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HER Number:MDV3171
Name:Cairn west of Branscombe's Loaf, Bridestowe and Sourton

Summary

Cairn to the west of Branscombe's Loaf of 15 metres diameter by 1.3 metres high surrounded by the remains of retaining kerb which is reasonably complete on its northern and eastern perimeter, but the remainder of the stones are either fallen or buried. The retaining curb is 21.5 metres diameter

Location

Grid Reference:SX 551 891
Map Sheet:SX58NE
Admin AreaDartmoor National Park
Civil ParishLands common to the Parishes of Bridestowe and Sourton
DistrictWest Devon

Protected Status

Other References/Statuses

  • National Monuments Record: SX58NE1
  • National Record of the Historic Environment: 440457
  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SX58NE/4
  • Old SAM Ref: 24065
  • Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX58NE1

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • RING CAIRN (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
  • ROUND BARROW (Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950, SX58NE1, SX58NE1 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV254418.

Visited on 28th July 1950. Cairn surrounded by remains of retaining kerb which is reasonably complete on its northern and eastern perimeter, but the remainder of the stones are either fallen or buried. The cairn is turf covered and in good condition. Cairn 15 metres diameter, 1.3 metres high. Retaining kerb diameter 21.5 metres.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 134 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(13/09/1975) Listed under, round barrows, cairns and cists. Diameter 17.0m, height 1.2m. Siting - slope.

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

Not visible on 1946 aerial photographs.

Turner, J. R., 1990, Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor, 48 54 77 figs 20 25 /f2 (Article in Serial). SDV229817.

Encircled cairn, corn ridge. Lies on summit. Cairn 12m diameter and 1.8m high, with outer kerb of close-set stones projecting from a low bank 20m in diameter.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 129240 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(30/04/1994) Ring cairn. Earthwork survives as a circular bank 1m wide and 0.4m high surrounding an internal area measuring 21m in diameter. A number of edge-set stones are visible within the circular bank and these indicate the presence of a kerb, which survives partly as a buried feature. A cairn mound measuring 15m in diameter and standing up to 1.4m high lies in the centre of the internal area.
A shallow hollow in the centre of the mound, measuring 4m long, 3.2m wide and 0.2m deep, suggests partial early excavation or robbing. The overall diameter of this ring cairn is 23m.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 221, 246, Map 43, Site '12 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Branscombe's Loaf cairn '1' at SXX55158917 of 15.5 metres diameter by 1.8 metres high. It has kept its retaining circle and its original shape, disfigured only by a shallow central hollow. An unusual feature is an extra ring of small slabs forming a low kerb, with no obvious structural purpose and encircling the mound 2 metres outside the retaining circle.

Gerrard, S., 1993, Cairrn west of Brnscombe's Loaf (Photograph). SDV254423.

Photograph taken on 30th April 1993.

Cartographic Engineering, 2006, Dartmoor 2006 1:1250 Aerial Photography (digital) (Aerial Photograph). SDV345590.

Visible on aerial photograph.

Historic England, 2024, National Heritage List for England, 1007832 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365835.

This monument includes a cairn mound measuring 15 metres in diameter and standing up to 1.4 metres high. A shallow hollow in the centre of the mound suggests partial early excavation or robbing. The overall diameter of this ring cairn is 23 metres. This cairn forms part of a cairn cemetery including two round cairns, two tor cairns and two ring cairns

Sources / Further Reading

SDV219155Monograph: Butler, J.. 1991. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North. Two. Paperback Volume. 221, 246, Map 43, Site '12.
SDV229817Article in Serial: Turner, J. R.. 1990. Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 48. Paperback Volume. 48 54 77 figs 20 25 /f2.
SDV254418Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1950. SX58NE1. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index. SX58NE1.
SDV254423Photograph: Gerrard, S.. 1993. Cairrn west of Brnscombe's Loaf.
SDV273224Article in Serial: Grinsell, L. V.. 1978. Dartmoor Barrows. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 36. A5 Paperback. 134.
SDV277946Report - Survey: Gerrard, S.. 1990-2002. Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset.. Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset.. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. MPP 129240.
SDV319854Cartographic: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1985. Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP. Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England Aerial Photograph P. Cartographic.
SDV345590Aerial Photograph: Cartographic Engineering. 2006. Dartmoor 2006 1:1250 Aerial Photography (digital). Digital. [Mapped feature: #142565 ]
SDV365835National Heritage List for England: Historic England. 2024. National Heritage List for England. Website. 1007832.

Associated Monuments

MDV134915Part of: Cairn cemetery around Branscombe's Loaf on Corn Ridge, Bridestowe and Sourton (Monument)
MDV50575Related to: Round cairn 140 metres west-south-west of Branscombe's Loaf, Bridestowe and Sourton (Monument)
MDV50576Related to: Round cairn 60 metres west-south-west of Branscombe's Loaf, Bridestowe and Sourton (Monument)
MDV48863Related to: Tor cairn on Branscombe's Loaf, Bridestowe and Sourton (Monument)
MDV48864Related to: Tor cairn on summit of Branscombe's Loaf on Corn Ridge, Bridestowe and Sourton (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded


Date Last Edited:Jun 19 2024 3:05PM