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Summary

Vermin trap built across a boundary wall within a partially enclosed hut settlement. Includes two lengths of V-shaped rubble wall, together forming an X-shaped trap. The walls are composed of rubble and average 1 metre wide by 0.3 metres high. The north to south arm is 17 metres long and the east to west arm is 12 metres long. The position of the trap suggests that it was intended to catch vermin following the enclosure wall. A 30 metre long, 1 metre wide and 0.3 metre deep gully leads from the north arm of the trap. Waste upcast during its construction forms a 1.5 metre wide and 0.3 metre high bank on the west side of the gully. This is probably an animal run which was constructed to encourage vermin to enter the trap.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020323: Prehistoric and historic archaeological landscape at Trowlesworthy Warren

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/240/11
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/240/14
• Old SAM Ref: 24232

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• VERMIN TRAP (XVII to XVIII - 1700 AD to 1800 AD (Between))

Full description

Cook, R. M. L., 1964, Old vermin traps on south-west Dartmoor, 199 (Article in Serial). SDV230549.

Trowlesworthy Warren. Site 9. Fair condition, walls only. 55 metres south-west of Shadyback Tor. 1700-1800.

Haynes, R. G., 1970, Vermin Traps and Rabbit Warrens on Dartmoor, 157, No. 8 (Article in Serial). SDV166302.

?SX 5660 6510 Trowlesworthy Warren. 40 yards (36m) south-west of Shadyback Tor. Haynes vermin trap No. 8 interrupts an ancient wall. Funnel walls fairly well defined.

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

Not visible on aerial photograph.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 140633 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 2nd April 1995. Vermin trap built across a boundary wall within a partially enclosed hut settlement. Includes two lengths of V-shaped rubble wall, together forming an X-shaped trap. The walls are composed of rubble and average 1 metre wide by 0.3 metres high. The north to south arm is 17 metres long and the east to west arm is 12 metres long. The position of the trap suggests that it was intended to catch vermin following the enclosure wall. A 30 metre long, 1 metre wide and 0.3 metre deep gully leads from the north arm of the trap. Waste uncast during its construction forms a 1.5 metre wide and 0.3 metre high bank on the west side of the gully. This is probably an animal run which was constructed to encourage vermin to enter the trap.
(The National Trust Upper Plym Inventory records this feature as an enclosure wall, but field investigation by the Monument Protection Programme Advisor suggests that this is not the case).

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 159, Map 51, Figure 51.3 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Vermin trap shown as 'V.T.' on east side of prehistoric Enclosure 'D'.

Thackray, C., 1994, The Upper Plym Valley: the management of an historic landscape, 67, 102 179 (Report - non-specific). SDV143510.

Vermin trap with funnel walls in X-shape set into the east side of enclosure. The walls curve around the terminals of the enclosure wall. Composed of low stones with visible facing slabs. North arm is superimposed on a low turf bank. Arms of 17 metres and 12 metres with walls 1 metre wide by 0.3 metres high.

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

Feature visible on survey.

Ridgers, H. + Ridgers, C., 2015, Of Varments and Vermin Traps, 4, No. 41 (Report - Assessment). SDV358632.

SX 56617 65017. Walls good and very grassy. Larger boulder types used in construction.

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

X-shaped feature visible on aerial photograph.

Richards, A. F., 2020, Notes regarding historic locations of vermin traps in the HER (Personal Comment). SDV163447.

This record has been merged with MDV14619, which was based only on Haynes' record for a trap (No. 8) described as being '40 yards south-west of Shadyback Tor; interrupts an ancient wall. Funnel walls fairly well defined'. The grid reference provided by Haynes incorrectly sited the record for the trap to the west of the Tor, at SX 5660 6510.
The Haynes description previously linked to this record (No. 7) is thought to be referring to MDV56828).

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: EH Project (Feb 2001 - Dec 2002)

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