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Summary

Enclosure at Owley Farm, most obvious from the field boundaries that appear to have respected part of its outline. This site is on the local list of Nationally Important Dartmoor sites. Measures 146m in length by 91.4m wide. Excavation and geophysical survey work here in the 1960s/1970s. Included on list of Nationally Important Sites.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Prehistoric enclosure at Owley Farm, Ugborough

Other References/Statuses

• Dartmoor Non-designated Heritage Asset: Y
• National Monuments Record: SX65NE54
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 441228
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX65NE/34
• Pastscape: 441228

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ENCLOSURE (Iron Age - 700 BC (Between) to 42 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Outline of the enclosure depicted on the late 19th century historic map as field boundaries.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, 1215-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Not visible on air photographs.

Anon, 1962, Unknown title, 3 (Article in Serial). SDV175375.

Trial pit dug. Charcoal was found at subsoil level. Aerial photography of the site planned.

Hurrell, H. G., 1963, The circular structure at Owley Farm, 7 (Article in Serial). SDV175374.

SX 673596 The remains of a roughly circular enclosure.
Owley; oval enclosure in field system, at elevation 213 metres. This enclosure lies between the road at Owley farm and the newtake wall on the moor edge, south-west of the farm. It appears to be an earth embankment on which a stone wall has been built. At the north-west end the wall and hedge have been mostly removed leaving a low embankment about 4.87 metres wide. It is probable that a very early enclosure was adapted as part of the field system when the land in this area was gradually enclosed to its present boundaries. Other details: DAES Newsletter 2.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1978, SX65NE54 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV175376.

Trial pit dug. Charcoal found at subsoil level. Aerial photography planned (anon.).
31/01/1978 charcoal excavated 12/01/1982

Bartlett, A., 1979, Geophysics: South Brent (Report - Survey). SDV364067.

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

Not visible on Royal Air Force 1946 aerial photographs.

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.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

Historic England, 2021-2022, NRHE to HER website, Accessed 13/12/2021 (Website). SDV364039.

[441228 / SX65NE54] SX 673596 The remains of a roughly circular enclosure covering 2 1/2 acres, have been found on a farm at Owley belonging to Mr Hurrell. It now consists of a spread bank containing some very large stones in part underlying the modern field banks. The hedges have clearly been built upon an older low ridge. Excavation is in process in the hope of finding the purpose of the ridge which is obviously an artificial feature. A trial pit dug at the highest part of the field revealed charcoal at sub-soil level (citing Devon Arch Exp Soc N/L 2 Dec 1962 2 3 & Devon Arch Exp Soc. N/L 6 Dec 1963 7-8).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7413 - Peek Moor Gate, Owley and Pennaton Bridge plantations archaeological survey
• EDV8459 - Excavation of earthwork / enclosure, Owley
• EDV8462 - Geophysical survey at enclosure near Owley, South Brent

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