See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Western of two poorly preserved stone rows, each with a cairn at the north end, on the crest of the ridge to the east of Collard Tor.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1003829: Two cairns with stone rows E of Collard Tor on Wotter Common

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56SE53
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 439259
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/173
• Old SAM County Ref: 283
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX56SE 53

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• STONE ALIGNMENT (Constructed, LANEBA to Late Bronze Age - 2500 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Ministry of Works, Two Cairns with Stone Rows near Collard Tor, on Wotter Common (Schedule Document). SDV343478.

Two low cairns with associated stone rows. The rows extend down slope and are of small stones, circa 2 feet, and 2 feet 6 inches to three feet apart. That of (b) ends in a transverse "Blocking Stone" - three feet nine inches high. Fair condition, though the rows are incomplete. Other details: Map.

Worth, R. H., 1903, The Stone Rows of Dartmoor, Part 6, 427-29 (Article in Serial). SDV343479.

Two stone rows each headed by a cairn near Collard Tor:
A. The remains of a cairn 25 feet in diameter, with a stone row running from it, in a southerly direction. The row is 215 feet long, from the centre of the cairn, ten stones are standing, ten fallen and four sunken.
B. A cairn 26 feet in diameter and two feet high. It is surrounded by a stone circle 26 1/2 feet in diameter, of which 5 stones are still standing. The stone row runs southwards from the cairn, is 275 feet long, 14 stones are standing and 15 fallen.

Worth, R. H., 1946, The Stone Rows of Dartmoor. Part 1, 291 (Article in Serial). SDV251172.

A single stone row (Collard Tor), about 65 metres long, direction of length north 2 degrees 10 seconds east. Row much disturbed and probably shortened. Cairn at northern end. Row no 11.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1980, SX56SE53 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV343483.

(01/10/1980) To the east of Collard Tor on a south slope between 243m. OD and 260m OD are two cairns and two single stone rows, generally as described by Worth.
The westerly cairn at SX 55826203, is considerably robbed. A number of stones (shown on large scale plan) at the edge of the cairn, and within it, may represent the remains of retaining circle or circles. The row extending south from the cairn comprises large boulders, some of which are post-like, measuring 0.8m. high and 0.3m. by 0.3m. Many similar boulders litter the area and it is difficult to identify displaced stones; the more certain stones have been surveyed, giving the row a length of 62.2m. The stones average 0.5m. high with no regular spacing. (see plan).
The easterly cairn at SX 55846203 measures 8.1m. in diameter and 0.6m. high. The centre has been excavated, but apart from a large prone slab there is nothing to suggest a former cist. The mound is surrounded by a peristalith of boulders each of which is 0.9m. high and roughly 0.5m square. The row is similar to the other row and can be traced for 79.6m. Some of the stones are included in a boulder and rubble field wall 1.2m. wide and 0.4m. high, which follows the row for 6.0m.
The stones of the rows bear some resemblance to those of the Leedon Tor row (SX 57 SE 135).
Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD and at 1:1000 for AO Records.

Unknown, 1963, More Dartmoor Damage, 6 (Article in Serial). SDV343482.

Recent unauthorised excavation of westernmost of stone rows reported.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 165 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

Emmett, D. D., 1979, Stone Rows: The Traditional View Reconsidered, 111 (Article in Serial). SDV251087.

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

Not recorded during Royal Commission on Historical Monuments air photo project 1985.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 106-9, Map 48, Figure 48.6 (Monograph). SDV137656.

The western stone row of 65 metres long with gaps for only five out of the original 34 stones of which 11 are still standing. The stones are spaced about 2.0 metres apart and stand on average 0.78 metres high ending at a pillar 0.9 metres high set at right angles. The cairn at the north end is 9.0 metres in diameter by 0.3 metres high with a hollow centre.

Fletcher, M. + Probert, S., 1998, Shaugh Moor, Devon: An Archaeological Survey, 3 (Report - Survey). SDV343481.

(03/12/1997) Two stone rows each headed by a cairn lie on a gentle clitter-covered south-facing hillslope between 239m and 259m above OD. The rows which are oriented approximately north-south, diverge from their N ends and are from 17.0m to 19.0 apart; a field bank interrupts the course of the east row. The precise lengths of the rows are difficult to determine partly because they appear to have been slighted and partly because of the presence of clitter and earthfast stones which hamper identification of the individual stones. The deduced lengths of these rows (excluding the cairns) are 75.4m and up to 97.2m respectively however because of the disturbed nature of each row these measurements are by no means certain. A count of the upright and clearly definable stones revealed 10 in the west row and 13 in the east row , but these figures provide a totally misleading picture of the somewhat jumbled and chaotic distribution of moorstones in each alignment. The heights of the uprights range from 0.3m to 0.9m with one very large damaged stone 1.3m high.
Both cairns have been badly disturbed : the western mound is 8.0m across and 0.6m high and the eastern mound is 8.5 m across and 0.6m high. These rows are of totally different character to the single row located NW of Saddlesborough (SX56SE45).
Other large upright stones occur near the east row. Two substantial uprights used as gateposts may have been moved from elsewhere and there are two uprights nearby which Butler suggests may be the remains of a row which lies at 90 degrees to the east row. Surveyed at 1:200.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Prehistoric Survey Information (Cartographic). SDV345521.

Row shown on survey.

National Monuments Record, 2009, 439259 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV343480.

Two stone rows each headed by a cairn. The rows which are oriented appoximately north-south, diverge from their northern ends and are from 17 to 19 metres apart; a field bank interrupts the course of the east row. The precise lengths of the rows are difficult to determine partly because they appear to have been slighted and partly because of the presence of clitter and earthfast stones which hamper indentification of the individual stones. The deduced lengths of these rows (excluding the cairns) are 75.4 metres and up to 97.2 metres respectively however because of the disturbed nature of each row these measurements are by no means certain. A count of the upright and clearly definable stones revealed 10 in the west row and 13 in the east row , but these figures provide a totally misleading picture of the somewhat jumbled and chaotic distribution of moorstones in each alignment. The heights of the uprights range from 0.3 metres to 0.9 metres with one very large damaged stone 1.3 metres high. Other details: SX56SE 53.

English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West, 109 (Report - non-specific). SDV342694.

Generally satisfactory but with minor localised problems. Principal vulnerability plant growth.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, SM8 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

Visited 06/06/2019. All ten standing stones are firmly set in the ground and there is no indication of movement or deterioration since previous 1998 survey

Ordnance Survey, 2021, MasterMap 2021 (Cartographic). SDV364015.

Western of two 'Stone Rows' shown on modern mapping.

Historic England, 2021, National Heritage List for England, 1003829 (National Heritage List for England). SDV364016.

This monument includes two single stone alignments and two cairns situated on a gentle south facing slope on Wotter Common overlooking the valley of the Tory Brook. Both alignments are orientated north to south, have cairns at their northern ends and terminal stones at their southern ends.

The western stone alignment includes a metres long row of at least 11 upright stones with an average height of 0.8 metres. A further 18 fallen and buried stones are known and the larger stones within this row lie towards the southern end, which is denoted by a 0.9 metres high orthostat. The cairn at the northern end measures 9 metres in diameter and stands up to 0.3 metres high. A hollow in the mound indicates that this cairn has been investigated.

Quinnell, N. V., 22/03/1995, Stone Rows (Personal Comment). SDV215687.

Two Wotter rows.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4967 - Shaugh Moor Survey (1997-1998)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.