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Summary

A rectilinear enclosure survives as a bank and ditch defined earthwork on the east facing spur of Snow Ball, overlooking the valley of the River Caen to the east. The enclosure is visible as an earthwork on images derived from lidar data.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks of prehistoric oval enclosure on Snow Ball Hill

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS54SW/38

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ENCLOSURE (Prehistoric - 698000 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1905, 9NW (Cartographic). SDV67182.

Several places in the vicinity contain the name 'Roborough'.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, 3150 (Aerial Photograph). SDV337198.

On the 1946 RAF aerial photograph the area is mainly wooded but one circular apparently upstanding feature can be seen, apparent diameter c10-15m.

Thompson, E. M., 1980, Preliminary Report of a Possible Enclosure Site at Snow Ball, West Down, Barnstaple, North Devon (Report - Interim). SDV338071.

Snow Ball Hill, West Down. The site of a possible enclosure was discovered in 1980 during land 'improvement' work, and several flints were recovered by the farmer. On the hill top scoops and raised areas were apparent. The outer bank of the enclosure can just be discerned. 19th century pottery was also recovered. Mr Isaac (the contractor) said the enclosure was approximately round, with slight banks abutting to the north and west.

Environment Agency WMS, 1998-2014, LiDAR DTM data JPEG image (1m resolution) (Cartographic). SDV359716.

Earthworks of oval enclosure visible.

Exeter Archaeology, 2005, Archaeological Assessment (Revised) of proposed Wind Farm at Fullabrook, North Devon, 12 (Report - Assessment). SDV340799.

Enclosure, possibly prehistoric. Other details: Site 103.

Manning, P. T., 2007, Additional info for HER entry (Correspondence). SDV338072.

It was reported that during work in Snowball Wood a number of years ago, large quantities of flint were noticed which did not appear to be natural to the area. Some were picked up but later dumped in the area where the flint was found.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 2015 onwards, 2015 onward Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV362959.

A bank is visible as an earthwork and pale cropmark.

Lawrence, J., 2017, Images of Snow Ball Enclosure, West Down (Aerial Photograph). SDV360052.

Images of Snow Ball possible enclosure, including a Lidar image.

Kaye, S., 2018, Enclosure, Snow Ball Hill, West Down (Interpretation). SDV361571.

Overall form appears rectangular in form, with rounded corners and ay have a complex and structured form. There is an inner and outer set of bank-ditch couplets and possibly a ramp-like approach or entrance on the northern side which cuts through the outer and inner banks. The lidar appears to show internal structure, e.g. a pit off-set from the centre which is surrounded by semi-circular forms. Given that the area was once wooded and has recently (1980?) been 'improved' these internal features may not be related to the enclosing banks.
There is an apparent pit to the west of the enclosure which appears to have been enclosed or what seems to be bank-work may be up-thrown material.
The enclosure occupies the top of a promontory and rises from approx. 163 metres in the west to approx. 173 metres in the east. The inner bank encloses a space of approx. 133 x 92 metres. The banks seem to have been built to incorporate some geological features which trend roughly east-west; this is especially apparent on the northern side. The bank-ditch couplets are most obvious in the west, less so in the north. In the east the outer bank becomes obscured by the geology and the inner can only be followed with confidence for half of the side (north to south). The southern side of the enclosure is problematic: there is a boundary or geological/topo feature of some sort running east-west in the south but this may not be part of the original enclosure.

Environment Agency, 2021, University of Exeter Understanding Landscapes Project - Lidar visualisation (Cartographic). SDV366001.

Linear and curvilinear banks are visible as earthworks.

Hegarty, C., 2025, Comment on Unlocking Landscapes project and related lidar and aerial photograph interpretations (Interpretation). SDV366411.

A rectilinear enclosure is visible defined by linear and curvilinear earthwork bank and ditches, on the east facing spur of Snow Ball, overlooking the valley of the River Caen to the east. A single curvilinear bank up to 8m wide encloses a rectilinear area approximately 130m long west to east and 80m wide north to south. At the western end a linear bank defines a possible second, outer, second circuit that appears to continue roughly 100m along the northern side. The bank and ditch are identifiable for only circa 50m from the north-eastern corner, and are not clearly identifiable along much of the southern side, which may instead enhance the natural topography. Alternatively the enclosure may be incomplete. The total external dimensions measure approximately 160m long west to east and 108m wide north to south. No entrance can be clearly identified but may be hinted at by irregularities in the earthworks of the western end. With the exception of a roughly circular pit approximately 10m in diameter, centred at circa SS 52054095, no internal features can be confidently interpreted.
An irregularly shaped pit immediately west of the enclosure banks may represent later extractive activity.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4404 - Archaeological Assessment (Revised) of Proposed Wind Farm at Fullabrook, North Devon

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