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Summary

Part of Trowlesworthy Warren; thought to be the oldest warren on Dartmoor. Pillow mound measures 16.2m by 4.8m by 1.2m high. The surrounding quarry ditch is 1.5m wide and 0.4m deep. A short distance north-east of this mound is a linear animal run. This survives as a 28m long, 0.7m wide and 0.3m deep hollow with a 1m wide and 0.1m high on the downslope side.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019084: Partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement and post-medieval warren structures on the western slope of Little and Great Trowlesworthy Tors

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX 56 SE 66
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/198/61
• Pastscape: 439294

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PILLOW MOUND (Constructed, Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

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

'Pillow Mound' shown on the aerial photograph transcription (map overlay) by Royal Commission Aerial Photograph Project - no photograph reference given (SMR officer).

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 140724 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(08/04/1995) SX 5739 6467 One of two pillow mounds and two animal runs recorded by Gerrard situated on the periphery of a partially enclosed hut settlement.
The eastern pillow mound measures 16.2m by 4.8m by 1.2m high. The surrounding quarry ditch is 1.5m wide and 0.4m deep. A short distance north-east of this mound is a linear animal run. This survives as a 28m long, 0.7m wide and 0.3m deep hollow with a 1m wide and 0.1m high on the downslope side.
The second animal run lies south-west of the eastern pillow mound, trends north-north-east to south-south-west and is of the linear type. This animal run survives as a 90m long, 0.5m wide and 0.2m deep hollow. Material upcast during the construction of this run survives as a 1m wide and 0.1m high bank on the downslope side of the gully. This animal run cuts through the rubble bank leading from a hut circle. These gullies probably represent a complex system of animal runs in which rabbits and vermin could have been trapped.
A series of drains lying between the two pillow mounds are shown on the Mercer plan. The Monument Protection Programme Advisor however considers that these are natural features.

Thackray, C., 1994, The Upper Plym Valley: the management of an historic landscape, 88-9, 102.369, 371, 373 and 37488-9, 102.369, 371, 373 and 374 (Report - non-specific). SDV143510.

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

Depicted in survey; no specific description.

English Heritage, 2005, Survey Information (miscellaneous date) (Report - Survey). SDV345855.

Depicted on survey layer (2002 survey visit).

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

Pillow mound clearly visible on the aerial photography.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7369 - Survey of Granite Loading Bays at Trowlesworthy, Devon
• EDV8148 - The Upper Plym Valley: The Management of an Historic Landscape
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey

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