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Summary

Earthworks of probable Bronze Age field system at Mousehill Brake,on a steeply sloping, south facing valley side overlooking Soar Mill Cove.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020573: Two hut circles and associated field systems and enclosure at Mousehill Brake
• SHINE: Prehistoric (possible) field system and lynchets, south of Mousehill Brake

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1368989
• National Trust SMR: 100,536
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX63NE/37
• Old SAM County Ref: 34883
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD SYSTEM (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Thackray, C., 1990, Archaeological Survey of the Salcombe Estuary: West (Bolt Head to Bolt Tail and Snapes Point) Devon, 15 (Report - Survey). SDV345519.

Remnants of field system persist on the area below Hazel Tor, and at the west end of The Warren and the eastern side of Soar Mill Cove.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2002, Two Hut Circles and Associated Field Systems and Enclosure at Mousehill Brake (Schedule Document). SDV343459.

This monument includes two hut circles, parts of field systems of medieval and earlier dates, an enclosure, and a post-medieval field clearance cairn. It is located on a steeply sloping, south facing valley side overlooking the sea at Soar Mill Cove. A long straight field boundary runs at an angle up the valley side from the stream to Hazel Tor, measuring 3 metres wide and up to 2 metres high with vertical stone slabs set in it edge to edge, forming a fence. The earthwork enclosure abuts the lower side of this boundary and is `D'-shaped, measuring 50 metres long and 40 metres wide across the visible earthworks. Its banks are from 9 metres to 15 metres wide, rising 0.3 metres from the interior and falling up to 3.5 metres to a shallow outer ditch with a slight counterscarp bank. Within the enclosure is a hut platform, 11 metres across and 1 metre high. Two medieval lynchets with scarps up to 2 metres high, cut across the enclosure and continue for 160 metres to the north-west and 40 metres to the south-east, where a later field clearance cairn lies at its end. Some 40 metres west of the enclosure, a hut circle 12 metres in total diameter with walls 2 metres wide and 0.8 metres high lies on a low platform just south of the lynchets, while a second hut circle with similar dimensions sits on a low platform 100 metres east of the enclosure.

Batty, M., 2003, South Devon Coast Path Project: a study of the archaeology along the coast path in the South Hams from Staddon Heights to Sharkham Point (Un-published). SDV336214.

Site visit 7th August 2003. Parts of the site are under bracken and therefore invisible.

National Monuments Record, 2009, 1368989 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV343458.

Other details: SX63NE 50.

English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West, 109 (Report - non-specific). SDV342694.

Generally satisfactory condition, but with significant localised problems. Principal vulnerability plant growth.

English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West, 101 (Report - non-specific). SDV344777.

English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West, 106 (Report - non-specific). SDV355280.

Generally satisfactory condition, but with significant localised problems. Declining. Principal vulnerability plant growth.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4935 - Archaeological Survey from Bolt Head to Bolt Tail and Snapes Point
• EDV6587 - Archaeological Assessment of Land between Bolt Heat and Bolt Tail

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