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Summary

A ruined vermin trap lies at the meeting of two abandoned field banks. The remains consist of a stone lined channel formerly containing the trap mechanism, its displaced coverstones and stone revetments serving to funnel the vermin towards the trap entrances.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56NE269
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1311140
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/88/9

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• VERMIN TRAP (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

Cook, R. M. L., 1964, Old vermin traps on south-west Dartmoor, 198 (Article in Serial). SDV230549.

Ditsworthy Warren. Site 8. Excellent condition; complete with back stone, cover displaced. Near corner of old reave 329 meters south of Gutter Tor. Probable date of use 1700-1800. Other details: Plate 5.

Haynes, R. G., 1970, Vermin Traps and Rabbit Warrens on Dartmoor, 160 (Article in Serial). SDV166302.

Probably the same as Haynes' number 4, although map reference is slightly different. Built at junction of three walls, and sited downhill. Trap complete except for the 2-hole cover stone which lies nearby. Trap has a vertical holed stone in the trap wall above the middle of the long side. Excavation revealed remains of the iron fitting, and several slate fragments in the passage. A small piece of clay pipe stem found in the middle entry. The funnel walling is slight.

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

Not visible 1946 Royal Air Force vertical aerial photographs.

Fletcher, M. + Newman, P. + Probert, S., 1999, Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor areas in the Plym Valley, West Devon (Report - Survey). SDV346268.

(03/08/1999) SX 57826649. The ruinous remains of a vermin trap lie at the junction of two field banks on the SE facing slope of Gutter Tor some 350m S of the tor. The remains comprise a stone lined channel through the field boundary displaying notches in the side stones formerly acting as runners for the trap shutters. The coverstones, with small holes for lifting, have been removed and lie to the E. Stone revetments in the field banks either side of the trap acted as funnels designed to channel the vermin.

Whitbourn, A., 2001, An Archaeological Investigation into features comprising, and associated with, Ditsworthy Warren, 78 (Report - Assessment). SDV360381.

Vermin trap near the corner of a reave 329 metres south of Gutter Tor in excellent condition incliuding a back stone.

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

Newman, P. + Probert, S., 2005, Ringmoor Training Area: Monument Baseline Condition Survey (Report - Survey). SDV363484.

(11/03/2005) Remains as described in 1999.

Probert, S. A. J., 2010, A Condition Survey of the Archaeological Sites of Ringmoor, Dartmoor Training Area (Report - Survey). SDV360517.

Newman, P., 2018, Archaeological Sites within Ringmoor Training Area, Dartmoor National Park, Devon: A condition survey on behalf of Defence Infrastructure Organisation (Report - Survey). SDV361636.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7443 - Condition survey of archaeological sites in Ringmoor Training Area
• EDV7551 - Ditsworthy Warren: An archaeological investigation
• EDV7569 - Condition survey of Ringmoor Down training area
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey: EH Project (Feb 2001 - Dec 2002)
• EDV8227 - Ringmoor Training Area: Monument Baseline Condition Survey
• EDV4966 - Survey of Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor. The Eylesbarrow archaeological landscape

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