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Summary

Vermin trap built against the east side of a boundary wall. Includes two lengths of rubble wall, together forming a V-shaped trap. The walls are of partly faced rubble construction and average 0.7m wide by 0.3m high. The north-north-east wall measures 2.6m long and the east-south-east arm is 2m long. The position of the trap suggests that it was intended to catch vermin following the boundary wall.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020323: Prehistoric and historic archaeological landscape at Trowlesworthy Warren

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX 56 SE 66
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/198/54
• Old SAM Ref: 24232
• Pastscape: 439294

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• VERMIN TRAP (Constructed, XVIII to XIX - 1751 AD to 1899 AD (Between))

Full description

Haynes, R. G., 1970, Vermin Traps and Rabbit Warrens on Dartmoor, 158, trap number 38 (Article in Serial). SDV166302.

Trowlesworthy Warren (SX 5705 6440). Haynes trap number 38. A V-shaped trap against ancient boundary wall running south-east from Trowlesworthy enclosures.
NB: Haynes' grid reference places this trap around 60m to the south-east, but his description matches this of the trap surveyed by Gerrard and English Heritage and record has been repositioned to reflect this (Richards, A. F., 09/03/2020).

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 140641 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(09/04/1995) Vermin trap built against the east side of a boundary wall. Includes two lengths of rubble wall, together forming a V-shaped trap. The walls are of partly faced rubble construction and average 0.7m wide by 0.3m high. The north-north-east wall measures 2.6m long and the east-south-east arm is 2m long. The position of the trap suggests that it was intended to catch vermin following the boundary wall. Vermin approaching their quarry tend to seek a route that provides visual cover and the purpose of a trap was to funnel predators along ditches or side walls to a central point where they could be trapped. The stone from which the structure was constructed was presumably taken from the boundary wall.

Thackray, C., 1994, The Upper Plym Valley: the management of an historic landscape, 31, 102.088 (Report - non-specific). SDV143510.

Probert, S. A. J. + Fletcher, M. J., 2002, Plym Valley survey (Report - Survey). SDV350782.

Depicted on survey layer.

Ridgers, H. + Ridgers, C., 2015, Of Varments and Vermin Traps, 5, No. 59 (Report - Assessment). SDV358632.

Based on the (inaccurate) historical HER grid reference, the authors identify a possible trap feature at SX 57074 64364; this is probably MDV32056 (Richards, A. F., 09/03/2020).

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 2015-2017, 2015-2017 Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV361462.

Appears to be visible on the aerial photography.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7369 - Survey of Granite Loading Bays at Trowlesworthy, Devon
• EDV8148 - The Upper Plym Valley: The Management of an Historic Landscape

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