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Summary

A group of gravel pits is shown on historic mapping straddling the parish boundary between Dunster and Luxborough. This area has previously incorrectly been stated as the site of a Bronze Age burial cairn.

Monument Type(s):

• (Former Type) ROUND CAIRN (Late Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
• GRAVEL PIT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Description

SS 9717 4016. Dunster 1, a round barrow on Croydon Hill, visited by Grinsell 8th June 1969 when under heath. It is apparently a modern stone heap 11 paces diameter, 3 ft high, but may be on the site of a sepulchral cairn. A mound is shown here on the one inch First Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1809. It is on or near the Luxborough Boundary.
(A cairn and human remains were found 'hereabouts Bats Castle' before 1840. See MSO9091 - Identified with Bat's Castle in Dunster Park (MSO9082), but ?possibly from this site.) [1]

It was noted in the RCHME survey undertaken in 1998 that the cairn mentioned by [1] was actually sited at SS 9720 4007. [4]

The cairn is clearly marked on the 25 inch 1st Edition map [5], and is just to the south of the parish boundary, on the summit of Croydon Hill. The grid reference given by Grinsell [1] refers to the area of stone extraction some 80 metres to the north which, unlike the cairn, is marked on the six inch First Edition map [6]. [7]

See MSO10028 for the correct location of the cairn, some 80 metres to the south. [8]

SS 9720 4014. The 25 inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map depicts and labels an area of old gravel pits as several earthworks straddling the Parish Boundary between Dunster and Luxborough. [5]

This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [9]

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1809, 1" 1st edition (Map). SSO1424.

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1969, Somerset Barrows: part 1, 30 (Article in serial). SSO1223.

<3> Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1986, card SS94SE, 44 (Unassigned). SSO1646.

<4> Riley, H., Field Investigators Comments, RCHME Field Investigation, 1998 (Unpublished document). SMO7322.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1854-1901, County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map, 1889, Somerset 47(5) (Map). SEM6703.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1846-1899, County Series; 1st Edition 6 Inch Map, 1889, Somerset 47NW (Map). SEM6705.

<7> Historic England, Various, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry, Reference 36947 (Digital archive). SEM7987.

<8> Various, 1900-, Somerset County Council / South West Heritage Trust staff comments, Chris Webster, Somerset Historic Environment Record, 5 December 2005 (Verbal communication). SEM8675.

<9> Historic England, Various, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry, 36947, Extant 18 May 2022 (Digital archive). SEM7987.

Sources and Further Reading

Related records

Other References

• Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO9434
• Local List Status (Unassessed)
• National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 SE44
• National Park: Exmoor National Park
• NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 36947
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)
• Somerset SMR PRN: 35349

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