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HER Number:MDV6578
Name:Hut circle within settlement west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest

Summary

Hut circle of 6.0 metres by 4.0 metres with walls 1.0 metres wide by 0.8 metres high within dispersed settlement to the west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest

Location

Grid Reference:SX 662 832
Map Sheet:SX68SE
Admin AreaDartmoor National Park
Civil ParishDartmoor Forest
DistrictWest Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishLYDFORD

Protected Status

Other References/Statuses

  • MPP Archaeological Item Dataset: 144112
  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68SE/25/1
  • Old SAM County Ref: 957D
  • Old SAM Ref: 28671
  • Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX68SE45

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

One of the 'Hut Circles' shown on 19th century map.

Turner, J. R., 1976, Ancient Monuments on Forestry Commission Land. Fernworthy and Bellever (Report - non-specific). SDV351823.

Fernworthy Plantation. West Lowton 4B.
Site visit 1976. Hut circle 6.1 metres diameter. On a platform site cut into an east facing slope. Stone walls 1.5 metres thick. Part of the wall has fallen away on the east side. Largest stone 0.9 by 0.35 metres, standing 1.1 metres above the ground. Not investigated, has been planted over.
February 1976. 8 posts ringing clearance zone. All agreements carried out.
Included in 1955 Spooner and Dixon report (A) Region south of the Teign (Assacombe and Lowton), Site No. 3.

Turner, J., 1978, Report of Work Carried Out by the Forestry Commission since January 1976 (Report - non-specific). SDV351816.

No work has been carried out on the West Lowton group of sites since January 1976.

Robinson, R., 1983, List of Field Monument Warden Visits 1983 (Un-published). SDV345762.

Department of Environment Field Monument Warden site visit 16th December 1983.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 144112 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visit 30th May 1997. Hut circle forming part of a dispersed settlement. Diameter 6.0 by 4.0 metres. Single orthostat wall 1.0 metres wide, 0.8 metres high. Internal area 24 square metres. A boundary bank leads off from the hut at 58 degrees.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 157, Map 35, Site 4 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Hut circle at 'Lowton Brook West' settlement'

Smith, N., 1992, Condition Survey of Identified Archaeology with Woodland Areas 1992 (Un-published). SDV351819.

Fernworthy. West Lowton Group 4B. Site visit 27th May 1992. Hut circle in a clearing immediately north of 5B. Located near a modern trackway. Site marked. Vegetation currently grazed and mechanically controlled. Recommended that present management regime be maintained. Other details: photo.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1993-1998, Dartmoor Royal Forest Project (Report - Survey). SDV346608.

Visited on 3rd June 1995. Hut circle at SX66238326 of 4.9 metres diameter with walls 1.3 metres wide by 0.7 metres high and an entrance to the east.

Dartmoor National Park Authority, 1996, Condition Survey of Identified Archaeology within Woodland Areas 1996 (Un-published). SDV351820.

Fernworthy. West Lowton Group 4B. Site visit 27th September 1996. Site marked by a single post.

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

Site recorded.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour aerial photography for Dartmoor (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Site visible in a cleared area on aerial photograph.

Newman, P., 2013, Fernworthy Forest Sites Survey (Un-published). SDV351708.

Ordnance Survey, 2013, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV350786.

Hut circle depicted.

English Heritage, 2013, National Heritage List for England, 1017983 (National Heritage List for England). SDV350785.

The monument, which falls into six areas, includes a dispersed stone hut circle settlement and associated fields situated on a north east facing slope overlooking the valley of the Lowton Brook. The settlement contains at least 12 stone hut circles together with a number of lengths of rubble walling forming part of a field system. The stone hut circles within the settlement all survive as banks each surrounding an internal circular area which varies from 14.51 to 55.39 square metres with the average being 30.56 square metres. The height of the surrounding walls vary between 0.6m and 1.3m, with the average being 0.91m. Four of the huts have visible doorways and the orthostatic, rubble bank and coursed walling building traditions are all represented.
Despite afforestation, the dispersed stone hut circle settlement and associated fields lying west of Lowton Brook survives well and contains archaeological structures, features and deposits, relating to the exploitation of this part of the moor during the Bronze Age period.

Newman, P., 2013, The Archaeology of Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor, Devon, 26, Fig. 20 (Report - Survey). SDV351784.

Most of the stone from this hut circle has been robbed leaving a feint earthwork outline of a circle with an arc of disturbed stones on the western side. The internal diameter was probably between 6.0 and 7.0 metres.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, Unknown, SX68SE45 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV276178.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV219155Monograph: Butler, J.. 1991. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North. Two. Paperback Volume. 157, Map 35, Site 4.
SDV276178Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. Unknown. SX68SE45. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV277946Report - Survey: Gerrard, S.. 1990-2002. Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset.. Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset.. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. MPP 144112.
SDV336179Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV345521Cartographic: English Heritage. 2005-2008. Prehistoric Survey Information. English Heritage. Digital. [Mapped feature: #97967 ]
SDV345762Un-published: Robinson, R.. 1983. List of Field Monument Warden Visits 1983. Lists of Field Monument Warden Visits. Printout.
SDV346026Aerial Photograph: GeoInformation Group Ltd. 2010. 1:625 2010 Colour aerial photography for Dartmoor (12.5cm resolution). 2010 Aerial Photographs. Digital.
SDV346608Report - Survey: Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England. 1993-1998. Dartmoor Royal Forest Project. Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England Field/Recording In. Unknown.
SDV350785National Heritage List for England: English Heritage. 2013. National Heritage List for England. Historic Houses Register. Digital. 1017983.
SDV350786Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2013. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital.
SDV351708Un-published: Newman, P.. 2013. Fernworthy Forest Sites Survey. Digital.
SDV351784Report - Survey: Newman, P.. 2013. The Archaeology of Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor, Devon. Southwest Landscape Investigations. Digital + A4. 26, Fig. 20.
SDV351816Report - non-specific: Turner, J.. 1978. Report of Work Carried Out by the Forestry Commission since January 1976. A4 Stapled.
SDV351819Un-published: Smith, N.. 1992. Condition Survey of Identified Archaeology with Woodland Areas 1992. Condition Survey of Identified Archaeology with Woodland Areas. A4 Ring Bound.
SDV351820Un-published: Dartmoor National Park Authority. 1996. Condition Survey of Identified Archaeology within Woodland Areas 1996. Condition Survey of Identified Archaeology within Woodland Areas. A4 Ring Bound.
SDV351823Report - non-specific: Turner, J. R.. 1976. Ancient Monuments on Forestry Commission Land. Fernworthy and Bellever. Dartmoor National Park Authority Field Report. Digital.

Associated Monuments

MDV104672Part of: Lowton Brook West Settlement in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest (Monument)
MDV6575Related to: Hut circle within settlement west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest (Monument)
MDV6577Related to: Hut circle within settlement west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest (Monument)
MDV6579Related to: Hut circle within settlement west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest (Monument)
MDV6599Related to: Hut circle within settlement west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest (Monument)
MDV6574Related to: Hut circle within settlement west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest (Monument)
MDV6580Related to: Hut circle within settlement west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest (Monument)
MDV6581Related to: Hut circle within settlement west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest (Monument)
MDV6582Related to: Hut circle within settlement west of Lowton Brook in Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor Forest (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • EDV6216 - Condition Surveys of Ancient Monuments on Forestry Commission Land
  • EDV6203 - Archaeological Survey of Fernworthy Forest
  • EDV7389 - Fernworthy Forest condition survey 1996
  • EDV7410 - Fernworthy Forest condition survey 1992
  • EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project

Date Last Edited:Feb 27 2023 11:01AM