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Summary

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

Location

Protected Status

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

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 448602
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08NW/8
• Old SAM County Ref: 60H
• 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=2/12/1997 (salvatore) bowl barrow. Mound 1.8m high, diam 16m. Now stands isolated in a car parking area. Near circular depression on sw side may be result of 1930's excavation. Perhaps formed one of a group of 4 mounds shown on 1801 os map, but 2 are no longer visible and their precise location is unknown (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 barrows, poorly preserved and thickly covered with undergrowth. Appear undisturbed.

SOUTHWELL, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104783.

Southwell no.8. Unlikely to be prehistoric. Possibly connected with the military activity on the common during the napoleonic war, or may be associated with the 18-19th century landscaping of lord rolle (southwell).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104844.

Barrow, diam 17.5m, heig 1.4m.

Ancient Monuments, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV104845.

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 embankments. Boundridge plantation, one of two bowl barrows.

RCHME, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV104852.

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). SDV104853.

All mounds are steep sided with gently rounded tops. Their diam vary between 9.3m and 10.5m 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 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). SDV104854.

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). SDV104856.

Osa=sy08nw8.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104857.

Radford, c. /tda/77(1945)142/council for british archaeology.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104858.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104859.

Des=southwell, c. /woodbury common/unpublished undergraduate dissertation/ exeter university/(1981).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104860.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104861.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104862.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104863.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104864.

Osa=sy08nw9/sketch.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104865.

Des=worksheet in parish file.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104866.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104867.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104868.

Des=mpp/144408.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104869.

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

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 3172-73 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

The earthwork mound is visible.

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, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 575 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

The northernmost of two barrows flanking either side of the road (see also site 576). Perhaps represents one of the four mounds depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1801 surveyors drawing (two of which are no longer visible and their precise location is uncertain; see site 577). Mound 16 metres diameter by 1.8 metres high. Possibly represents one of barrows excavated in the 1930s which contained evidence of a cremation, including a coarse pot, a dagger and a stone axehead. 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.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 575 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 575 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2678 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Barrow. Scheduled Monument.
See description in East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey 71, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 575 - SDV101648.

Exeter Archaeology, 2007, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 19, Site No. 2678 (Archive - Survey). SDV351571.

The northernmost mound of two barrows flanking the road. Perhaps one of four mounds depicted on Ordnance Survey 1801 surveyors drawing. 16 metres in diameter by 1.8 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 situated within public car park on north side of the road. Mature fir trees and other vegetation, otherwise open. Mound is freely open and visible from the car park. Some general erosion indicates that the mound is walked across frequently. Piece of glow tape on the branches on one tree likely to be military activity which adds to general erosion. Cars are often parked close to the base of the mound.

Difficult to stop erosion from visitors and cars unless feature is fenced. Re-advise military of significance of feature. Protection during vegetation clearance. Possible interpretation as one of a group of barrows.

Exeter Archaeology, 2008, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 2, Site No. 2678 (Report - Survey). SDV351570.

A number of the larger mounds are believed to represent prehistoric barrows that were remodelled in the 18th century to form landscape features.

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

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, on Bicton Common. The sub-circular shaped mound measures approximately 13 metres in diameter. It is largely masked by tree cover on aerial photographs and digital images after this date and is not clearly visible.

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 13m diameter, of a Bronze Age barrow or 18th-19th 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, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 575.
SDV104783	Migrated Record: SOUTHWELL.
SDV104844	Migrated Record:
SDV104845	Report - Survey: Ancient Monuments.
SDV104852	Report - Survey: RCHME.
SDV104853	Migrated Record: SEE 5, IAM.
SDV104854	Migrated Record: NMR CITING PROBERT.
SDV104856	Migrated Record:
SDV104857	Migrated Record:
SDV104858	Migrated Record:
SDV104859	Migrated Record:
SDV104860	Migrated Record:
SDV104861	Migrated Record:
SDV104862	Migrated Record:
SDV104863	Migrated Record:
SDV104864	Migrated Record:
SDV104865	Migrated Record:
SDV104866	Migrated Record:
SDV104867	Migrated Record:
SDV104868	Migrated Record:
SDV104869	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.
SDV344030	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2010. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital). [Mapped feature: #64236 ]
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. 2678.
SDV351570	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2008. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Exeter Archaeology Report. A4 Stapled + Digital. 2, Site No. 2678.
SDV351571	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. 19, Site No. 2678.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 3172-73 13-APR-1946.
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
SDV358490	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 575.
SDV359019	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. Site No. 575.
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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