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Summary

Vermin trap includes two V-shaped lengths of walling together forming an X-shaped trap with the 1.3 metre wide trapping area situated at the centre. The walls forming the funnel on either side of the trapping area are composed of drystone walling up to two courses and 0.7 metres high and include large orthostats together with smaller infill stones. The north-east, south-east and south-west walls are 6.0 metres long and the north-west one is 3.5 metres long.
This vermin trap is situated at the southern end of a long animal run (SX56SE/376) and is a very good example of the relationship between this type of gully and a vermin trap.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016147: A stone alignment, kerbed cairn, prehistoric settlement, four pillow mounds, a vermin trap and animal runs 720m south west of Great Trowlesworthy Tor
• Scheduled Monument 1016147: A stone alignment, kerbed cairn, prehistoric settlement, four pillow mounds, a vermin trap and animal runs 720m south west of Great Trowlesworthy Tor

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/198/34
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/198/57
• Old SAM Ref: 24229
• Old SAM Ref: 24229

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• VERMIN TRAP (Constructed, XVIII to XIX - 1751 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Haynes, R. G., Map of Trowlesworthy Warren (Cartographic). SDV165949.

Cook, R. M. L., 1964, Old vermin traps on south-west Dartmoor, 200 (Article in Serial). SDV230549.

Trowlesworthy Warren. Site 17. Wall type 1. Fair condition, walls only. South-west by west of stone circle.

Haynes, R. G., 1970, Vermin Traps and Rabbit Warrens on Dartmoor, 157, no. 5 (Article in Serial). SDV166302.

Trowlesworthy Warren SX 5725 6380. Haynes' vermin trap No.5. On a tributary of Blackabrook; a strongly built trap of quite large stones; funnel walls rest on brook and on gully side.

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

Not recorded in project.

Mercer, R. J., 1987, An Archaeological Field Survey of the Upper Plym Valley, Dartmoor 1982-1986, 25 (Report - Survey). SDV165948.

X-shaped trap built of large stones.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 140533 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(10/03/1994) SX 5739 6377. Vermin trap includes two V-shaped lengths of walling together forming an X-shaped trap with the 1.3m wide trapping area situated at the centre. The walls forming the funnel on either side of the trapping area are composed of drystone walling up to 2 courses and 0.7m high and include large orthostats together with smaller infill stones. The north-east, south-east and south-west walls are 6m long and the north-west one is 3.5m long.
This vermin trap is situated at the southern end of a long animal run (SX56SE/376) and is a very good example of the relationship between this type of gully and a vermin trap.

Thackray, C., 1994, The Upper Plym Valley: the management of an historic landscape, 9, 102.025 (Report - non-specific). SDV143510.

Probert, S. A. J. + Fletcher, M. J., 2002, Plym Valley survey (Report - Survey). SDV350782.

English Heritage, 2005, Survey Information (miscellaneous date) (Report - Survey). SDV345855.

Depicted on the survey layer (2002 visit data).

Ridgers, H. + Ridgers, C., 2015, Of Varments and Vermin Traps, 2, No. 6 (Report - Assessment). SDV358632.

SX 57392 63785. Strong walls grassed over. No sign of trap.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey

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