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Summary

Reservoir at Fernworthy wass constructed between 1936-1942. Approximately 1000 pieces of Neolithic or Bronze Age flints have been found around Fernworthy Farm, and include 30 pieces from the south shore of Fernworthy Reservoir. A 5kW impulse turbine, providing power to the dam-keepers cottage, was commissioned in 1957.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Walling remains of a group of partially submerged Bronze Age hut circles and associated fields with Tudor secondary occupation at Fernworthy Reservoir

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68SE181
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 619296
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68SE/274

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FLINT SCATTER (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))
• RESERVOIR (Constructed, Mid 20th Century to World War II - 1936 AD (Between) to 1942 AD (Between))
• TURBINE (Mid 20th Century - 1957 AD (Between) to 1957 AD (Between))

Full description

Kingdon, A. S., 1938 - 1942, Torquay Water and Electricity, 141 (Article in Serial). SDV349152.

Background to building of reservoir given.

Currey, L. E., 1942 - 1946, A New Reservoir, 97-102, photos (Article in Serial). SDV251454.

Fernworthy Reservoir. Built to supply Torbay with water between 1936 and 1942. History of construction and its background given.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1995, 2361-2362 (Aerial Photograph). SDV224714.

Ordnance Survey, 1953-1969, 1953-1969 National Grid OS A edition imperial (Cartographic). SDV352727.

Reservoir is depicted on the mid 20th century historic mapping.

Miles, H., 1976, Flint scatters and Prehistoric settlement in Devon, 12 (Article in Serial). SDV117502.

Approximately 1000 pieces of Neolithic or Bronze Age flints have been found around Fernworthy Farm, and include 30 pieces from the south shore of Fernworthy Reservoir including leaf arrowhead.

National Monument Record, 1977, SX6683, 1 (Aerial Photograph). SDV217263.

Pearce, S. M., 1978, Devon in Prehistory, 23 (Monograph). SDV273286.

The flints are in Exeter City Museum, Acc No 174/1975.

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

Fernworthy reservoir visible.

Bodman, M., 2015, Mills on the Teign. A gazetteer of water-powered sites on the Teign and Bovey and their tributaries, 71 (Monograph). SDV360401.

Turbine at Fernworthy Reservoir SX 670 843. A 5kW impulse turbine, providing power to the dam-keepers cottage, was commissioned in 1957.

Geograph, 2024, Geograph, Accessed 11/03/2024 (Website). SDV365890.

Reservoir was constructed 1936 - 1942, with dam built of concrete and faced with granite supplied from a small purpose dug quarry close to the dam (south of). Forestry planting began in 1931 on land bought from the Duchy of Cornwall and stretches around the western end and north side of the Reservoir.

Ordnance Survey, 2024, Mastermap 2024 (Cartographic). SDV365834.

Reservoir is depicted on the modern mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds

• FDV7891 - LEAF ARROWHEAD (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)

Associated Events

• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project

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