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Summary

Oval ramparts of Prestonbury Castle hillfort of 250 metres by 150 metres

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthwork remains of hut circle, possible ring cairn and field system on Prestonbury Common above the River Teign
• SHINE: Earthwork remains of hut circle, possible ring cairn and field system on Prestonbury Common above the River Teign

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX79SW/66
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HILLFORT (Constructed, Iron Age - 700 BC to 42 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

'Prestonbury Castle (Camp) (Remains of)' shown on 19th century map within an oval enclosure with an outer rampart to the east

National Monuments Record, 1980, NMR SF1746, 312 (Aerial Photograph). SDV294996.

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

Enclosure visible on aerial photographs.

Ordnance Survey, 2021, MasterMap 2021 (Cartographic). SDV364015.

Oval enclosure at 'Prestonbury Castle' with two of the ramparts.

Historic England, 2021, National Heritage List for England, 10003861 (National Heritage List for England). SDV364016.

This monument includes a small multivallate hillfort situated on a prominent ridge known as Prestonbury Common overlooking the valleys of the River Teign and a tributary to it. The hillfort survives as an oval enclosure with a second narrow elliptical enclosure to the east and a third far wider enclosed area to the north and east. The inner enclosure measures 150 metres long by 93 metres wide and occupies the summit of the ridge with steep natural slopes to the south and west. It is defined by a rampart. There is a slightly inturned entrance on the eastern side. The middle enclosure, which is triangular in shape measures up to 100 metres long by 60 metres wide internally. It is defined by a rampart and partially buried outer ditch and has a simple gap entrance slightly to the north of east. The outer enclosure divides the summit of Prestonbury Common from the rest of the ridge with a curving strongly built rampart with outer ditch and encloses an area measuring up to 280 metres long by 150 metres wide. An inturned entrance lies to the north east.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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