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Summary

A prehistoric boundary wall probably linked to the southern side of the Venford Reave. This site is included in the local list of Nationally Important Dartmoor sites.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and walling remains of a Bronze Age enclosure with at least one hut circle and boundary wall adjoining the northern end of the Venford reave, south-west of Swincombe

Other References/Statuses

• Dartmoor Non-designated Heritage Asset (Evidential): NI Site
• National Monuments Record: SX67SW250
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 620383
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67SW/274

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) HUT CIRCLE (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))
• ENCLOSURE (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

National Monuments Record, 1969, NMR SX6373, 1/143 (Aerial Photograph). SDV258005.

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

Fragments of an agglomerated and subdivided enclosure are visible attached to Venford Reave. There are up to four elements visible, and the enclosure contains one hut circle.

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

(28/04/1989) SX 63327239 to SX 63297221. A prehistoric boundary wall probably linked to the S side of the Venford Reave (SX 76 SE 96). (At this point both the reave and the assumed junction are buried under a peat layer). It lies along the crest and down a steep NE slope between 327m to 340m OD in moorland pasture covered by scattered large earthfast boulders. Approximately 190m long it is 0.8m to 1.1m wide, at maximum 0.5m high, and is visible as a sinuous wall of stones and boulders protruding through the turf; some of the larger boulders appear to have been pushed into line.
The sub-divided enclosure identified from APs (1985 RCHME APP) is not traceable on the ground and the alleged hut circle at SX 63327228 appears to be a small quarry.

Butler, J., 1993, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Four - The South-East, 215 (Monograph). SDV337765.

Remains of a multiple enclosure at 'Swincombe Farm West' with internal hut circle measuring 7.0 meters in diameter. Very few stones remain in the walls of these features and the north-eastern walls of the enclosures are not discernable at all.

Gerrard, S., 2004, List of Sites Remaining to be Considered for Designation on Dartmoor (Un-published). SDV345444.

This site was considered for designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument during the Monument Protection Programme. The programme ended before the entire list of sites was successfully scheduled so this is included on a local list of Nationally Important Sites.

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

Western side of the enclosure(s) can be traced on the aerial photography; the eastern side is unclear. Polygon is approximate in this region of the site. At least three indistinct hut circles could be identified from the aerial photograph.
Map object based on this source.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8146 - Royal Commission Survey at Down Ridge and Swincombe
• EDV8628 - Tor Royal Farm Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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