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Summary

An enclosure attached to the north-west side of a reave on Wigford Down. The enclosure has an irregular D shape, with one straight side formed by the reave. The condition of the walls varies between a broad robust stony bank on the south-west side to a more subtle earthwork near the north-east corner. A smaller rectangular enclosure on the interior contains one hut circle (MDV119819). A second (possible) poorly preserved hut circle is contained within the north-west area of the main enclosure (MDV119820).

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and walling of Bronze age parallel reave field system with hut circle settlements and cairns, plus deserted Medieval settlements with long houses and pillow mounds, on Wigford Down

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56SW2
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 439539
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SW/38
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ENCLOSURE (Constructed, Late Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 3000 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, 3238-40 (Aerial Photograph). SDV340833.

Large field bounded by low curvilinear banks with an internal yard against the south side. There appears to be an oval enclosure to the most of its centre, but no hut circles can be seen. The field bank appears to be broken by a later enclosure on the west side.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1951, SX56SW2 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV275490.

A habitation site of two or three huts, walls and fields recorded by Lady A. Fox in 1951. Poor and indistinct.

Ralegh Radford, C. A., 1953, Prehistoric Settlements on Dartmoor and the Cornish Moors, 68, 73 (Article in Serial). SDV337080.

Fox, A., 1954, Celtic Fields and Farms on Dartmoor in Light of Recent Excavations at Kestor, 102 (Article in Serial). SDV231175.

Price, D. G., 1978, Settlement and ancient fields on Wigford Down, 69-75 (Article in Serial). SDV220620.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Semi-circular enclosure visible on the aerial photographs apparently incorporated into parallel reave system MDV2219. Cut across by north-east to south-west aligned boundary, which also divides field system MDV40211. Enclosure has three partitions. Two semi-circular. The third is rectangular with one freestanding hut circle and one hut circle attached to interior wall of main enclosure. One hut circle freestanding within area of main enclosure.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 78, Map 48, Figure 48.1 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Settlement 'B' at Wigford Down field system is an irregular enclosure that has been added on to the east side of a reave. A large well built hut with a dividing wall and courtyard occupies the interior and probable remains of a second large building interrupt the perimeter.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Visible on the aerial photography.

National Monument Record, 2017, Pastscape (Website). SDV359964.

Large field bounded by low curvilinear banks with an internal yard against the south side. There appears to be an oval enclosure to the most of its centre, but no hut circles can be seen. The field bank appears to be broken by a later enclosure on the west side (citing aerial photograph source: Royal Air Force, 27/2/46, RAF/106G/UK/1190 3238-9).

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, WD-14 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

(14/08/2020) Condition assessed as moderate; vegetation encroachment is threatening the feature.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording photographs (Photograph). SDV363073.

Image taken during August 2020 site visit.

Newman, P., 2019-2020, Survey data from various sites on Dartmoor (Cartographic). SDV363779.

Newman, P., 2020, Wigford Down Premier Archaeological Landscape, Dartmoor National Park, Devon. A new survey (Report - Survey). SDV363780.

An enclosure of 0.0392 hectares attached to the north-west side of a reave. The enclosure has an irregular D shape, with one straight side formed by the reave, which is slightly lyncheted. The condition of the walls varies between a broad robust stony bank on the south-west side to a more subtle earthwork near the north-east corner. A smaller rectangular enclosure on the interior measures 20m by 15m and contains one hut circle (MDV119819). A second (possible) poorly preserved hut circle is contained within the north-west area of the main enclosure (MDV119820).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8316 - Wigford Down PAL survey

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