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Summary

Medieval fields on the steep eastern slope of Challacombe Down, within Headland Warren. Faint vestiges of hedge banks running parallel with the contour may be traced including a group of at least four fields on the lower slopes and two parallel banks which run along the summit of the hill between the Challacombe outer boundary wall and the large tinworks near the stone row. Slight lynchets of less than 0.5m high are also visible running parallel with the contour.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021340: Tinworks, field systems, settlements, warren, cairns and a stone alignment at Headland Warren

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68SE352
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1344861
• Old SAM Ref Revised: 34499

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD SYSTEM (Constructed, Early Medieval to XVI - 1066 AD (Between) to 1540 AD (Between))

Full description

Newman, P., 2001, Headland Warren Part 2: Medieval Settlement and Enclosures, 7-9, Figure 2-3 (Report - Survey). SDV360131.

(20/07/2001) [1344861] Centred SX 6921 8072 Medieval fields on the steep eastern slope of Challacombe Down, within Headland Warren. Faint vestiges of hedge banks running parallel with the contour may be traced including a group of at least four fields on the lower slopes at SX 6934 8078 and two parallel banks which run along the summit of the hill between the Challacombe outer boundary wall and the large tinworks near the stone row. Slight lynchets of less than 0.5m high are also visible running parallel with the contour. The hedge banks consist of shallow ditches, now heavily silted with low earth banks on the interior side of the ditch.
? Substantial hedge-bank extends north to south along the contour between the tinwork and the Challacombe boundary wall. Further west another faint bank runs on a parallel course. These two banks leave a narrow enclosed strip of land running the length of the hill beyond the boundary wall, which is only 88 metres wide at its widest point. This 'avenue' appears to respect the Prehistoric stone row which runs between the two suggesting the two banks may follow Prehistoric parallel reaves. However the eastern bank is a substantial earth bank with a deep ditch and is not a Prehistoric reave although the western bank is likely to have survived from prehistory.

Historic England, 2017, National Heritage List for England, 1021340 (National Heritage List for England). SDV359963.

During the Medieval period much of Headland Warren was enclosed by a series of fields many of which would have been associated with the farmstead at NGR SX 68488076. The farmstead includes at least two longhouses and associated enclosures.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7139 - Headland Warren and the Birch Tor and Vitifer Mines Survey (Ref: A1/20/2001, A1/34/2002)
• EDV8658 - Challacombe, Duchy Farms Survey

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