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HER Number:MDV2305
Name:Hut circle on Wigford Down, Meavy

Summary

One of two hut circles in area of later ridge and furrow on Wigford Down. Defined by low rubble walls measuring up to 2 metres wide and 0.5 metres high, which surrounds an internal circular area of up to 9 metres in diameter.

Location

Grid Reference:SX 541 654
Map Sheet:SX56NW
Admin AreaDartmoor National Park
Civil ParishMeavy
DistrictWest Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishMEAVY

Protected Status

  • SHINE: Earthworks and walling of Bronze age parallel reave field system with hut circle settlements and cairns, plus deserted Medieval settlements with long houses and pillow mounds, on Wigford Down

Other References/Statuses

  • National Monuments Record: SX56NW13
  • National Record of the Historic Environment: 439071
  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NW/6
  • Old SAM County Ref: 561
  • Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX56NW13

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • HUT CIRCLE (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, 3239-40 (Aerial Photograph). SDV340833.

On the north part of Wigford Down, on a western slope, are four huts in two groups (see SX 56 NW 15), 20 to 30 feet in diameter with two fields adjoining; huts and others remodelled.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1951, SX56NW13 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV251284.

Hut circles A and B (22 feet and 26 feet in diameter respectively) with remains of rectangular fields around, very messed up. Large fields, with later ridge and furrow ploughing. Depicted on Ordnance Survey 6 inch 1907 historic map.

Ordnance Survey, 1953-1969, 1953-1969 National Grid OS A edition imperial (Cartographic). SDV352727.

Hut circles marked on 1954 map. 'A' - SX 54166543; 'B' - SX 54256543 and 'C' - SX 54136543) Hut Circles (NR).

Fox, A., 1954, Celtic Fields and Farms on Dartmoor in Light of Recent Excavations at Kestor, 102 (Article in Serial). SDV231175.

Two huts, part of two pairs of huts on north Wigford Down with two adjoining fields.

Price, D. G., 1978, Settlement and ancient fields on Wigford Down, 69-75 (Article in Serial). SDV220620.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Hut circle is visible on the Royal Air Force aerial photographs and is recorded on map overlay.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 78, Map 48.1 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Butler depicts this hut circle in area of Bronze Age settlement on the Down, labelled D; one of four huts closely associated in area of rectangular fields later utilised in the medieval period; these fields are overlain by an area of ridge and furrow.

GetMapping, 1999 - 2000, Dartmoor 1999-2000 1:1250 Aerial Photography (digital) (Aerial Photograph). SDV345751.

Visible on the aerial photography.

Ordnance Survey, 2017, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359962.

Depicted on the modern mapping.

Historic England, 2017, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV359963.

The monument, which falls into two separate areas of protection, includes part of a stone hut circle settlement within a coaxial field system situated on the lower northern slopes of Wigford Down in the upper valley of a tributary to the River Meavy. The two stone hut circles are defined by low rubble walls measuring up to 2 metres wide and 0.5 metres high, which surround an internal circular area of up to 9 metres in diameter.

Newman, P., 2020, Wigford Down Premier Archaeological Landscape, Dartmoor National Park, Devon. A new survey (Report - Survey). SDV363780.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV137656Monograph: Butler, J.. 1994. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West. Three. Paperback Volume. 78, Map 48.1.
SDV220620Article in Serial: Price, D. G.. 1978. Settlement and ancient fields on Wigford Down. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 110. Unknown. 69-75.
SDV231175Article in Serial: Fox, A.. 1954. Celtic Fields and Farms on Dartmoor in Light of Recent Excavations at Kestor. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. 20. Unknown. 102.
SDV251284Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1951. SX56NW13. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV319854Cartographic: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1985. Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP. Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England Aerial Photograph P. Cartographic.
SDV340833Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1190. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 3239-40.
SDV345751Aerial Photograph: GetMapping. 1999 - 2000. Dartmoor 1999-2000 1:1250 Aerial Photography (digital). Digital.
SDV352727Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1953-1969. 1953-1969 National Grid OS A edition imperial. Digital Mapping. Digital.
SDV359962Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2017. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital.
SDV359963National Heritage List for England: Historic England. 2017. National Heritage List for England. Historic Houses Register. Digital.
SDV363780Report - Survey: Newman, P.. 2020. Wigford Down Premier Archaeological Landscape, Dartmoor National Park, Devon. A new survey. Southwest Landscape Investigations. Digital. [Mapped feature: #83613 ]

Associated Monuments

MDV2219Part of: Parallel reave system on Wigford Down (Monument)
MDV119825Related to: Hut circle in field on north side of Wigford Down (Monument)
MDV119826Related to: Hut circle in fields on northern side of Wigford Down (Monument)
MDV119827Related to: Hut circle in fields on northern side of Wigford Down (Monument)
MDV2306Related to: Hut circle on Wigford Down (Monument)
MDV40211Related to: Medieval field system on Wigford Down, Meavy (Monument)
MDV28269Related to: Ridge and furrow on Wigford Down, Meavy (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • EDV8316 - Wigford Down PAL survey

Date Last Edited:Sep 13 2021 9:52AM