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Summary

One of 3 bowl barrows located on the south side of the parish boundary between Lympstone and Woodbury. It is shown on the late 19th century Ordnance Survey map and is visible as an earthwork mound with outer ditch on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020014: Three bowl barrows on Lympstone Common, 500m west of Fryingpans

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 929884
• National Monuments Record: 929980
• National Monuments Record: SY08NW36
• National Monuments Record: SY08NW37
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08NW/54
• Old SAM Ref: 33932

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BOWL BARROW (Late Neolithic to XIX - 3000 BC to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

NMR, SY08NW37 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV341776.

Visited on 05/09/1990. One of 3 three ditched mounds in a west to east line adjacent to the Bicton/Lympstone parish boundary bank on Lympstone Common. Dense bracken and briars largely obscure the otherwise well-defined mounds and associated ditches. All the mounds are steep-sided and there is no evidence to suggest the presence of a bank around the outer lip of the ditch. The central mound measures around 8 metres in diameter and 1.7 metres high from the bottom of the ditch. The ditch measures 1.5 metres to 1.7 metres wide and up to 0.4 metres deep. The north side of the mound has been disturbed by animals and the west part of the ditch is cut by a footpath.

Royal Air Force, 13/04/1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1995, 3304 (Aerial Photograph). SDV224714.

Other details: 44/86.

Hutchinson, P. O., 1872, Copy of Diary Entry, Sidmouth , May 1872 (Un-published). SDV341762.

Hutchinson notes a "number of oval, square and circular pits and platforms" in the area, which he believed were made by General Simcoe's troops during the Napoleonic Wars.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Two mounds shown at this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 4100-01 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

The possible barrow is visible as an earthwork mound and earthwork ditch.

Conservation Section, 1982, Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common (Ground Photograph). SDV341780.

Other details: 531/17.

Griffiths, D. M., 1982, Earthwork (Worksheet). SDV341779.

Visited on 26/01/1982. One of three round ditched mounds. The centre one is circa 2 metres high, and 9.5 metres in overall diameter. It has an earthen bank (probably the parish boundary between Woodbury and Lympstone) on its nothern side, which has been cut away. All 3 seem to be flat topped and have steep sides. Date and function unknown, but P.O. Hutchinson (in his manuscript diaries in the Devon Record Office) records activity by soldiers in the vicinity during the Napoleonic Wars. He refers to "a number of oval, square and circular pits and platforms", probably made by General Simcoe.

Exeter Archaeology, 1999, Archaeological Assessment of Thorn Tree Plantation, near Blackhill Quarry, Woodbury, 5 (Report - Assessment). SDV336320.

One of the 3 circular ditched mounds, circa 2 metres high (see site 9). Other details: Site 10.

Salvatore, J. P., 1999, Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common, 144516 (Un-published). SDV341777.

Bowl barrow on Lympstone Common, central of a linear group of 3. Diameter 7.7 metres, height 1.5 metres. Ditch 1.7 metres wide, 0.5 metres deep. Parish boundary reported to respect this barrow.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2001, Three Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common (Schedule Document). SDV341782.

The monument includes 3 bowl barrows aligned almost exactly east-west and situated between 8 and 9 metres apart on Lympstone Common. The barrows lie on flat ground close to the 150 metre contour above the south facing slope of the common, which commands views down to the coast at Budleigh Salterton. All 3 barrows have clear bowl-shaped profiles. The central barrow mound is 1.5 metres in height whilst the flanking barrow mounds are 2 metres in height. They vary in diameter between 7.7 metres and 8 metres. All have an encircling ditch from which material would have been quarried for the construction of the mounds. The encircling quarry ditches vary in width between 1.4 metres and 2 metres. These ditches have become partly infilled over the millenia although they are all well defined as depressions surrounding their respective mounds and vary in depth between 0.2 metres and 0.65 metres. The easternmost barrow has a trench cut into its centre from the south, which may be the result of antiquarian activity. The barrows lie adjacent to the parish boundary between Lympstone and Woodbury, this boundary being defined at one stage by a low earthen bank. The barrows may have provided a clearly recognisable and already ancient reference point in the landscape at the time that parish boundaries were defined in the early medieval period. Other details: Map.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, 10 and 24, Part 1; 39, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 132 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

SMR records barrows (central of three in an east-west line) on southern side of parish boundary with Woodbury. Mound is 7.7 metres in diameter by 1.5 metres high from the base of the ditch. The ditch measures 1.7 metres wide and up to 0.5 metre deep. North part of the mound disturbed by animals but previously described as ‘dug away’. West part of the ditch is cut by a footpath. Parish boundary is reported to respect the mound (therefore of early, probable prehistoric date) however; possible association with the Napoleonic war activity is also suggested. During field visit profile of mound and ditch visible, however, features completely covered in dense bracken. Two small trees growing on mound and others within the ditch.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 132 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 132 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2643 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Barrow.
See description for East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey 10 and 24, Part 1; 39, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 132 - SDV101648.

Exeter Archaeology, 2007, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 13, Site No. 2643 (Archive - Survey). SDV351571.

SMR records barrows (central of three in an east-west line) on southern side of parish boundary with Woodbury. The central mound is 7.7 metres in diameter and 1.5 metres high from the base of the ditch. The ditch measures 1.7 metres wide and up to 0.5 metre deep. The north side of the mound has been disturbed by animals (previously described as ‘dug away’) and the west part of the ditch is cut by a footpath. Parish boundary is reported to respect the mound however; possible association with the Napoleonic war activity is also suggested. During field visit profile of mound and ditch visible, however, features completely covered in dense bracken. Two small trees growing on mound and others within the ditch.

Grid reference- 03162 85088. Profile of mound and ditch visible but very overgrown with bracken as is the surrounding area. Small dead tree 2 metres high on top of mound. Animal burrow on north side. Mature tree of southwest edge of the ditch. The footpath reported as cutting the mound in the AONB survey is no longer visible. Very close to the East Devon Way but area not easily accessible due to dense vegetation.

Protection during any vegetation clearance.

Possible interpretation as one of a group of barrows in this area.

English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West, 97 (Report - non-specific). SDV342694.

Condition generally satisfactory, but with significant localised problems. Principal vulnerability, localised/limited animal burrowing.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SY0385 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

The possible barrow is visible as an earthwork mound and earthwork ditch.

English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West, 88 (Report - non-specific). SDV344777.

English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West, 92 (Report - non-specific). SDV355280.

Condition generally satisfactory, but with significant localised problems. Declining. Principal vulnerability, localised/limited animal burrowing.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

One of three adjacent possible prehistoric barrows is visible as an earthwork mound and ditch on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, on Lympstone Common. The sub-circular mound measures approximately 8m in diameter and is largely encircled by an earthwork ditch approximately 1m wide. The barrow is clearly visible on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR SY0385 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

Earthworks of a circular mound with outer ditch are visible.

Sims, R., 2020, East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV363914.

Earthworks of this barrow are visible as a circular mound, circa 7m diameter, with an outer ditch, circa 1.5m wide, on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV101648	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. A4 Unbound + Digital. 10 and 24, Part 1; 39, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 132.
SDV224714	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 13/04/1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1995. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 3304.
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336320	Report - Assessment: Exeter Archaeology. 1999. Archaeological Assessment of Thorn Tree Plantation, near Blackhill Quarry, Woodbury. Exeter Archaeology Report. 99.71. A4 Stapled + Digital. 5.
SDV341762	Un-published: Hutchinson, P. O.. 1872. Copy of Diary Entry, Sidmouth , May 1872. Photocopy + Digital.
SDV341776	National Monuments Record Database: NMR. SY08NW37. NMR Index. Unknown.
SDV341777	Un-published: Salvatore, J. P.. 1999. Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common. Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset.. Printout + Digital. 144516.
SDV341779	Worksheet: Griffiths, D. M.. 1982. Earthwork. Devon County Sites and Monuments Register. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV341780	Ground Photograph: Conservation Section. 1982. Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common. Conservation Section Photograph Collection. Unknown.
SDV341782	Schedule Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2001. Three Bowl Barrows on Lympstone Common. The Schedule of Monuments. A4 Stapled.
SDV342694	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2009. Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West. English Heritage Report. A4 Bound +Digital. 97.
SDV344777	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2010. Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West. English Heritage Report. Digital. 88.
SDV351568	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003-2004. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 2643.
SDV351571	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. 13, Site No. 2643.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 4100-01 13-APR-1946.
SDV355280	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2011. Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West. english Heritage. Digital. 92.
SDV356259	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SY0385 22-MAY-2010. [Mapped feature: #81446 ]
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV358490	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 132.
SDV359019	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. Site No. 132.
SDV359714	Cartographic: Bluesky International. 2016. LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects. Not applicable. Digital. LIDAR SY0385 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016.
SDV363914	Interpretation: Sims, R.. 2020. East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment. Digital.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4422 - Archaeological Assessment of Thorn Tree Plantation near Blackhill Quarry, Woodbury
• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)
• EDV8340 - East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment

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