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Summary

The vermin trap includes two lengths of drystone wall forming a `V'-shaped trap pointing towards the leat. The position of the trap suggests that it was designed to capture vermin using the leat for access into the warren. The trapping area no longer survives above the ground surface but would have originally been sited at the point where the two lengths of walling meet. The drystone walls average 0.8m wide by 0.5m high, whilst the western arm is 12m long and the eastern arm is 4.5m long.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1014612: Vermin trap 700m ENE of Trowlesworthy Warren House, forming part of Trowlesworthy Warren

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX 56 SE 66
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/240/4
• Pastscape: 439294

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• VERMIN TRAP (Constructed, XVIII to Mid 20th Century - 1751 AD (Between) to 1950 AD (Between))

Full description

Cook, R. M. L., 1964, Old vermin traps on south-west Dartmoor, 200 (Article in Serial). SDV230549.

Trowlesworthy Warren. Site 23. Wall type 3a. Fair condition, walls only. Left bank of leat 265 metres south-west of Spanish Lake Foot.

Haynes, R. G., 1970, Vermin Traps and Rabbit Warrens on Dartmoor, 158 (Article in Serial). SDV166302.

Probably Haynes' vermin trap number (SX57406500). Strongly built trap amongst clitter, based on a large boulder at the water's edge.

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.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 140332, 16/3/1995 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Vermin trap forming part of Trowlesworthy Warren. Includes two lengths of drystone wall forming a V-shaped trap pointing towards the leat. The position of the trap suggests that it was designed to capture vermin using the leat for access into the warren. The trapping area no longer survives above the ground surface but would have originally been sited at the point where the two lengths of walling meet. The drystone walls measure up to 1 metre wide by 0.5 metres high and are composed of large orthostats filled between with rubble. The eastern arm is 8 metres long, whilst the western one is 7.7 metres long and terminates by a large earthfast boulder.

Pye, A., 1992, Archaeological Watching Brief on the ECC Lee Moor works leat corridor in the Upper Plym Valley, 8 (Report - Watching Brief). SDV165953.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 114-5, Map 49, Figure 49.3 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Vermin trap shown as 'V.T.' at 'Trowlesworthy Tors North' on the south side of the 'Lee Moor leat'.

National Trust and English Heritage, 1994, The Upper Plym Valley: The Management of an Historic Landscape, Page 100, number 102.413 (Report - non-specific). SDV166309.

SX5740 6504. V-shaped funnel walls of a vermin trap set against and pointing towards south side of Lee Moor China Clay Works Leat on a gentle north-west facing slope. The substantial walls are composed of coursed boulders. Dimensions: Length of west arm 9.50 metres; length of east arm 7 metres by 1.5 metres wide and 0.50 metres high.

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

(16/02/2001) SX 5742 6503. A vermin trap located 700 metres north-east of Trowlesworthy Warren House, and forming part of Trowlesworthy Warren. The trap consists of 2 lengths of drystone wall which converge to form a V-shape, pointing towards the Lee Moor China Clay Works leat. The trapping area would originally have been sites at the point of the V but is no longer visible above ground.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour aerial photography for Dartmoor (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Trap visible on the aerial photography.

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

This monument includes a vermin trap adjacent to the Lee Moor China Clay Works leat and lying on a gentle north west facing slope overlooking the River Plym.
The vermin trap includes two lengths of drystone wall forming a `V'-shaped trap pointing towards the leat. The position of the trap suggests that it was designed to capture vermin using the leat for access into the warren. The trapping area no longer survives above the ground surface but would have originally been sited at the point where the two lengths of walling meet. The drystone walls average 0.8m wide by 0.5m high, whilst the western arm is 12m long and the eastern arm is 4.5m long.
Vermin approaching their quarry tend to seek a route that provides visual cover and the purpose of a trap was to funnel predators along ditches or beside walls to a central point where they could be trapped.

Ridgers, H. + Ridgers, C., 2015, Of Varments and Vermin Traps, page 4, site 35 (Report - Assessment). SDV358632.

SX57400 65040. Strong V-shaped walls ending on large boulder by leat. No evidence of trap.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7369 - Survey of Granite Loading Bays at Trowlesworthy, Devon
• EDV7380 - Watching brief on the Lee Moor China Clay Leat (Ref: 92.60)
• EDV8148 - The Upper Plym Valley: The Management of an Historic Landscape
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey: EH Project (Feb 2001 - Dec 2002)
• EDV8965 - Aerial survey of guardianship sites on Dartmoor

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