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HER Number:MDV26167
Name:Ridge and Furrow, Corndon Down

Summary

Abandoned medieval and post medieval fields on Corndon Tor and Corndon Down. Intakes of land extend up both sides of Corndon Tor from the Corndon Ford area on the east side and Sherill to the west leaving only a relatively small unenclosed area between the main outcrop of the tor and the two prehistoric cairns to the north (SX 67 SE 3).

Location

Grid Reference:SX 677 759
Map Sheet:SX67NE
Admin AreaDartmoor National Park
Civil ParishWidecombe in the Moor
DistrictTeignbridge
Ecclesiastical ParishWIDECOMBE IN THE MOOR

Protected Status

  • SHINE: Dartmeet Parallel Reave System. Earthworks of an extensive area of prehistoric remains including complex field system, numerous hut circles, enclosures and cairns, overlain by medieval remains including Vaghill Warren, farmsteads and a large field syste

Other References/Statuses

  • National Monuments Record: SX 67 NE 241
  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NE/149
  • Pastscape: 1470994

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • RIDGE AND FURROW (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, 2458-2459 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

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

Two fields of ridge and furrow containing hut circles and incorporated into or possibly superimposed onto the Dartmeet parallel reave system (PRN 6030). Visible on Royal Air Force 1946 aerial photograph.

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

Part of Dartmeet coaxial field system (Northern Part) which was considered for designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 2004. Other details: Site 43.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Medieval Survey Information (Report - Survey). SDV345602.

Newman, P., 2008, Dartmeet Premier Archaeological Landscape (PAL) Field Investigation Project (Report - Survey). SDV347061.

(12/05/2008) Abandoned medieval and post medieval fields on Corndon Tor and Corndon Down. Intakes of land extend up both sides of Corndon Tor from the Corndon Ford area on the east side and Sherill to the west leaving only a relatively small unenclosed area between the main outcrop of the tor and the two prehistoric cairns to the north (SX 67 SE 3). To the north of the cairns the entire area of Corndon Down is covered by derelict enclosures. Many of the enclosure walls adopted and fossilised elements of the earlier prehistoric reave system (SX 67 SE 94), where the reaves have been refurbished. Many others were new intakes which ignored the prehistoric system with curving walls that demonstrate a more organic growth than the regularity of the prehistoric reaves. The medieval boundaries, including the refurbished reaves, were hedge banks or earthwork banks of variable dimensions but survive in places up to 0.8m high. They mostly have external ditches though in some cases these are absent probably due to silting and some have external faces reinforced with a stone revetment. Banks of lesser dimensions may have fallen into disuse earlier, the larger examples being maintained perhaps into the 17th or 18th centuries. Some examples comprising roughly cut ditches with low upcast banks appear to be incomplete and may simply represent the extent of an intended newtake. Many of the enclosures have been cleared of stone and on the east side of Corndon Down is a number of clearance heaps (SX 67 NE 242). Several of the enclosures on the north end of Corndon Down contain cultivation ridges, surviving as earthworks. These are of a generally straight appearance, rather than curving or 'S' shaped and are on average 2 to 3m between the furrows.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV169268Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 2458-2459.
SDV319854Cartographic: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1985. Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP. Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England Aerial Photograph P. Cartographic.
SDV345444Un-published: Gerrard, S.. 2004. List of Sites Remaining to be Considered for Designation on Dartmoor. Digital.
SDV345602Report - Survey: English Heritage. 2005-2008. Medieval Survey Information. English Heritage Report. Digital. [Mapped feature: #85206 ]
SDV347061Report - Survey: Newman, P.. 2008. Dartmeet Premier Archaeological Landscape (PAL) Field Investigation Project. English Heritage Archaeological Investigation Report. Unknown.

Associated Monuments

MDV6030Related to: Dartmeet parallel reave system - northern section (Monument)
MDV128751Related to: Enclosures at northern end of Corndon Down (Monument)
MDV27266Related to: Field of ridge and furrow on Corndon Down (Monument)
MDV6102Related to: Hut with enclosures at northern end of Corndon Down (Monument)
MDV26166Related to: Ridge and furrow on Corndon Down (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • EDV8296 - Dartmeet Premier Archaeological Landscape (PAL) Field Investigation Project

Date Last Edited:Jul 14 2020 10:34AM