See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Prehistoric standing stone of white quartz to the west of Higher Mattocks Down Farm surrounded by four bowl barrows

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016656: Four bowl barrows and a standing stone 330m west of Higher Mattocks Down

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 34797
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS64SW/18
• Old SAM County Ref: 195
• Old SAM Ref: 32216
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SS64SW11

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• STANDING STONE (Early Neolithic to Early Iron Age - 4000 BC to 700 BC (Between))

Full description

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

'Stone' shown on 19th century map to the west of the field boundary and two 'Tumuli' to the east.

Ordnance Survey, 1905, 5SE (Cartographic). SDV335614.

Chanter, J. F. + Worth, R. H., 1905, Stone Monuments of Exmoor and its Borders, 382-386 (Article in Serial). SDV64619.

Mattocks Down. Well-known menhir of white quartz showing incipient crystallisation. Surface attrition has taken place since 1905 at the rate of 25 millimetres in ten years. Two worked flints found in this field. Numerous masses of quartz in the neighbouring hedges and small fragments are scattered over the surface. Parts of two stone circles, this is the only stone standing and remaining. Stones used in hedges and foundations of Long Lane Cottage.

Chanter, J. F. + Worth, R. H., 1906, The Rude Stone Monuments of Exmoor and its Borders, 538-9 (Article in Serial). SDV64405.

Large quartz block of irregular shape in a field adjacent to Higher Maddocks Down Farm 10 feet (3.05 metres) high by 4 foot (1.22 metres) wide and 3 foot 4 inches (1 metre) in depth. Five smaller stones have been broken up and removed but were not standing at the time of their destruction.

Palmer, M. G., 1937, Standing Stones of the Ilfracombe District, 489-490 (Article in Serial). SDV64392.

Other details: Plate 64, Figure 1.

Ministry of Works, 1953, Standing Stone on Mattocks Down 370 yards west of Higher Mattocks Farm (Schedule Document). SDV345879.

Standing stone on Mattocks Down 370 yards west of Higher Mattocks Farm. Stone standing 8-12 feet (2.44-3.66 metres) in height by about 5 foot (1.52 metres) in width in a grass field. Composed of quartz with the nearest source being in North Cornwall. Other details: Monument 195.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1953 - 1972, SS64SW11 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV64628.

At SS60084388. A well preserved standing stone 3 metres high. Other details: Plan. Map object based on this Source.

Grinsell, L. V., 1970, The Archaeology of Exmoor, 189 (Monograph). SDV1641.

Grinsell suggests a barrow centred just east of this standing stone, dimensions 25 paces by 2.5 feet.

Grinsell, L. V., 1970, The Barrows of North Devon, 111 (Article in Serial). SDV7849.

Fowler, M. J. F., 1993, Standing Stones of Exmoor, 165 (Article in Serial). SDV65409.

Two additional stones incorporated into a field wall approximately 25 metres to the north and another large standing stone may once have existed approximately 50 metres to the west of the existing stone. To the north a row of 23 smaller stones may once have been present aligned in parallel to the two large standing stones.

Allan, J. + Timms, S. C., 1996, Treasures of Ancient Devon, 62 (Monograph). SDV322592.

Stone struck by lightening on 25/26th October 1996. Other details: Photograph.

Gerrard, S., 1998, 149585 (Un-published). SDV64632.

At SS60084389. Standing stone 310 metres west of Higher Mattocks Down Farm. Other details: MPP 149585.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 1999, Four Bowl Barrows and a Standing Stone 330 metres west of Higher Mattocks Down Farm (Schedule Document). SDV345880.

Four bowl barrows and a standing stone 330 metres west of Higher Mattocks Down Farm situated in an elevated upland location overlooking the valleys of two tributaries to the River Yeo. The standing stone is located on the south western edge of the central barrow and measures 1.5 metres long, 0.8 metres wide at the base and 2.5 metres high. A few scattered flints have been retrieved from the area surrounding these barrows and standing stone. The field boundary which crosses the monument is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included. Despite having been shortened and damaged by a lightning strike in its more recent history the standing stone and the socket into which it is located will also contain archaeological information. A further standing stone to the east is the subject of a separate scheduling. Other details: Monument 32216.

Vulliamy, C., 2004, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV321671.

Within a field of permanent pasture. In good condition, but with some poaching from around it. The shattered pieces from the lightening strike have been carefully placed at the foot of the large piece remaining. The stone and a western barrow appear to form a line with the profile of the nearest small hill. Other details: Photo.

National Monuments Record, 2010, 34797 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV345881.

Four bowl barrows and a standing stone situated in an elevated upland location overlooking the valleys of two tributaries to the River Yeo. The standing stone is located on the south western edge of the central barrow and measures 1.5 metres long, 0.8 metres wide at the base and 2.5 metres high.

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

'Standing Stone' shown on modern mapping at SS6008243892. Map object based on this Source.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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