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Summary

A stony hut circle built against a contemporary enclosure wall, both of which are components of a prehistoric settlement, on the southern ridge of Wigford Down. The hut is not circular but has one straight side where the north wall is part of the enclosure wall. The overall dimensions of the hut are 12.9 metres by 12.9 metres and the walls are spread up to 3.9 metres. The walls are now mostly turf covered but a fair amount of large structural stones remains visible, especially along the north wall. The position of an entrance is visible on the southern outer circumference, indicted by a narrow gap in the earthwork.

Location

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
• Scheduled Monument 1002549: Three hut circles on south part of Wigford Down

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56SW3
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 439540
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SW/7
• Old SAM County Ref: 562

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, 3238-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDV340833.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1951, SX56SW3, SX56SW3 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV251931.

Hut circles rectangular fields containing more small cairns or stone heaps.

Ralegh Radford, C. A., 1953, Prehistoric Settlements on Dartmoor and the Cornish Moors, 68, 73 (Article in Serial). SDV337080.

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

On the west of Wigford Down are four huts in two groups, diameter 21-25 feet. There are four fields adjoining huts and others remade.
The hut circle at SX 54136455 is contemporary with at least four fields defined by low curvilinear banks, one of which curves round the southeast side of the hut circle. The hut circle at SX 54156452 has, built across its north side, a later low field bank which is earlier than the present field walls to the south. This wall curves south-westerly in the inturned entrance to a small yard, with possible remains of other hut circles adjacent.

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

National Monuments Record, 1979, SF1520, 112-115 (Aerial Photograph). SDV149521.

Robinson, R., 1984, List of Field Monument Warden Visits 1984 (Un-published). SDV343082.

Department of Environment Field Monument Warden site visit 6th June 1984.

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

Hut circle visible on aerial photograph at SX54136455 is attached to the western edge of a circular enclosure slightly larger than itself. The enclosure is at the apex of funnel of walls, forming a shape reminiscent of an old fashioned bicycle horn. Two small hut circles occur at the mouth of the funnel, SX54166458. One possible hut circle, or enclosed plot attached to exterior of funnel at SX54156456. The small yard mentioned above appears to be one of two enclosures crf:SX56SW/119.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 78, Map 48, Figure 48.1 (Monograph). SDV137656.

One of five scattered huts comprise Settlement 'A' on the southern side Wigford Down field system.

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

Visible on the aerial photography.

National Monument Record, 2017, Pastscape (Website). SDV359964.

On the west of Wigford Down are four huts in two groups with diameters of 6.4 - 7.6 metres. There are four fields adjoining huts and others remade (citing Fox, A., 1954).
The hut circle at SX54136455 is contemporary with at least four fields defined by low curvilinear banks, one of which curves around the south-east side of the hut circle. Circle at SX54156452 has a later bank built across its north side. This turns south west in the inturned entrance of a small yard, with other possible hut circles adjacent (citing Ordnance Survey?, 1946).

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, WD-16 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

(14/08/2020) Condition assessed as moderate; vegetation encroachment is threatening the feature.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording photographs (Photograph). SDV363073.

Image taken during August 2020 site visit.

Newman, P., 2019-2020, Survey data from various sites on Dartmoor (Cartographic). SDV363779.

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

A stony hut circle built against a contemporary enclosure wall, both of which are components of a prehistoric settlement, on the southern ridge of Wigford Down. The hut is not circular but has one straight side where the north wall is part of the enclosure wall. The overall dimensions of the hut are 12.9 metres by 12.9 metres and the walls are spread up to 3.9 metres. The walls are now mostly turf covered but a fair amount of large structural stones remains visible, especially along the north wall. The position of an entrance is visible on the southern outer circumference, indicted by a narrow gap in the earthwork.

Historic England, 2021, National Heritage List for England, 1002549 (National Heritage List for England). SDV364016.

The monument, which falls into three areas of protection, includes three stone hut circles with associated enclosures forming part of a stone hut circle settlement within the coaxial field system situated on the southern side of Wigford Down overlooking the Plym Valley. The three stone hut circles survive as rubble built walls measuring up to 2.0 metres wide and 1.1 metres high which enclose circular internal areas of up to 10.5 metres in diameter. The hut circles are partially enclosed within small irregular shaped enclosures which form part of the Wigford Down coaxial field system.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8316 - Wigford Down PAL survey

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