See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

A cairn and a leaning inscribed stone in stoney ground at the north western foot of Metheral Hill above Taw Marsh. The irregular cairn measures 2.3 metres north to south by 2.8 metres and stands a maximum of 0.5 metres high. It is largely turf covered though some stone protrudes through its top. This cairn is probably medieval or later in origin and designed to mark the boundary of Dartmoor Forest and South Tawton parishes.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016641: A cairnfield, unenclosed stone hut circle settlement and boundary stone 380m south west of a ford on the Small Brook

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX69SW42
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 444211
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX69SW/83
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX69SW/83/1
• Old SAM Ref: 28724

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BOUNDARY CAIRN (Constructed, Post Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1540 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))

Full description

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 143 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(Visited May 1976) SX 6217 9043 Possible remains of cairn lying on the parish boundary. Diameter 3.3m, height 0.3m.

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

Not visible on 1946 RAF photos.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 149272 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(29/1/1998) At SX 62139042. Cairn forming part of a cairnfield 380m south-west of a ford on the Small Brook. Diameter 2.6m, height 0.45m. Stones protruding. Grass and bilberry.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 244, Map 40, Site 'c' (Monograph). SDV219155.

Tor Marsh S. '2' possible cairn at SX62179043 of 3.5 metres diameter by 0.3 metres high.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1993-1998, Dartmoor Royal Forest Project, S. Probert (Report - Survey). SDV346608.

(10/08/1993) SX 62169042. A cairn and a leaning inscribed stone in stoney ground at the north western foot of Metheral Hill above Taw Marsh. The irregular cairn measures 2.3m north to south by 2.8m and stands a maximum of 0.5m high. It is largely turf covered though some stone protrudes through its top. The inscribed stone lies on its western margin (MDV51200).
This cairn is probably medieval or later in origin and designed to mark the boundary of Dartmoor Forest and South Tawton parishes which in this area runs in a straight line from two boundary stones (SX 68 NW 71) on Metheral Hill to another two stones (SX 69 SW 63) flanking the River Taw.
Three further stoney mounds (SX 69 SW 41, 66 and 67) on or near the same boundary lie in the immediate area.

Probert, S. A. J. + Newman, P., 2003-2004, Measured survey North Dartmoor Military Range Okehampton Range: Monument Baseline Condition Survey, S. Probert (Report - Survey). SDV350801.

(24/10/2003) These features remain as described in 1993.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Prehistoric Survey Information (Cartographic). SDV345521.

Cairn shown on survey.

Historic England, 2023, National Heritage List for England, 1016641 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365228.

he monument, which falls into three areas, includes a cairnfield, unenclosed stone hut circle settlement and post-medieval boundary stone situated on a gentle north west facing slope overlooking Taw Marsh. The cairnfield includes 21 mounds standing between 0.4 metres and 0.8 metres high. Sixteen of the cairns are circular in shape and measure between 2.6 metres and 6.5 metres in diameter, whilst the remainder are oval and are up to 8 metres long by 4 metres wide.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8679 - Okehampton Range: Management Survey
• EDV8291 - Okehampton Range: Monument Baseline Condition Survey
• EDV8695 - Survey of Okehampton North Dartmoor Military Range

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.