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Summary

The most easterly of a group of four barrows on the summit of a high ridge to the south-west of Patchacott. The barrow, which is crossed by a hedge bank, is about 30.6 metres diameter and stands up to 1.1 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/15
• Old SAM County Ref: 378(3)
• 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.

The most easterly of 'Three Barrows (Tumuli)' shown as a small circular feature on 19th century map on the west side of the field boundary..

Martin, J. M., 1893, Broadbury and its Ancient Earthworks, 547 (Article in Serial). SDV230002.

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

The three Brimsworthy (Beaworthy) Barrows are low mounds, in rough pasture with furze bushes, and have been partly levelled. TDA, Martin, J. M. 1983.

Barrow C: This is a ploughed over bowl barrow, which has had a stone hedge built over its north-east side, so that a small portion lies in the adjoining field. No trace of surrounding ditch. Diameter 25 metres, height 1 metre. Site visit, 19/03/1951.

Other details: Map.

Ministry of Works, 1959, Three Barrows (Schedule Document). SDV345655.

Three large mounds spread by former ploughing but apparently intact. Barrow 3: crossed by a hadge bank is 85 feet in diameter by 3 feet high.

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

Arable, diameter 26 paces, height 3 feet.

Devon Committee for Rescue Archaeology, 1979 - 1981, North Devon Barrow Survey, DCRA ND87 (Archive - Survey). SDV341310.

Site visit 29th November 1979. Good condition. Flat topped, damaged by hedgebank. Diameter 27 metres, height 0.94 metres. No visible ditch.

Timms, S. C., 1981, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV261407.

Both fields are under grass.

Bayer, O. J., 1996, Barrows in the Torridge District of North West Devon: A Study in Distribution and Location, Beaworthy 5 (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 eastern barrow stands to 1.1 metres high and has a diameter of 30.6 metres. This barrow is crossed by a large field bank. 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 PRN167275. 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, PRN167275 (Interpretation). SDV358473.

A barrow is visible on aerial photographs (p1) as a low earthwork mound with a diameter of roughly 23m. 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.

The most easterly of 'Three Barrows' shown on modern mapping. 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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