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Summary

Western bell barrow one of a group of four Prehistoric barrows on Bursdon Moor. The barrow is visible on aerial photographs from 1946 onwards as a circular earthwork mound, and the external ring ditch is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1978 as a dark cropmark of approximately 3 metres in width. Modern deep ploughing has not impacted on the mound but the ridge and furrow earthworks are visible across the external ditch.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019257: Three bowl barrows and one bell barrow on Bursdon Moor situated 670m north east of Lutsford Cross
• SHINE: Group of four prehistoric barrows on Bursdon Moor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1328727
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS22SE/15
• Old SAM County Ref: 306(2)
• Old SAM Ref: 34246
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SS22SE10

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BELL BARROW (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)

Full description

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

Westernmost of a group of four 'Tumuli' shown on 19th century map.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158, DCC RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 5184-5185 19-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349143.

The barrow is visible as a circular earthwork mound.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1951 - 1978, SS22SE10 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV344767.

Barrow B. A barrow consisting of the central mound 16 metres in diameter, a berm, and a definite outer bank 2 metres in width, the overall diameter being 30 metres. The height to the central mound is 0.7 metres, and of the outer bank 0.2 metres. No ditch is visible save a straight one probably of wartime origin. An unusual type of barrow.

Department of Environment, 1953, Three Barrows on Bursdon Moor (Schedule Document). SDV339643.

Bell barrow of slight profile with a mound 48 foot (14.63 metres) diameter by 2 foot 6 inches (0.76 metres) high. A possible ditch 10 foot (3.05 metres) wide separated by a berm 15 foot (4.57 metres) wide. Other details: Barrow 2.

Royal Air Force, 1959, RAF/58/2984, NMR RAF/58/2984 F22 0031-0032 30-JUN-1959 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349064.

The barrow is visible as a circular earthwork mound. Map object based on this source.

Grinsell, L. V., 1970, The Barrows of North Devon, 120 (Article in Serial). SDV7849.

Visited 15th September 1965. Heath, hollow centre. Diameter 14 paces, height 3.5 feet (1.1 metres).

Silvester, R. J., 1977, Earthwork (Worksheet). SDV8568.

Visited on 11th December 1977. A platform barrow with mound in the centre.

Ordnance Survey, 1978, OS/78038, NMR OS/78038 309-310 10_MAY-1978 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349082.

The barrow is visible as an earthwork with an external ring ditch visible as a dark cropmark.

Devon Committee for Rescue Archaeology, 1979 - 1981, North Devon Barrow Survey, DCRA ND34 (Archive - Survey). SDV341310.

Visited on 7th May. Diameter 30 metres east to west. Outer bank less than 0.5 metres high. Inner mound approximately greater than 1 metre. Hollow in centre. Visible on an aerial photograph taken in 1979.

Griffith, F. M., 1985, DAP/EJ, 1a, 3 (Aerial Photograph). SDV341820.

Bayer, O. J., 1996, Barrows in the Torridge District of North West Devon: A Study in Distribution and Location (Undergraduate Dissertation). SDV319515.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2000, Three Bowl Barrows and One Bell Barrow on Bursdon Moor Situated 670m North East of Lutsford Cross (Schedule Document). SDV339642.

This monument includes three bowl barrows and one bell barrow on Bursdon Moor north-east of Lutsford Cross. The four barrows are arranged in a roughly triangular grouping. Thw western bell barrow survives as a circular central mound 11 metres diameter by 0.8 metres high. Cut by slightly curved depression, 4.6 metres long, 2.4 metres wide, 0.2 metres deep. Central mound surrounded by berm up to 1.6 metres wide, beyond which is a ditch up to 3.2 metres wide, 0.2 metres deep. Surrounding the ditch is an outer bank, most visible on south east side, 2.4 metres wide by 0.2 metres high.

Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J., 2007, The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report, No. 564 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

One of three round barrows on Bursdon Moor situated 670 metres north-east of Lutsford Cross. Diameter 14 metres, height 0.7 metres. Possible ditch separated by a berm. Signs of disturbance in centre. Bell barrow 11 metres diameter by 0.8 metres high also described.

National Monuments Record, 2010, 1328727 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV344769.

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

Map object based on this Source.

English Heritage, 2010, Three Bowl Barrows and One Bell Barrow on Bursdon Moor Situated 670m North East of Lutsford Cross (Correspondence). SDV344524.

Scheduled Monument Consent granted, subject to conditions, in respect of proposed works concerning the re-siting of a water trough and reseeding/returfing bare batches.

English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West, 114 (Report - non-specific). SDV355280.

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

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011-2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

The barrow is visible on aerial photographs from 1946 as a circular earthwork mound, and the external ring ditch is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1978 as a dark cropmark of approximately 3 metres in width. Modern deep ploughing has not impacted on the mound but the ridge and furrow earthworks are visible across the external ditch.

Hegarty, C. & Knight, S., 2012-2013, North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project site visit, 18-APR-2012 (Site Visit). SDV349357.

The barrow earthwork is in stable condition.

Unknown, Unknown, Untitled Source (Worksheet). SDV358823.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV319515	Undergraduate Dissertation: Bayer, O. J.. 1996. Barrows in the Torridge District of North West Devon: A Study in Distribution and Location. University of Leicester Dissertation. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV339642	Schedule Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2000. Three Bowl Barrows and One Bell Barrow on Bursdon Moor Situated 670m North East of Lutsford Cross. The Schedule of Monuments. A4 Stapled.
SDV339643	Schedule Document: Department of Environment. 1953. Three Barrows on Bursdon Moor. The Schedule of Monuments. Foolscap.
SDV339712	Report - Assessment: Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J.. 2007. The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report. Exeter Archaeology Report. 06.22 (rev.1). A4 Stapled + Digital. No. 564.
SDV341310	Archive - Survey: Devon Committee for Rescue Archaeology. 1979 - 1981. North Devon Barrow Survey. Devon Barrow Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. DCRA ND34.
SDV341820	Aerial Photograph: Griffith, F. M.. 1985. DAP/EJ. Devon Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 1a, 3.
SDV344030	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2010. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital).
SDV344524	Correspondence: English Heritage. 2010. Three Bowl Barrows and One Bell Barrow on Bursdon Moor Situated 670m North East of Lutsford Cross. Scheduled Monument Consent Letter. Letter.
SDV344767	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1951 - 1978. SS22SE10. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV344769	National Monuments Record Database: National Monuments Record. 2010. 1328727. National Monuments Record Database. Website.
SDV349018	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011-2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV349064	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1959. RAF/58/2984. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/2984 F22 0031-0032 30-JUN-1959.
SDV349082	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1978. OS/78038. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR OS/78038 309-310 10_MAY-1978.
SDV349143	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). DCC RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 5184-5185 19-APR-1946.
SDV349357	Site Visit: Hegarty, C. & Knight, S.. 2012-2013. North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project site visit. ND AONB NMP. Digital. 18-APR-2012.
	Linked images:24
SDV355280	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2011. Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West. english Heritage. Digital. 114.
SDV358823	Worksheet: Unknown. Unknown. Devon Committee for Rescue Archaeology Worksheet. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV7849	Article in Serial: Grinsell, L. V.. 1970. The Barrows of North Devon. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 28. A5 Paperback. 120.
SDV8568	Worksheet: Silvester, R. J.. 1977. Earthwork. Worksheet + Digital.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project (Ref: ACD383/2/1)
• EDV4415 - Devon Barrow Survey

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