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Summary

Remains of a circular earthwork in the middle of a plantation defined by a stout stone hedge and visible on images derived from lidar data captured in 2016. This may be a post-mediaeval tree enclosure ring rather than a prehistoric or Roman earthwork.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Widworthy Camp. Possible prehistoric or Roman enclosure or a 19th century landscape feature associated with Widworthy Court

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SY29NW7
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 449615
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29NW/74
• Pastscape: 449615

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EARTHWORK (Early Bronze Age to Roman - 2200 BC to 409 AD (Between))
• TREE ENCLOSURE RING (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

22/4/1865, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV100701.

Widworthy camp. Vis=28/9/1951 (os) the remains of a circular earthwork in the middle of a plantation. It is almost a complete circle diameter 70m. On the northeast side are the remains of an ancient entrenchment, now little more than a stone set hedge bank with a small external ditch. It rather resembles a tree ring. Vis=on widworthy hill, 3-4 miles east of honiton, one mile south of widworthy church. Remains of a circular camp in the middle of the plantation, diameter 67.5m (hutchinson). Vis=ramsden calls the camp a hill-fort, possible contemporary with hembury. May have been an advanced post of the western tribes (ramsden). Vis=may be a landscape feature associated with widworthy court which was designed by repton in c.1830 (timms). Vis=27/8/1841 (woollcombe) did not locate camp but mentions it as being referred to by lysons + stirling as in castlewood field. Plantations and enclosures made in march 1837. Records of finds of roman coins. Vis=19/10/1852 + 22/4/1865 (hutchinson). Circular enclosure c 30m diameter with platform on top of hill. Plan in ms (22/4/1865).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100702.

Osa=sy29nw7.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100703.

Hutchinson, p. O. /tda/2(1868)373/.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100704.

Hutchinson, p. O. /tda/2(1868)373/hill fortresses and slingstones in s. E. Devon.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100705.

Polwhele, r. /history of devonshire/(1797)318.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100706.

Des=letter/fox, a. /(18/2/1955).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100707.

Kirwan, r. /tda/4 pt.2(1871)648/prehistoric archaeology in east devon.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100708.

Wall, j. C. /vch devon/1(1906)613.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100709.

Ramsden, j. V. /tda/78(1947)193/the hill fort and castle hill at widworthy.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100710.

Des=timms, s. C. /as above/(1/10/1982).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100711.

Des=woollcombe ms(1840s) in d + e inst.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV100712.

Des=hutchinson, p. O.(diary 22/4/1865 + 19/10/1852)in record office.

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

A circular enclosure is marked 'Camp (Site of)'.

Illegible, 1984, Widworthy Camp (Worksheet). SDV358447.

Unknown, 1986, Widworthy Castle, 445465 (Worksheet). SDV358451.

Summary description
A circular work in the middle of a plantation defined by a stout stone hedge. This may be a post-Mediaeval tree enclosure ring rather than a prehistoric earthwork.
Full description
Widworthy Camp: a circular work in the middle of a plantation. Its diameters are 225 ft. by 230 ft. (1)
(SY 21859872) Camp (NR) (Site of) (NAT) (2)
The remains are now little more than a stone-set hedge bank, with small external ditch, 16ft. overall and hedge-wall 4 ft. to 5 ft wide. If not marked I would have thought it to be a tree-ring. (3)
Sources
1 VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION T Devon Ass 2 1868 373 (P O Hutchinson)
2 Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date) OS 6" 1906
3 VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION Letter: (Lady A Fox 18.2.55)
Monument types, periods and evidence
Earthwork: Prehistoric or Roman. Earthwork
Tree enclosure ring: Post medieval (1540-1901). Earthwork, conjectural evidence
Related monuments: None recorded
Related events: None recorded
Related archives/objects: None recorded
Compiler: Norman Victor Quinnell, 1975
Record created: Prior to 01/04/1999

Unknown, 1986, Widworthy Hill Enclosure (Worksheet). SDV358450.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 843 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Circular enclosure known as Widworthy Camp. Formerly identified as prehistoric enclosure. Also suggested as Post-medieval landscape feature 'tree ring'. Records of finds of Roman coins.
SMR.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR SY2198 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

A ring-shaped earthwork bank is visible.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

The circular enclosure variously interpreted as an antiquity and a post-medieval landscape feature is visible as an earthwork bank on images derived from lidar data captured in 2016. Its narrow banks and regular shape suggests that the latter interpretation is most probable. It has not been transcribed as part of this project as it is depicted on the historic and modern mapping.

Ordnance Survey, 2017, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359962.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV100701	Report - Survey: 22/4/1865.
SDV100702	Migrated Record:
SDV100703	Migrated Record:
SDV100704	Migrated Record:
SDV100705	Migrated Record:
SDV100706	Migrated Record:
SDV100707	Migrated Record:
SDV100708	Migrated Record:
SDV100709	Migrated Record:
SDV100710	Migrated Record:
SDV100711	Migrated Record:
SDV100712	Migrated Record:
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. 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. 843.
SDV358447	Worksheet: Illegible. 1984. Widworthy Camp. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV358450	Worksheet: Unknown. 1986. Widworthy Hill Enclosure. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV358451	Worksheet: Unknown. 1986. Widworthy Castle. Worksheet + Digital. 445465.
SDV359463	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2016-2018. The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:2
SDV359714	Cartographic: Bluesky International. 2016. LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects. Not applicable. Digital. LIDAR SY2198 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016.
SDV359962	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2017. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #71427 ]

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

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