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Summary

Earthworks of a circular mound with outer ditches and a bank are visible to the northeast of Woodbury Castle. The feature has been previously interpreted as a prehistoric bowl barrow, although is probably more likley to be the result of 18th-19th century landscaping. The earthworks are visible on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1018053: Two bowl barrows on Colaton Raleigh Common, 500m north and 780m north east of Woodbury Castle
• SHINE: Prehistoric barrow likely to have been modified during 18th/19th century landscaping south east of Woodbury Park Golf and Country Club

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 448591
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08NW/9
• Old SAM County Ref: 59A
• Old SAM Ref: 29654

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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

Vis=1/12/1997 (salvatore) diam 21.7m, height 3.5m. Surrounding ditch, 2.2m wide, partly obscured on w side by a later bank. Surrounded on all sides by a bank + outer ditch. On w side the bank separates the barrow from the b3180 road. The bank + ditch are considered by probert to be 18c/19c landscape features. Mound planted with firs, possibly at same time as enclosure bank constructed (mpp).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV1004.

Vis=27/4/1972 (grinsell) heath. Within tree-clump enclosure. Diameter 21m, height 1.8m.

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

Vis=11/4/1950 (os) well preserved, except that the north west flank has been slightly encroached on by road. Consists of mound and ditch, surrounded by bank with outside ditch latter possibly later additions of tree-ring as conifers are growing on mound.

Ancient Monuments, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV107173.

Vis=-/6/1923 (ancient monuments) tumuli on colaton raleigh common. Two conspicuous tumuli exist on colaton raleigh common close to the exmouth-ottery st. Mary road. 'a' is nearly half a mile south west of the house called the warren on the left hand side of the road. It is of an estimated height of 3.048m, with an outer earthern bank which is modern. The tumulus is overgrown with shrub and scots pine trees. A very short distance from this, south west are the remains of a tumulus about 9.14m in diameter not marked on the os map.

NMR, CITING RCHME?, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV107180.

Morphologically similar to 8 probable landscaping mounds which are situated in pairs on either side of the woodbury-yettington road and were previously recorded as barrows. It differs from these in size, being larger, and in its solitary positioning. Though likely to have originated as a barrow its current form is probably the result of landscaping initiated by lord rolle of bicton during the late 18c and 19c. A similar though larger mound lies 500m wsw at sy03258786 (nmr, citing rchme?).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV107181.

Osa=sy08nw5/small sketch.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV107182.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV107183.

Grinsell, l. V. /pdas/41(1983)44.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV107184.

Des=mpp/144411.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV107185.

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

Ordnance Survey, 1906, 126NW (Cartographic). SDV156247.

Vis=unknown (rchme?) little damage has occured and there has been no further encroachment by the b3180.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RS 4271-72 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

An outer earthwork ditch enclosing the mound is partly visible.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 177 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 177 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, 50, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 177 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

SMR describes large mound on southern edge of B3180 road. Circa 21 metres diameter by 3.5 metres high, with surrounding ditch 2.2 metres wide. Encircled by additional outer bank and ditch which are considered to be 18th-19th century landscaping features. In its present form the mound, together with outer bank, are probably result of landscaping by Lord Rolle of Bicton during late 18th century and 19th century; mound and bank planted with firs possibly at this time. It is likely, however, that the feature originated as a prehistoric barrow. During field visit feature appeared in good condition; covered with grass and some mature trees.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2689 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Barrow. Scheduled Monument.
See description in East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey 50, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 177 - SDV101648.

Exeter Archaeology, 2007, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 20, Site No. 2689 (Archive - Survey). SDV351571.

SMR describes a large mound on the southern edge of the B3180 road. 21 metres in diameter by 3.5 metres high, with surrounding ditch 2.2 metres wide. Encircled by outer bank and ditch which are considered to be 18th-19th century landscaping features. Mound and outer bank in their present form are likely to be the result of landscaping activity by Lord Rolle of Bicton in the late 18th century or 19th century. Mound and bank planted with firs possibly at this time. Likely that the feature originated as a prehistoric barrow. During 2003 field visit, the feature appeared in good condition, covered with grass and some mature trees.

Very top of mound is open and grass covered, otherwise under bracken and trees on lower slopes of mound and in ditch. Some parts densely covered. Barrow is not visible from the surrounding area except as a group of fir trees in the surrounding landscape. Small path runs south-southeast from the road up the hill to the barrow. Small path runs west-northwest-east-southeast across the mound. Encircling bank has a channel cut through it on northern side; 1.5 metres wide and 0.3 metre deep, possible the result of military training activity. There is a granite post 2 metres outside the north side of the outer bank which is a possible former trig point. The barrow is a focus as a high point in the landscape although probably not subject to a great deal of public traffic.

Re-advise military of significance of feature. Protection during vegetation clearance.

Possible interpretation as one of a group of large barrows/landscaping mounds in the area.

Exeter Archaeology, 2008, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 2, Site No. 2689 (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.

English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West, 95 (Report - non-specific). SDV355280.

Generally satisfactory but with significant localised problems. Declining. Principal vulnerability scrub/tree growth.

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

The outer ditch which encloses the earthwork mound is partly visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards. The earthwork bears many close similarities to other such mound features recorded within the vicinity and appears in part to be product of 18th to 19th century landscaping. The full extent and nature of the monument could not, however, be fully transcribed here as part of this survey owing to dense tree and vegetation cover which obscure the earthworks.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR SY0387 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

Earthworks of a mound with outer ditches and a bank are visible.

Passmore, A., 2018, Woodbury Common, Devon: Archaeological Survey of Fire Damaged Heathland (Report - Survey). SDV363233.

This document sets out the results of an archaeological survey carried out by AC archaeology on 7 May 2017 and 23 June 2017 of part of Woodbury Common, Devon. The survey covered approximately 31ha of heathland that had been damaged by fire on 23 April 2017.

This asset was unaffected by the fire, and no new information about the asset was revealed. MDV70406 abuts the bank surrounding the mound on its south side (see section 3.7 below).

Sims, R., 2020, East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV363914.

Earthworks of a circular mound, circa 21m diameter, with outer ditches and a bank are visible on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016. The earthworks are probably the result of 18th-19th century landscaping.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV1004	Migrated Record:
SDV101648	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. A4 Unbound + Digital. 50, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 177.
SDV107173	Report - Survey: Ancient Monuments.
SDV107180	Migrated Record: NMR, CITING RCHME?.
SDV107181	Migrated Record:
SDV107182	Migrated Record:
SDV107183	Migrated Record:
SDV107184	Migrated Record:
SDV107185	Migrated Record:
SDV156247	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1906. 126NW. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 6 inch Map. Map (Paper).
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.
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. 2689.
SDV351570	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2008. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Exeter Archaeology Report. A4 Stapled + Digital. 2, Site No. 2689.
SDV351571	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. 20, Site No. 2689.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RS 4271-72 13-APR-1946.
SDV355280	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2011. Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West. english Heritage. Digital. 95.
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. 177.
SDV359019	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. Site No. 177.
SDV359714	Cartographic: Bluesky International. 2016. LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects. Not applicable. Digital. LIDAR SY0387 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016.
SDV363233	Report - Survey: Passmore, A.. 2018. Woodbury Common, Devon: Archaeological Survey of Fire Damaged Heathland. AC Archaeology. ACD1605/1/0. Digital.
SDV363914	Interpretation: Sims, R.. 2020. East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment. Digital.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)
• EDV8192 - Archaeological Survey of Fire Damaged Heathland: Woodbury Common, Devon (Ref: ACD1605/1/0)
• EDV8340 - East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment

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