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Summary

An earthwork mound interpreted as a possible prehistoric barrow or 18th-19th century landscaped mound is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards and on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016, on Bicton Common.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1018051: Two bowl barrows on Woodbury Common, 640m and 625m east of Four Firs
• SHINE: Bronze Age barrows and/or 18th/19th century landscaping features on Bicton Common

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 448602
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08NW/7
• Old SAM County Ref: 60K
• Old SAM Ref: 29652

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BARROW (Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))
• MOUND (XVIII to XIX - 1701 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

Unknown, MIGRATED RECORD - MONUMENT PROTECTION PROGRAMME DATA (Migrated Record). SDV331.

Vis=1/12/1997 (salvatore) bowl barrow. Mound 2.8m high, diam 15m. Ditch, 1.8m wide, 0.2m deep, visible on s + w sides. Perhaps one of 4 shown on 1801 os map (mpp).

Brighouse, U. W., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV136802.

"one of the barrows on the yettington road near the parish boundary stone was excavated rather hurriedly in the 1930's. " contained evidence of a cremation; coarse pot, a dagger and a stone axe-head (brighouse).

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, Untitled Source (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV24.

Vis=13/7/1953 (os) massive barrow, encroached on southern flank by road. Appears to be undisturbed. Road is the boundary line between the parishes of woodbury and bicton.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104780.

Barrow, diam 17.5m, heig 1.4m.

Ancient Monuments, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV104781.

Vis=-/6/1923 (ancient monuments) tumuli on woodbury common in the middle of the plantation an open unenclosed piece of ground occurs containing two tumuli h and k, marked on the os map, one on either side of the road, not defended by modern embankment. Boundridge plantations, one of two bowl barrows.

SOUTHWELL, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104783.

Southwell no.7. Unlikely to be prehistoric. Possibly connected with the military activity on the common during the napoleonic war, or part of the 18/19th century landscaping of lord rolle (southwell).

RCHME, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV104788.

Vis=5/9/1990 (rchme) centred sy03608642. Four probable landscaping mounds, arranged in 2 pairs, flank the woodbury-yettington road on woodbury common.

SEE 5,IAM, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104789.

All mounds are steep sided with gently rounded tops. Their diam vary between 9.3 and 10.5 with heights between 1.8m and 2.6m. The 2 e mounds at sy03448646 and sy03458642 are enclosed by circular earth and stone banks, 1.3m wide and 0.7m high which lie close to the mound. The w mounds at sy03758636 and sy03738633 are unenclosed, lying on the woodbury/bicton parish boundary. Mature conifers cover the e mounds while the 2 to the w are currently unplanted. The two mounds scheduled 60 j and l do not exist. It seems unlikely that they were ever present, 2 clumps of scots pines were apparently scheduled on circumstantial evidence without being investigated (see 5,iam).

NMR, CITING PROBERT, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104790.

Although one of the mounds is alleged to have produced evidence of a cremation and associated finds ( see brighouse) there can be little doubt that in their present form they are the result of landscaping activity initiated by lord rolle of bicton in the late 18c or 19c (nmr, citing probert).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104792.

Osa=sy08nw8.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104793.

Des=os drawings in westcountry studies library/(1801).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104794.

Des=southwell, c. /woodbury common/unpublished undergraduate dissertation/ exeter university/(1981).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104795.

Vancouver, c. /general view of the agriculture of the county of devon/ (1808)293.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104796.

Brighouse, u. W. /woodbury: a view from the beacon/(1981)14.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104797.

Foster + alcock/culture and environment/(1963)79,illus.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104798.

Pearce, s. /devon in prehistory/(1979)34.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104799.

Osa=sy08nw9.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104800.

Des=worksheet in parish file.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104801.

Des=robinson, r. /list of fmw visits(19/1/1983)in smr.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104802.

Grinsell, l. V. /pdas/41(1983)28.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104803.

Des=mpp/144409.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104804.

Nmr=sy08nw8.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104805.

Des=probert, s. A. J. /(5/9/1990)/rchme field investigation.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104806.

Des=ea/(2003)/east devon heathlands archaeological survey/report no.03.26/in smr.

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

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1823, RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RP 3001 04-NOV-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354994.

The earthwork mound is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1965, RAF/58/7106, RAF/58/7106 018-19 12-NOV-1965 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356245.

The earthwork mound is visible. Map object based on this source.

Griffiths, D. M., 1982, Barrow (Worksheet). SDV358402.

Griffiths, D., 1983, ?Quay (Worksheet). SDV13596.

Vis=19/1/1982 (griffiths) tumulus covered with pines. Cannot be positively identified with the reported excavation.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, 71-72, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 576 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

The southernmost of two barrows flanking either side of the road (see also site 575). Perhaps represents one of the four mounds depicted on the Ordnance Survey1801 surveyors drawing (two of which are no longer visible and their precise location is uncertain; see site 577). Mound 15 metres diameter by 2.8 metres high. One of the mounds along this road was excavated in the 1930s and produced evidence of a cremation (see sites 574 and 575). In their present form the mounds may be the result of landscaping activity by Lord Rolle in the late 18th century or early 19th century. The enclosed area containing the mound is excluded from the survey area.

Map object based on this source.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 576 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 576 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2676 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Barrow. Scheduled Monument.
See description in East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey 71-72, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 576 - SDV101648.

Exeter Archaeology, 2007, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 18-19, Site No. 2676 (Archive - Survey). SDV351571.

The southernmost mound of two barrows flanking the road. Perhaps one of four mounds depicted on Ordnance Survey 1801 surveyors drawing. 15 metres in diameter by 2.8 metres high. One of the mounds along this road was excavated in the 1930s and produced evidence for a cremation. In their present form the mounds may be the result of landscaping activity by Lord Rolle in the late 18th century or early 19th century.

Barrow on eastern edge of conifer plantation, immediately south of public car park. Less than 10 metres west of broad track southward which is not shown on map but is shown on the map but appears to follow the approximate line of the parish boundary. Track used as a public footpath and by vehicles presumably associated with military activities. More than 15 conifers growing on the mound, mound and ditch also covered in bracken and bramble. Probably little visited by public, barely visible from road or track. Military training activities are evident in the area.

Protection during any vegetation clearance.

Possible interpretation as one of a group of barrows in this area.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

Map object previously based on this Source.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

An earthwork mound interpreted as a possible landscaped mound of late 18th century to 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, on Bicton Common. The sub-circular shaped mound measures approximately 12m in diameter, with evidence of a possible outer earthwork ditch. The earthwork is clearly visible on aerial photographs up until 1965, although is largely masked by tree cover after this date.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR SY0386 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

A circular earthwork mound is visible.

Tilley, C., 2017, Landscape in the Longue Durée, 339, fig 10.1 (Monograph). SDV361032.

One of another pair of ‘barrows’ occur on either side of the road. These have no encircling banks or ditches. The mounds are 18 metres in diameter and 1.4 metres high. The mound to the south of the road has a particularly exaggerated profile on its down-slope side. The material from which all these landscaping mounds appear to have been constructed is redeposited topsoil brought from the farmlands surrounding the heathlands, red- brown in colour, contrasting with the black peaty heathland soil. They contain very few pebbles in contrast to the genuine Bronze Age heathland cairns.

Sims, R., Knight, S. & Houghton, E., 2020-2021, East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV363914.

A circular earthwork mound, circa 12m diameter, of a Bronze Age barrow or 18th-19th century landscape feature is visible on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016.

Historic England, 2023, Two bowl barrows on Woodbury Common , 640m and 625m east of Four Firs (Correspondence). SDV365588.

Application for Scheduled Monument Consent received 19 April 2023 in respect of proposed works at the scheduled monument concerning the remodelling of car park and relocation of entrance away from scheduled barrow. The Secretary of State is agreeable for the works to proceed providing the conditions are applied. A report will be sent to the Historic Environment Team once the work is completed.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV101648	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. A4 Unbound + Digital. 71-72, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 576.
SDV104780	Migrated Record:
SDV104781	Report - Survey: Ancient Monuments.
SDV104783	Migrated Record: SOUTHWELL.
SDV104788	Report - Survey: RCHME.
SDV104789	Migrated Record: SEE 5,IAM.
SDV104790	Migrated Record: NMR, CITING PROBERT.
SDV104792	Migrated Record:
SDV104793	Migrated Record:
SDV104794	Migrated Record:
SDV104795	Migrated Record:
SDV104796	Migrated Record:
SDV104797	Migrated Record:
SDV104798	Migrated Record:
SDV104799	Migrated Record:
SDV104800	Migrated Record:
SDV104801	Migrated Record:
SDV104802	Migrated Record:
SDV104803	Migrated Record:
SDV104804	Migrated Record:
SDV104805	Migrated Record:
SDV104806	Migrated Record:
SDV13596	Worksheet: Griffiths, D.. 1983. ?Quay.
SDV136802	Migrated Record: Brighouse, U. W..
SDV24	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. OSA. Card Index.
SDV331	Migrated Record: Unknown. MIGRATED RECORD - MONUMENT PROTECTION PROGRAMME DATA. Monument Protection Programme. Unknown.
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV344030	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2010. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital).
SDV351568	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003-2004. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 2676.
SDV351571	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. 18-19, Site No. 2676.
SDV354994	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1823. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RP 3001 04-NOV-1946.
SDV356245	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1965. RAF/58/7106. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/7106 018-19 12-NOV-1965.
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV358402	Worksheet: Griffiths, D. M.. 1982. Barrow. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV358490	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 576.
SDV359019	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. Site No. 576.
SDV359714	Cartographic: Bluesky International. 2016. LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects. Not applicable. Digital. LIDAR SY0386 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016.
SDV361032	Monograph: Tilley, C.. 2017. Landscape in the Longue Durée. Landscape in the Longue Durée. Digital. 339, fig 10.1.
SDV363914	Interpretation: Sims, R., Knight, S. & Houghton, E.. 2020-2021. East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment. Digital.
SDV365588	Correspondence: Historic England. 2023. Two bowl barrows on Woodbury Common , 640m and 625m east of Four Firs. Scheduled Monument Consent Letter. Email.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)
• EDV8340 - East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment

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