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Summary

The well preserved earthwork remains of an Iron Age hillslope enclosure known as Sweetworth comprised of a bank and external ditch in an irregular circle.

Images

Sweetworthy Enclosure. 2009 © Exmoor National Park Authority	Sweetworthy Enclosure. 2009 © Exmoor National Park Authority
Sweetworthy Enclosure. 2009 © Exmoor National Park Authority

Monument Types

• ENCLOSURE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• DAM (AD 19th Century - 1800 AD to 1899 AD)
• POND (AD 19th Century - 1800 AD to 1899 AD)

Description

(SS 89064254) Camp (NR) (1)

Earthwork at Sweetworthy listed by VCH as a homestead moat. Scheduled by the Ministry of Works as a Miscellaneous Earthwork. (2) & (3)

The earthwork at Sweetworthy is situated on a large natural terrace on the north side of Dunkery Hill. It consists for the most part of an irregularly circular bank and ditch. In the south a 30 metre break was probably made when a nearby boundary wall was constructed. A gap in the north-west seems original and a modern causeway crosses the ditch on the west. The interior has been levelled to form a platform but whether this is original is not certain. The earthwork is not truly defensive and is without doubt an Iron Age hill-slope enclosure of the same type as Trendle Ring (National Monument Record: ST 13 NW 3 - Not Exmoor). Surveyed at 1/2500. (4)

Now scheduled under `Settlements and Moated Sites'. (5)

SS 890425. Iron Age hill-slope enclosure at Sweetworthy. Description as Authority 4 although Burrow adds that the ditch to the south has been re-cut for drainage purposes (6).

Grinsell mentions that Rainbird Clarke (in the late 1930's) noted a ring of stones about 15 feet diameter east of the centre of the earthwork, but he says this seems a bit small to have been a hut site (7).

Two further earthworks are visible on the air photograph to the south (MSO7356) (8).

(SS 89064254) Settlement (NR). (10)

Additional Bibliography. (11)

This univallate earthwork formed by a bank with outer ditch enclosing a sub-circular area about 62 metres east to west by 50 metres transversely, some 0.3 hectares (0.75 acres) is situated about 335 metres Ordnance Datum on a gentle north facing slopes of improved pastureland between Aller/Combe, 200 metres to the east and Sweetworthy Combe about 600 metres to the west. Deciduous trees and scrub formerly covered the site quite densely but only four trees and slight scrub now remain. The stumps and hollows of cleared trees can be seen in several places but they appear to have done little overall damage. The predominantly earthen bank varies in dimensions but where best preserved in the north, it is about 9 metres in maximum width with inner scarp 0.5 metres high and outer scarp 3 metres high. Some 30 metres of the bank and ditch have been destroyed by a post medieval boundary wall (a), topped with beech trees, which cuts across the south east arc of the enclosure. There is also a small mutilation (b) probably made for drainage, in the north north east. The ditch, apart from the mutilation in the south east, is generally well preserved averaging about 7 metres in width and 1.2 metres in depth on the west and south sides, though a modern track (c) has utilised and slightly deepened the bottom of the ditch on the east side. Around the downhill northern side the ditch is practically non-existent, suggesting that the bank was the important feature. The ditch has been blocked at a later period by an earthen dam (d) being built across it in the south west. It has apparently been stone revetted on the east side and measures some 12 metres in length and is about 9.5 metres maximum width, and still stands to a maximum height of 1.7 metres. Its stone built sluice (e), 2.3 metres long 0.4 metres wide and 1 metres high internally, is still in situ set into the inner south east face of the dam. The reservoir (f) thus formed, about 45 metres long, 9 metres wide and 1.6 metres deep, was fed by a leat (g) from the south east and drained to the north west below the dam where there are still slight traces of the leat (h) continuing. This leat is destroyed in the south east by the post medieval wall so the dam complex must pre-date it. From the dam a low stoney bank (i), 3 metres wide and 0.6 metres maximum height, ran along the top of the main rampart to the east for some 35 metres to 45 metres before terminating. This along with probable deepening of the ditch to the south would have helped retain a greater capacity of water. What at first glance appears to be an outer stoney bank (j) along the outer lip of the ditch in the east is almost certainly the remains of a wall (probably contemporary with that which has destroyed the southeast enclosure) and the original boundary of Allercombe Wood. As it curves around to the north it peters out, possible destroyed when this section of the wood was replanted and is now replaced by a modern fence. Its junction to the south has been obliterated by the tracks.The entrance to the enclosure is undoubtedly in the north west where there is a break (k) in the rampart some 5 metres wide with opposing causeway across the ditch, though this is now much reduced and the north side of it has virtually disappeared. The gently sloping interior of the enclosure shows slight suggestions of possible levelling. For example, a quite prominent scarp (l) 4.5 metres wide 1.2 metres high curving around the north east, but there is no clear evidence for any occupation. On the slope in the south west there is an oval mound (m), 8 metres north west-south east by 4 metres transversely and 1.3 metres maximum height, of unconsolidated surface stones. It does not appear to be a clearance heap, quarry debris or a hut stance. Some 13 metres to its north east, nearer the centre is another roughly oval slightly stony mound (n) 4.2 metres by 3.5 metres and 0.3 metres maximum height with a near central hollow. This is probably what Clarke (7) noticed. It is not a hut site but almost certainly an old tree hole. As stated by Authority 4 the site is not truly defensive but is undoubtedly Iron Age in character and a lack of definite evidence of occupation should not prevent it being classifed as a Settlement. (For similar earthworks nearby see MSO7345 and MSO7356.) (N.B. Lower case letters 1 - m in the above text refer to the 1:1000 plan of 15.07.87-(17).) (12)

This enclosure was located using GPS and discussed in its archaeological landscape context as part of the RCHME Exmoor project; full details in report. (13)

The well preserved earthwork remains of a prehistoric hillslope enclosure, known as Sweetworthy, have been recorded and transcribed as part of the wider landscape of Exmoor from aerial photographs, as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. As described above the enclosure is enclosed by a bank and external ditch, broken by a possibly original entrance on the north-west side. (14-16)

The enclosure survives well. It is primarily under bracken with some gorse and an area of trees on the bank. The bank has been removed for approximately 30 metres on the uphill side, probably robbed to construct a field boundary. The entrance on north-west side is approximately 7.3 metres wide with a causeway across the ditch. There is some evidence that this is has been built across the ditch. There is also another causeway on the west side with a narrow stone construction built in to it. (21)

Bank 1.8 metres deep in the south-west. Undulating interior. (22)

Bank on downslope seen from aerial photographs - runs with contours on the north and east sides. May or not be associated other enclosures nearby. (23)

Scheduled name changed from Homestead Moat to Earthwork on Sweetworthy. (27)

Bank and outer ditch enclosing a sub-circular area of 0.3 hectares, some sections almost straight. On lower side earthworks become a shallow bank atop a steep scarp with an outer terrace (not marked by RCHME). On the south-east a stretch has been robbed and only a low scarp and earthfast stone remain. The interior is levelled to form a platform - it is just possible that the enclosing earthworks are secondary. There may have been an entrance on the south-east side opposite that on the north-east. On the south-west the earthworks have been utilised for a pond and dam in the 19th century. Forms part of a complex of prehistoric and medieval features which may preserve evidence for settlement continuity. (28)

Scheduling revised with new national number (was Somerset 211) on 16.06.1994. (29)

The Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment of 2009 records the enclosure as in moderate condition and at medium risk. It has suffered slight damage from vegetation and animal activity and is slowly deteriorating. (32)

The site suffered heavily from gorse growth, particularly on the ramparts. Accordingly the gorse was cut and the stumps treated to discourage re-growth. (33)

Sources and Further Reading

Other References

• Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO146
• Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11323
• Monarch UID: 35980
• National Monuments Record: SS 84 SE12
• National ParkExmoor National Park
• National Trust Land
• Scheduled Monument (County Number): SOMER 211
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)
• Site of Special Scientific Interest
• Somerset SMR: 33679

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