devon: A Study in Distribution and Location, Beaworthy 5a (Undergraduate Dissertation). SDV319515.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 1999, Four Bowl Barrows 340 metres north-west of Mount Pleasant (Schedule Document). SDV345656.

Four bowl barrows 340 metres north-west of Mount Pleasant. This monument includes four bowl barrows situated on the summit of a high ridge to the south-west of Patchacott. This location overlooks the valleys of tributaries to both the Rivers Wolf and Lew. It commands a high vantage point with extensive views to both Dartmoor and Exmoor. The southern barrow is circular and measures 23.8 metres in diameter and is 0.5 metres high. Each barrow is surrounded by a quarry ditch from which material to construct the mound was derived. These survive mainly as buried features, though one ditch is visible as a 0.2 metre deep and 3.2 metre wide hollow to the south of the eastern of the two central barrows. The field boundary crossing one of the barrows is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included. Despite ploughing, the four bowl barrows survive well on a prominent ridge top location. Archaeological and environmental information relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed survives in and under these mounds.

Weddell, P. J., 2002, A Proposed New Woodland for Northcombe Farm: Environmental statement report & Appendices, 7.14 (Report - non-specific). SDV231814.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2003, Four Bowl Barrows 340 metres north-west of Mount Pleasant Farm (Schedule Document). SDV345659.

National Grid Reference amended.

Young, A., 2005, Transcriptions from Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Cartographic). SDV321540.

Transcriptions of a circular bank correspond to the grid reference for PRN167276. Map object partly based on this source.

Young, A. & Turner, S., 2005-2006, North Devon/Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project database records, PRN167276 (Interpretation). SDV358473.

A barrow is visible on aerial photographs (p1) as a low earthwork mound with a diameter of roughly 24m. It has been digitally plotted as part of the National Mapping Programme.
Photograph reference:
1. RAF 3G/TUD/UK 138 PART 2 5135-9 11-APR-1946

National Monuments Record, 2010, 438165 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV345657.

Bronze Age bowl barrows also known as the Brimsworthy Barrows. Four are now known. They measure: 26 metres across and 1.25 metres high, 28 metres across and 0.75 metres high, 25 metres across and 1 metre high, and 24 metres across and 0.4 metres high. All are under the plough.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

'Tumulus' shown on modern mapping to the south of 'Three Barrows'. Map object partly based on this Source.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4415 - Devon Barrow Survey
• EDV7455 - Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme

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