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Summary

Vermin trap built across an enclosure wall within a partially enclosed hut settlement. Includes two lengths of V-shaped rubble wall, together forming an X-shaped trap. The rubble walls average 0.8 metres wide by 0.4 metres high, whilst the north-east by south-west arm is 17.2 metres long and the north-wes by south-east arm is 15.5 metres long.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019084: Partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement and post-medieval warren structures on the western slope of Little and Great Trowlesworthy Tors

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/198/29
• Old SAM Ref: 24233

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• VERMIN TRAP (Early Medieval to XVIII - 1066 AD to 1800 AD)

Full description

Cook, R. M. L., 1964, Old vermin traps on south-west Dartmoor, 199, number 3 (Article in Serial). SDV230549.

Trowlesworthy Warren. Site 3. Wall type 11. The walls are in good condition. North entrance of pound 293 metres south-south-west of Little Trowlesworthy Tor. Dated approximately 1700-1800.

Haynes, R. G., 1970, Vermin Traps and Rabbit Warrens on Dartmoor, 147-64, number 9 (Article in Serial). SDV166302.

SX576 644. Thought to be Haynes' number 9. Described as being located in the north wall of the south pound, (although the grid reference is a little inaccurate). 'Interrupts a pound wall. Probably known to Worth and earlier.'

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 140713, 13/4/1995 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Vermin trap built across an enclosure wall within a partially enclosed hut settlement. Includes two lengths of V-shaped rubble wall, together forming an X-shaped trap. The rubble walls average 0.8 metres wide by 0.4 metres high, whilst the north-east by south-west arm is 17.2 metres long and the north-wes by south-east arm is 15.5 metres long. The trapping area lies within a break in the enclosure wall and survives as a 1.0 metre long and 0.45 metre wide area defined by upright stones. The position of the trap suggests that it was intended to catch vermin following the enclosure wall.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 156-8, Map 51.1. (Monograph). SDV137656.

Vermin trap shown across the northern boundary of Enclosure E.

National Trust and English Heritage, 1994, The Upper Plym Valley: The Management of an Historic Landscape, 102.074, (estimated 1987) (Report - non-specific). SDV166309.

Well-preserved X-shaped funnel walls of vermin trap placed across northern sector of enclosure MDV15290 (70a). Composed of coursed masonry with no more than two courses surviving. Large facing stones also visible.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour aerial photography for Dartmoor (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Vermin trap clearly visible on the aerial photograph.

Ridgers, H. + Ridgers, C., 2015, Of Varments and Vermin Traps, 2, number 1 (Report - Assessment). SDV358632.

Vermin trap at SX57486 64476 (Haynes 9, Cook 3). Stong, X-shaped walls. Trap built into pound wall. Walls about 4 metres long. (Ridgers believes this to possibly be a duplicate of MDV2498; doesn't seem to be the case. Richards, A. F. citing Ridgers)

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7369 - Survey of Granite Loading Bays at Trowlesworthy, Devon
• EDV8148 - The Upper Plym Valley: The Management of an Historic Landscape
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey: EH Project (Feb 2001 - Dec 2002)

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