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Summary

Cropmarks of a possible Bronze Age double ring ditch or a Roman signalling tower are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1975 onwards, to the north east of The Barton, North Tawton.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021151: Roman forts, marching camps and associated monuments
• Scheduled Monument 1021151: Roman forts, marching camps and associated monuments
• SHINE: Two Roman forts (two Roman fortlets are located in northwest corner of northern fort) and two marching camps, Roman building, Roman roads, enclosures, prehistoric ring ditches, undated linears and Bathe Pool south of North Tawton

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 896758
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS60SE/34
• Old SAM Ref: 10384.02
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RING DITCH (Early Bronze Age to Roman - 2200 BC to 409 AD (Between))

Full description

NMR, Untitled Source, 37-38,62-67 (Aerial Photograph). SDV237284.

Cambridge University Collection, 1975, Untitled Source, 20-22 (Aerial Photograph). SDV237278.

Silvester, R. J., 1978, Untitled Source, 249-53 (Article in Serial). SDV237275.

Cropmark site. Ring ditch nearly 38 metres in diameter, and bisected by a grubbed up field boundary. Double ditched. By analogy, should be Bronze Age. Other details: Plan + photo.

Grinsell, L. V., 1983, The Barrows of South and East Devon, 46 (Article in Serial). SDV337013.

Griffith, F. M., 1984, Roman Military Sites in Devon: Some Recent Discoveries, 11-32 (Article in Serial). SDV35308.

Possible interpretation as Roman signalling tower suggested by Griffith.

Griffith, F. M., 1985, DAP/FH, 5,5a (Aerial Photograph). SDV237281.

Griffith, F. M., 1991, DAP/UN, 1-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDV237285.

Horner, B., 1995, DAP/XQ, 5-11 (Aerial Photograph). SDV319974.

Griffith, F. M., 1995, DAP/YB, 3-10,13-14 (Aerial Photograph). SDV274742.

Griffith, F. M., 1995, DAP/YC, 1-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDV274743.

Miller, A., 1995, RCHME Aerial Photograph Primary Recording Project (Interpretation). SDV237283.

Exeter Archaeology, 1999, Archaeological Assessment of a Proposed Development Site at Barton Hill, North Tawton, 3 (Report - Assessment). SDV274744.

Department of Environment, 2003, Roman Forts, Marching Camps and Associated Monuments (Schedule Document). SDV343864.

The monument includes a complex of large Roman military enclosures together with a series of smaller enclosures and ring-ditches in fields around The Barton on the east bank of the River Taw. Three of the ring ditches lie to the north of The Barton, the fourth lies further south, at the north-western angle of the northernmost fort. Unusually, three of the four have double concentric ditches, the fourth has a single ditch. They are identified as prehistoric funerary features, although, in view of their proximity to the military complex and their unusual double layout, they may be Roman military works. Additional cropmarks between the northernmost fort and The Barton are identified as prehistoric enclosures and land boundaries.

Passmore, A. J., 2004, Archaeological Recording at Site of New Warehouse for Vital Dog Supplies, The Barton, North Tawton, 1 (Report - Watching Brief). SDV319972.

Double ring ditch nearly 38 metres diameter bisected by a field boundary.

Young, A., 2005, Transcriptions from Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Cartographic). SDV321540.

Transcriptions of ditches correspond to the grid reference for PRN166954.

Young, A. & Turner, S., 2005-2006, North Devon/Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project database records, PRN166954 (Interpretation). SDV358473.

A double-ditched ring ditch roughly 25m (internal) and 38m (external) in diameter is visible on aerial photos (p1). Its outer ditch has a width of only 1.1m, while its inner ditch is 4.7m wide. Both ditches have a break intheir NW edge; it is likely that these are entrances. The enclosure has been digitally plotted as part of the National Mapping Programme.
Photograph reference:
1. DCC DAP UN 01 (NMR SS 6600/62- 13458/01) 03-JUN-1991

National Monuments Record, 2009, 896758 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV237282.

Two round barrow sites, of Prehistoric or Roman date, seen as cropmarks. Other details: SS60SE 30.

English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West, 119 (Report - non-specific). SDV342694.

Generally satisfactory but with significant localised problems. Principal vulnerability arable ploughing.

English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West, 112 (Report - non-specific). SDV344777.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

Map object previously based on this Source.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV372 - Archaeological Assessment of a Proposed Development Site at Barton Hill, North Tawton
• EDV379 - Archaeological recording at site of new warehouse for Vital Dog Supplies, The Barton, North Tawton
• EDV7455 - Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme

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