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Summary

One of 3 bowl barrows located on the south side of the parish boundary between Lympstone and Woodbury, visible as an earthwork mound with outer ditch on aerial photographs of 1946 and 1947 and on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016. Not shown on late 19th century Ordnance Survey map.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020014: Three bowl barrows on Lympstone Common, 500m west of Fryingpans
• Scheduled Monument 1020014: Three bowl barrows on Lympstone Common, 500m west of Fryingpans

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 929884
• National Monuments Record: 929980
• National Monuments Record: SY08NW 36
• National Monuments Record: SY08NW 37
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08NW/55
• Old SAM Ref: 33032

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BOWL BARROW (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

NMR, SY08NW37 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV341776.

Visited on 05/09/1990. Three ditched mounds in a west to east line adjacent to the Bicton/Lympstone parish boundary bank on Lympstone Common. Dense bracken and briars largely obscure the otherwise well-defined mounds and associated ditches. All the mounds are steep-sided and there is no evidence to suggest the presence of a bank around the outer lip of the ditch. The west mound measures 7.8 metres in diameter and 1.3 metres high from the bottom of the ditch which itself measures 1.8 metres wide and 0.2 metres to 0.4 metres deep. The well-defined nature of these mounds indicates a relatively recent origin, probably that suggested by Griffiths. The mounds do not appear to be associated with the late 18th or 19th century landscaping activities initiated by Lord Rolle of Bicton.

Royal Air Force, 13/04/1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1995, 3304 (Aerial Photograph). SDV224714.

Other details: 44/86.

Hutchinson, P. O., 1872, Copy of Diary Entry, Sidmouth , May 1872 (Un-published). SDV341762.

Hutchinson notes a "number of oval, square and circular pits and platforms" in the area, which he believed were made by General Simcoe's troops during the Napoleonic Wars.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 4100-01 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

The possible barrow is visible as an earthwork mound and earthwork ditch.

Conservation Section, 1982, Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common (Ground Photograph). SDV341780.

Other details: 531/18.

Griffiths, D. M., 1982, Earthwork (Worksheet). SDV341779.

Visited 26/01/1982. One of 3 mounds south of the Lympstone/Woodbury parish boundary. The western one is not shown on the Ordnance Survey 25 inch map circa 1890. It is lower than the other 2, circa 1.5 metres high with a diameter of 9-10 metres. Also has parish boundary bank to north. All 3 seem to be flat topped and have steep sides. Date and function unknown, but P.O. Hutchinson (in his manuscript diaries in the Devon Record Office) records activity by soldiers in the vicinity during the Napoleonic Wars. He refers to "a number of oval, square and circular pits and platforms", probably made by General Simcoe.

Exeter Archaeology, 1999, Archaeological Assessment of Thorn Tree Plantation, near Blackhill Quarry, Woodbury, 5 (Report - Assessment). SDV336320.

The most westerly and lowest of the 3 circular ditched mounds. The outer lip of the ditch on th north side is formed by a small (circa 1 metre) earth bank which forms the parish boundary (between Lympstone and Woodbury). Other details: Site 11.

Salvatore, J. P., 1999, Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common, 144515 (Un-published). SDV341777.

Visited on 07/11/1999 and 4/12/2000. Bowl barrow on Lympstone Common, western of a linear group of 3, Diameter 7.8 metres, height 2 metres. Ditch 1.4 metres wide, 0.2 metres deep. Parish boundary reported to respect this barrow.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2001, Three Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common (Schedule Document). SDV341782.

The monument includes 3 bowl barrows aligned almost exactly east-west and situated between 8 and 9 metres apart on Lympstone Common. The barrows lie on flat ground close to the 150 metre contour above the south facing slope of the common, which commands views down to the coast at Budleigh Salterton. All 3 barrows have clear bowl-shaped profiles. The central barrow mound is 1.5 metres in height whilst the flanking barrow mounds are 2 metres in height. They vary in diameter between 7.7 metres and 8 metres. All have an encircling ditch from which material would have been quarried for the construction of the mounds. The encircling quarry ditches vary in width between 1.4 metres and 2 metres. These ditches have become partly infilled over the millenia although they are all well defined as depressions surrounding their respective mounds and vary in depth between 0.2 metres and 0.65 metres. The easternmost barrow has a trench cut into its centre from the south, which may be the result of antiquarian activity. The barrows lie adjacent to the parish boundary between Lympstone and Woodbury, this boundary being defined at one stage by a low earthen bank. The barrows may have provided a clearly recognisable and already ancient reference point in the landscape at the time that parish boundaries were defined in the early medieval period. Other details: Map.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, 10, Part 1; 38, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 131 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

SMR records barrow (most westerly of three in east/west line, see 132, 133) on south side of parish boundary with Woodbury. Mound measures 7.8 metres diameter by 1.3 metres high from base of ditch which is 1.8 metres wide by 0.2 metre–0.4 metre deep. Well defined profile suggests possible recent origin and Napoleonic wars suggested. In 1861 there were features in the area’ made by General Simcoe’s troops during the Napoleonic Wars (see site 236). A prehistoric origin, however, should not be ruled out. During field visit mound and surrounding ditch visible but completely covered with dense bracken/bramble; tree growing on east side of mound.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 131 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 131 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2645 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Barrow. Scheduled Monument.
See description in East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey 10, Part 1; 38, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 131 - SDV101648.

Exeter Archaeology, 2007, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 14, Site No. 2645 (Archive - Survey). SDV351571.

SMR records barrows (eastern of three in an east-west line) on southern side of parish boundary with Woodbury. The western mound measures 7.8 metres in diameter and 1.3 metres high from the base of the ditch which measures 1.8 metres wide and 0.2 metres to 0.4 metres deep. The well-defined nature of these mounds indicates a relatively recent origin and Napoleonic war activity is suggested. In 1861, there were features in the area made by General Simcoe’s troops during the Napoleonic wars. A prehistoric origin should not be ruled out. During field visit mound and surrounding ditch visible but completely covered with dense bracken and brambles; tree growing on east side of mound.

Profile of mound and ditch visible but very overgrown with bracken as is the surrounding area. Remains of a dead tree on eastern side of the mound, large mature oak on western side of ditch. Very close to the East Devon Way but area not easily accessible due to dense vegetation.

Protection during any vegetation clearance.

Possible interpretation as one of a group of barrows in this area.

English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West, 97 (Report - non-specific). SDV342694.

Condition generally satisfactory, but with significant localised problems. Principal vulnerability, localised/limited animal burrowing.

English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West, 88 (Report - non-specific). SDV344777.

English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West, 92 (Report - non-specific). SDV355280.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

One of three adjacent possible prehistoric barrows is visible as an earthwork mound and ditch on aerial photographs of 1946, on Lympstone Common. The sub-circular mound measures approximately 9m in diameter and is defined along its western edge by a partial earthwork ditch. The barrow is not clearly visible on other aerial photographs and digital images owing to vegetation cover, although the adjacent two barrows are more clearly visible.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR SY0385 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

Earthworks of a circular mound with an outer ditch are visible.

Sims, R., 2020, East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV363914.

Earthworks of this barrow are visible as a circular mound, circa 6.5m diameter, with an outer ditch, circa 2m wide, on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV101648	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. A4 Unbound + Digital. 10, Part 1; 38, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 131.
SDV224714	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 13/04/1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1995. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 3304.
SDV336320	Report - Assessment: Exeter Archaeology. 1999. Archaeological Assessment of Thorn Tree Plantation, near Blackhill Quarry, Woodbury. Exeter Archaeology Report. 99.71. A4 Stapled + Digital. 5.
SDV341762	Un-published: Hutchinson, P. O.. 1872. Copy of Diary Entry, Sidmouth , May 1872. Photocopy + Digital.
SDV341776	National Monuments Record Database: NMR. SY08NW37. NMR Index. Unknown.
SDV341777	Un-published: Salvatore, J. P.. 1999. Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common. Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset.. Printout + Digital. 144515.
SDV341779	Worksheet: Griffiths, D. M.. 1982. Earthwork. Devon County Sites and Monuments Register. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV341780	Ground Photograph: Conservation Section. 1982. Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common. Conservation Section Photograph Collection. Unknown.
SDV341782	Schedule Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2001. Three Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common. The Schedule of Monuments. A4 Stapled.
SDV342694	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2009. Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West. English Heritage Report. A4 Bound +Digital. 97.
SDV344777	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2010. Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West. English Heritage Report. Digital. 88.
SDV351568	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003-2004. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 2645.
SDV351571	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. 14, Site No. 2645.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 4100-01 13-APR-1946. [Mapped feature: #81447 ]
SDV355280	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2011. Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West. english Heritage. Digital. 92.
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV358490	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 131.
SDV359019	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. Site No. 131.
SDV359714	Cartographic: Bluesky International. 2016. LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects. Not applicable. Digital. LIDAR SY0385 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016.
SDV363914	Interpretation: Sims, R.. 2020. East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment. Digital.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4422 - Archaeological Assessment of Thorn Tree Plantation near Blackhill Quarry, Woodbury
• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)
• EDV8340 - East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment

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