See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

An incomplete circle of largely recumbent granite boulders on the gently sloping W flank of Lee Moor. The ring measures 9.9m north-south by 9.4m with a gap in the eastern side. The interior lies at the same level as the surrounding ground surface. Survey in 2002 found no trace of the bank recorded by English Heritage (2000) though this may have been confused with the slight hillwash mentioned by the Ordnance Survey in 1979 which is apparent in the south-western quadrant.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1015743: A ring cairn 490m north east of Great Trowlesworthy Tor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56SE99
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 439384
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/329
• Old SAM Ref: 24225

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• STONE CIRCLE (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1979, SX56SE99 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV143581.

(10/04/1979) SX 58396459. On a slight south-west slope, at 347m. O.D., is an approximately circular setting of stones, 10.0m. in diameter. Those that are clearly visible are all earthfast boulders, mostly 0.4m. high. Although there is some irregularity in their positions they seem to be at intervals of about 1.0m. with no evidence of infill such as would be expected of a robbed hut. The interior is clear of stone with no obvious levelling, a slight build-up on the south west may be due to hill-wash. The feature is enigmatic falling into no obvious classification.
Found during field investigation. Surveyed at 1:10 000 on M.S.D. Enlargement at 1:100.

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

Not recorded.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 133550 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Visited on 6th June 1996. At SX58376459 a ring cairn survives as an oval ring of upright stones many of which protrude through a rubble bank. The interior of the cairn measures 10.7 metres north to south by 8.7 metres east to west and the surrounding ring bank is up to 1 metre wide and 0.6 metres high.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 162-3, Map 51, Figure 51.6 (Monograph). SDV137656.

'Ring of stones' shown to the west of Settlement 'B' at 'Upper Spanish Lake'.

Robertson, J. G., 1994, The Archaeology of the Upper Plym Valley (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV139549.

Depicted and described by Robertson.

Thackray, C., 1994, The Upper Plym Valley: the management of an historic landscape, 168/102.549. (Report - non-specific). SDV143510.

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

(23/04/2002) SX 58396460. An incomplete circle of largely recumbent granite boulders on the gently sloping W flank of Lee Moor. The ring measures 9.9m N to S by 9.4m with a gap in the E side. The interior lies at the same level as the surrounding ground surface.
There is no trace of the bank recorded by English Heritage (scheduled monument notification, 2000) though this may have been confused with the slight hillwash mentioned by the Ordnance Survey in 1979 which is apparent in the SW quadrant.
The origin and function of this feature remain unclear.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Prehistoric Survey Information (Cartographic). SDV345521.

Feature shown on survey.

English Heritage, 2015, National Heritage List for England, 1015743 (National Heritage List for England). SDV357602.

This monument includes a ring cairn situated on a gentle west facing slope of Lee Moor overlooking the valley of Spanish Lake. The cairn survives as an oval ring of upright stones, many of which protrude through a rubble bank. The interior of the cairn measures 10.7m north to south by 8.7m east to west and the surrounding ring bank is up to 1m wide and 0.6m high. Other archaeological features surviving within the vicinity of this monument are the subject of separate schedulings. This monument is in the care of the Secretary of State.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 2015-2017, 2015-2017 Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV361462.

Clearly visible on aerial photograph.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, UP-HT11 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

(16/03/2020) Conidioma of the cairn assessed as Moderate. Vegetation encroachment is a serious issue.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording photographs (Photograph). SDV363073.

Image taken during March 2020 site visit.

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

Circular feature shown on modern mapping.

Historic England, 2021-2022, NRHE to HER website, Accessed 21/09/2021 (Website). SDV364039.

A ring cairn located 490 metres north-east of Great Trowlesworthy Tor. The cairn survives as an oval ring of upright stones, many of which protrude through a rubble bank. Scheduled Ancient Monument notification (2000).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8148 - The Upper Plym Valley: The Management of an Historic Landscape
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey: EH Project (Feb 2001 - Dec 2002)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.