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Summary

Iron Age hillfort on Mockham Down to the east of the road

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1002534: Camp on Mockham Down
• SHINE: Mockham Down Hillfort. Iron Age hillfort with prehistoric barrow to east

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 34539
• National Monuments Record: SS 63 NE 12
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS63NE/14
• Old SAM County Ref: 459
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SS63NE15

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HILLFORT (Iron Age - 700 BC to 42 AD (Between))

Full description

Woollcombe, H., 1839-1850, Woollcombe Manuscript (Un-published). SDV16214.

Visited 1st September 1841. Approximately circular, single rampart and ditch (diameter circa 450 feet west to east) entrances midway along east and west sides. Plan in manuscript.

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

'Camp' shown as a sub-circular feature on the 19th century map in Mockham Down Plantation. A small 'Old Quarry' is shown in the northwestern section.

Royal Air Force, 19/05/1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2082, 3060-3061 (Aerial Photograph). SDV350392.

Amery, P. F. S., 1900-1901, A Tour across Dartmoor into North Devon by the Rev. John Swete 1789, 206 (Article in Serial). SDV18670.

Visited 11/09/1789. A Danish encampment, the vallum of which was very thick and high and the fosse in particular parts deep. Its diameter was 300 feet and its situation was such as to give it considerable strength.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

'Camp' shown on early 20th century map in an enclosure of rough ground with a slightly larager 'Quarry' in the northwestern prt and a 'Shaft' to the west.

Ordnance Survey, 1905, 10SE (Cartographic). SDV335638.

1905 map shows small quarry within hillfort but no forestry plantation around it.

Wall, J. C., 1906, Ancient Earthworks, 603-4 (Article in Monograph). SDV341465.

Other details: Plan.

Royal Air Force, 1946, 106G/UK 1655, 3267-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDV339612.

Other details: HER 8/26-7.

Cambridge University, 1953, CUC/LX, 32-34 (Aerial Photograph). SDV339960.

Department of Environment, 1961, Camp on Mockham Down (Schedule Document). SDV339946.

Camp on Mockham Down. Roughly circular univallate hillfot in commanding position. Bank circa 9 foot high above the bottom of a narrow V-shaped ditch. The bank has been cut into and dug away in places and on the northwest side a quarry has removed part of the interior. Recorded on the 1944 list as a rectangular camp with rounded angles enclosed by vallum and fosse.

Whybrow, C., 1966, Bratton Fleming on the Ground, 78 (Article in Serial). SDV339954.

Cambridge University, 1966, CUC/ANM, 76-78 (Aerial Photograph). SDV62341.

Grinsell, L. V., 1970, The Archaeology of Exmoor, 82 & 202 (Monograph). SDV1641.

Cambridge University, 1972, CUC/BKB, 25 (Aerial Photograph). SDV339961.

Other details: CUC/BKB 25 in HER.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1972, SS63NE15 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV339948.

Univallate defended enclosure. Although no clear evidence of gang working, the irregular ditch, a berm of varying width between bank and ditch in north and west suggests that the work is unfinished. In south east, defences appear to have reached completion. Position of entrance is uncertain. Enclosed area 1.6 hectares. South east (rampart height 2.5 meters, ditch depth 1.0 meter) north (bank height 0.9 meters, ditch depth 0.3 meters). Other details: Plan & Sections.

National Monuments Record, 1979, SS6635, SF 1507/344 (Aerial Photograph). SDV339958.

Other details: Copy in SMR.

National Monuments Record, 1980, SS6635, SF 1748/413 (Aerial Photograph). SDV339959.

Other details: Copy in SMR.

Timms, S. C., 1980, Untitled Source (Site Visit). SDV339949.

Forestry operations are being carried out in the wood to the north of the site. The owner is aware of the extent of the site and states that it will not be damaged by current work.

Weston, S., 1983, List of Field Monument Warden Visits 1983 (Un-published). SDV343247.

Griffith, F. M. + Quinnell, H., 1984, Untitled Source (Site Visit). SDV339950.

Site in a stable condition.

Grant, N., 1995, The Occupation of Hillforts in Devon during the Late Roman and Post Roman Periods, 106 (Article in Serial). SDV7954.

Fox, A., 1995, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV339952.

Visited on 2nd January 1995. Condition stable. The farmer says that the quarrying was carried out during World War II, to provide stone for the runway of a temporary airfield (location unknown).

Fox, A., 1996, Prehistoric Hillforts in Devon, 43-4 (Monograph). SDV7958.

Walls, T., 1999 - 2000, Earthwork Enclosures in North-East Devon and Their Late Prehistoric Landscape (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV341596.

Visited on 15th February 2000. Open and prominent situation on a hilltop, although now partly wooded. Within 5 kilometers of 5 other enclosures, perhaps linked to Beara by a track.

Dunkerley, T. + Knights, J., 2006, A Probable Iron Age Hill-fort or Hillside Enclosure at Welcombe Farm, Charles, 9 (Report - Interim). SDV339942.

National Monuments Record, 2007 - 2009, National Monuments Record Index incorporating Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme for SS63NE (National Monuments Record Database). SDV343039.

Other details: Monument Number 34539.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4353 - Geophysical Survey of an Iron Age Enclosure at Welcombe Farm
• EDV4547 - Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme

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