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Summary

One of four barrows at Four Firs. Thought to be landscape mounds associated with the extensive programme of landscape works undertaken by the Bicton estate in the 19th century.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1018052: Four bowl barrows at Four Firs on Woodbury Common

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 448584
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08NW/12
• Old SAM County Ref: 56
• Old SAM Ref: 29653

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BARROW (Lower Palaeolithic to XXI - 698000 BC to 2009 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Vis=24/11/1997 (salvatore) north-western of 4 barrows. Diam 18m, height 2.5m. Surrounding ditch removed by quarrying on w + n side (mpp).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV1004.

Vis=27/4/1972 and 21/4/1982 (grinsell) all covered in trees and look recent by reason of their steep profile (grinsell).

Tyler, F. C., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV60224.

Vis=4/4/1978 (timms) junction improvement completed. No damage to barrows. Tyler asks if there is any truth in the legend that the mounds on woodbury were built by simcoes's troops during the napoleonic wars (tyler).

SOUTHWELL, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104783.

Shown on os ms map 1801. Four tumuli at four firs probably constructed by army encamped during napoleonic war.19th century, one or two may have been barrows, others added by army; unexcavated. The 4 tumuli are marked on the os 1801 drawings, and the tithe map. Unlikely to be prehistoric. Arguably post-date the roads. Possibly associated with the military activity of soldiers encamped in the vicinity during the napoleonic wars. Alternatively, may be part of landscaping innovated by lord rolle in 18/19th century (southwell).

DIAM 19M, HEIGHT 2.5M; DITCH WIDTH 1.5M, DEPT 0.3M, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106363.

Barrow (diam 19m, height 2.5m; ditch width 1.5m, dept 0.3m).

Ancient Monuments, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV106367.

Vis=estimated -/6/1923 (ancient monuments).

RCHME, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV106372.

Vis=10/9/1990 (rchme) centred sy03118640. Four probable landscaping mounds lie in the quadrants of the four firs crossroads 2 km e of woodbury. With the exception of the mound in the se quadrant all are covered by dense briars and bracken. Measurements of the se mound are 14.5m in diam and 1.8m high with a ditch 1.8m wide and a max of 0.4m deep. There is no apparent berm. The other mounds appear to confirm to these dimensions. Three (se,sw and nw) are topped by mature trees; the ne mound has been recently replanted with conifers. The nw mound has been damaged by quarrying on its n and w margins.

NMR, CITING PROBERT, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106373.

The prehistoric barrow interpretation attributed to these features must be questioned, because their relative positioning is unusual as is their uniform morphology; the sides remain steep and the ditches are still well-defined. The suggestion that they were built by the troops stationed on woodbury common during thre napoleonic war seems unlikely. They are depicted on the os 1801 3" drawing while the troops did not arrive until several years later. They are most probably part of the extensive landscaping activities initiated by lord rolle of bicton during the later 18c. Four similar mounds (nmr:sy08nw8) flank the woodbury-yettington road e of four firs (nmr, citing probert).

AMD, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106374.

Nmr refereence probert's description (above) to sy08nw/7, 27/1,27/2,12,13,14 + 15 (amd).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106377.

Osa=sy08nw4.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106378.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106379.

Des=os drawings/west country studies library/(1801).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106380.

Des=tithe map.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106381.

Southwell, c. /woodbury common/unpublished undergraduate dissertation/ exeter university/(1981).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106382.

Brighouse, u. W. /woodbury: a view from the beacon/(1981)8-15.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106383.

Timms, s. /site visits (1977 and 1978) as above and photographs in conservation section collection film no.300(4/4/1978).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106384.

Tyler, f. C. /dcnq/16(1930-1931)340/mounds on woodbury common.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106385.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106386.

Des=mpp/144410.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106387.

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

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106388.

Nmr=sy08nw4.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV106389.

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

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

Four firs was probably the intersection of two ancient roads. Probably prehistoric barrows, converted by lord rolle into landscape features (brighouse).

Timms, S. C., Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV2.

Vis=23/8/1977 (timms) meeting with s. Rees, inspector of ancient monuments (doe) on site to discuss county council junction improvement scheme. Fencing of barrows during site agreed as no direct disturbance will be caused by roadworks.

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

Vis=16/7/1953 (os) all four mounds have ditches. All planted with conifers, all appear unopened. Geometrically placed, in excellent condition, enclosed by earth bank in each quadrant of the group. There are four tumuli at the four firs which are marked on the 6" os map. They are a,b,c,d. All four are similar in character and height and are surrounded by medium walls of earth. One on the western side has at some previous time been damaged by a contiguous quarry, which is not now worked. One of four round barrows at four firs, woodbury common.

Bridgewater, S, 17/04/2015, Barrow, Four Firs SM29653 (Ground Photograph). SDV358189.

Image of barrow and surrounding environs after scrub clearance.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Part 2: Gazetteer, 1, Site No. 1 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

The north-western mound of a group of four flanking the road junction. May represent a prehistoric barrow or 18th century landscaping mound. 18 metres in diameter by 2.5 meters high with a surrounding ditch which has been removed by quarrying on north and west sides. Site under dense vegetation of gorse/bracken/bramble; some fir trees. Situated on southwest facing slope adjacent to the road.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 1 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 1 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2664 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Barrow. Scheduled Monument.
See description in East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey Part 2: Gazetteer, 1, Site No. 1 - SDV101648.

Exeter Archaeology, 2007, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 17, Site No. 2664 (Archive - Survey). SDV351571.

The north-western mound of a group of four flanking the road junction. May be a prehistoric barrow or 18th century landscaping mound. 18 metres in diameter by 2.5 meters high with a surrounding ditch which has been removed by quarrying on north and west sides. Site under dense vegetation. Situated on southwest facing slope adjacent to the road.

Mound has been recently cleared of vegetation and now visible from the road and surrounding area. Extent of quarrying to the north of the barrow is now evident. North side of the barrow is shored up with corrugated sheeting to stop it slipping into the quarry.

Protection during vegetation clearance. Possible interpretation as one of a group of 4 mounds.

Exeter Archaeology, 2008, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 2, Site No. 2664 (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.

The four earthwork mounds recorded at the Four Firs road intersection could not be transcribed from aerial photographs made available to the survey, owing to the dense tree cover within the area.

Tilley, C., 2017, Landscape in the Longue Durée, 334-5, Figs 10.1-10.5

334-335, Figs 10.1–10.5 (Monograph). SDV361032.

At Four Firs four landscaping mounds are symmetrically arranged around a crossroads. This is the beginning of a series of such mounds positioned along either side of the road running east towards Yettington. This was the main carriage drive to Bicton House and park from Exeter that the Rolle family and their numerous visitors would take. The Four Firs mounds are all about 20 metres in diameter and about 2.5 metres high. All but the north-west mound have surrounding ditches. The north-east and south-west mounds are enclosed by a low bank and external ditch on two sides, running up to and terminating at the two roads forming the crossroads. The north-west mound has a substantial quarry hollow on its north and western sides and the mound here is up to 7 metres high above the surrounding ground surface and had a stabilizing revetment of corrugated iron and metal posts (see fig 10.4).
A small section cleaned up and recorded by Tilley in the north-east mound revealed the barrow was composed of at least two layers of deposited soil. The natural was not reached and no finds were made. Notably the composition of the barrow, on the basis of this section, is completely different from the heathland prehistoric cairns which are composed of pebble and turf layers. This provides further confirmation that the mounds at Four Firs are not prehistoric but modern landscaping mounds.

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. Part 2: Gazetteer, 1, Site No. 1.
SDV104783	Migrated Record: SOUTHWELL.
SDV106363	Migrated Record: DIAM 19M, HEIGHT 2.5M; DITCH WIDTH 1.5M, DEPT 0.3M.
SDV106367	Report - Survey: Ancient Monuments.
SDV106372	Report - Survey: RCHME.
SDV106373	Migrated Record: NMR, CITING PROBERT.
SDV106374	Migrated Record: AMD.
SDV106377	Migrated Record:
SDV106378	Migrated Record:
SDV106379	Migrated Record:
SDV106380	Migrated Record:
SDV106381	Migrated Record:
SDV106382	Migrated Record:
SDV106383	Migrated Record:
SDV106384	Migrated Record:
SDV106385	Migrated Record:
SDV106386	Migrated Record:
SDV106387	Migrated Record:
SDV106388	Migrated Record:
SDV106389	Migrated Record:
SDV136802	Migrated Record: Brighouse, U. W..
SDV2	Report - Survey: Timms, S. C..
SDV24	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. 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: #64413 ]
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. 2664.
SDV351570	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2008. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Exeter Archaeology Report. A4 Stapled + Digital. 2, Site No. 2664.
SDV351571	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. 17, Site No. 2664.
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
SDV358189	Ground Photograph: Bridgewater, S. 17/04/2015. Barrow, Four Firs SM29653. Digital.
SDV358490	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 1.
SDV359019	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. Site No. 1.
SDV361032	Monograph: Tilley, C.. 2017. Landscape in the Longue Durée. Landscape in the Longue Durée. Digital. 334-5, Figs 10.1-10.5 334-335, Figs 10.1–10.5.
SDV60224	Migrated Record: Tyler, F. C..

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

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