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Summary

Well preserved Bronze Age turf-covered cairn of 13.5 metres diameter by 0.7 metres high situated on the broad, flat summit area of White Ridge

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016851: A round cairn on White Ridge lying 570m north of the source of Stannon Brook

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68SE129
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 917536
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68SE/194
• Old SAM Ref: 28692

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ROUND CAIRN (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Greeves, T. A. P., 1983, Cairn on White Ridge (Worksheet). SDV265527.

Visited on 15th May 1983. Prehistoric cairn on the crest of White Ridge within area where hay was cut in 1983. Above National Grid Reference is approximate.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Not visible on 1946 RAF photos.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1987-1993, Duchy Farms Project Survey Visit, M. Fletcher (Report - Survey). SDV350839.

(02/07/1990) SX 6502 8219. This well preserved, turf-covered cairn is situated on the broad, flat summit area of White Ridge at 504 metres O.D. There are distant views in every direction. The area, now generally stone-free moorland pasture, has been disturbed by peat-cutting. It is 13.5 metres in diameter, a maximum 0.7 metres high with a central, ragged reed-filled pit up to 0.6 metres across and 0.4 metres deep. Spoil from this pit has been dumped around the lip. There is no trace of a kerb or ditch.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1990, Duchy Farms Report - Great Stannon Newtake (Report - Survey). SDV265531.

Survey map at 1:10000.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 148920. (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(31/03/1998) At SX 65028219. Round cairn on White Ridge lying 1480 metres south-east of the Grey Wethers. Round cairn. Diameter 15.0 metres by 0.7 metres high. A number of edge set stones on the s side may represent a kerb. Survives as an earthwork with occasional protruding stones. On the north side there is a suggestion of a berm, but this may be the result of later interference. Very prominent location. The Grey Wethers is visible. There are 3 pits dug into the centre of the mound. The north one measures 2.6 metres by 2.0 metres and 0.3 metres deep. The southern one is 3 metres by 0.9 metres and 0.2 metres deep. The eastern one is 1 metre by 0.7 metres and 0.2 metres. Grass covered although the 2 larger pits are filled with rushes.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Prehistoric Survey Information (Cartographic). SDV345521.

Cairn shown on survey.

Cartographic Engineering, 2006, Dartmoor 2006 1:1250 Aerial Photography (digital) (Aerial Photograph). SDV345590.

Visible on aerial photograph.

Historic England, 2024, National Heritage List for England, 1016851 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365835.

The monument includes a round cairn lying on the summit of White Ridge situated within Great Stannon Newtake. The cairn lies in a very prominent position and commands extensive views over much of Dartmoor. The mound measures 15.8 metres in diameter and stands up to 0.7 metres high. A number of edge set stones on the southern edge of the mound may represent a kerb, which survives elsewhere as a buried feature. Three pits in the mound suggest robbing or partial early excavation.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8650 - Great Stannon Newtake, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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