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HER Number:MDV44569
Name:Wooden Stakes at Westward Ho!

Summary

Two lines of wooden stakes, one semi-circular and one curving were found in the late 19th century. Dated to the Neolithic period.

Location

Grid Reference:SS 430 295
Map Sheet:SS42NW
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishNortham
DistrictTorridge
Ecclesiastical ParishNORTHAM

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SS42NW/1/4

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • STAKE ALIGNMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Roman - 698000 BC to 409 AD (Between))

Full description

Hall, T. M., Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV6254.


Hall, T. M., 1863-1872, Privately printed manuscript (Monograph). SDV6210.

Discovery of lines of wooden stakes standing vertically in forest bed spaced 180-225mm apart. One line formed semi-circle, another slightly curved line over 15m long.


Young, T., 1906, Pigmy Flint Implements in North Devon (Article in Serial). SDV6255.

On Hall's evidence, Young suggests possible previous existence of a pile dwelling.


Balaam, N. D. et al, 1987, Studies in palaeoeconomy and environment in South West England: Prehistoric and Romano British sites at Westward Ho!, Devon, 163-4 (Monograph). SDV322416.

A survey in 1983 recorded 2 converging lines of stakes in Area 2. All stakes were approx 30mm in diam, and set 1m apart. Two stakes removed for dating survived to 20-40mm long, and show signs of pressure bands which result from being driven into resistant ground or from load-bearing stress. Both had been sharpened to a point, but not diagnostic of a particular tool or period. Carbon 14 Dating analysis produced a result of 4840+/-70 BP (HAR-5642). These represent the only definite evidence of Neolithic activity. May represent the substructure of trackway such as 'Tinney's A' in Somerset levels.


Turton, S. D. + Weddell, P. J., 1993, Archaeological Assessment of SWW Taw-Torridge Tidal Waters Improvements, 4 (Report - Assessment). SDV4711.


Turton, S. D. + Weddell, P. J., 1993, Archaeological Assessment of SWW Taw-Torridge Tidal Waters Improvements, Part 1: Southern Routes, 4 (Report - Assessment). SDV4712.


Nayling, N., 2002, Email re Westward Ho! (Correspondence). SDV6212.

Sample of wood taken from the possible Roman structure at NGR SS42972952 for tree ring dating. Other details: Visited 3/2001.


Riley, H., 2002, Inter-tidal deposits at Westward Ho!, Northam, 3-5, Figs 2,4 & 5 (Report - Survey). SDV322401.

Five areas of peat were surveyed at Westward Ho! by English Heritage in 2002. The survey found substantial erosion had occured since 1984 particularly on the seaward edges of the peat. Wooden stakes were identified on the northeast side of Area B at SS42982952 & to the south of Area C at SS43022952 but none in Area E to the east.


Natural Environment Research Council, 2003, Mesolithic to Neolithic coastal environmental change c6500-3500 cal BC (Report - Survey). SDV9998.

Wooden stakes were sampled and included in GPS survey by Exeter University. Other details: Visited 29/4/2002.


Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J., 2007, The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report, No. 185 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

Samples from two converging lines of wooden stakes produced a Carbon 14 date of Neolithic period. Possibly represents sub-structure of trackway such as 'Tinney;s A' in Somerset Levels.


Passmore, A. J., 2009, Braunton Burrows Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme. Archaeological Survey 2009 (Report - Survey). SDV344652.


Passmore, A. + Knight, S., 2009, Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites (Un-published). SDV344664.


Heathcote, J. + Campbell, G., 2013, NHPP 3A5 Identification of Wetland/Waterlogged Sites. 6240 Exceptional Waterlogged Heritage. Stage 1: Inventory, 25 (Report - non-specific). SDV357296.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV322401Report - Survey: Riley, H.. 2002. Inter-tidal deposits at Westward Ho!, Northam. English Heritage Archaeological Investigation Report. AI/18/2002. A4 Stapled + Digital. 3-5, Figs 2,4 & 5.
SDV322416Monograph: Balaam, N. D. et al. 1987. Studies in palaeoeconomy and environment in South West England: Prehistoric and Romano British sites at Westward Ho!, Devon. British Archaeological Reports. 181. Unknown. 163-4.
SDV339712Report - Assessment: Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J.. 2007. The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report. Exeter Archaeology Report. 06.22 (rev.1). A4 Stapled + Digital. No. 185.
SDV344652Report - Survey: Passmore, A. J.. 2009. Braunton Burrows Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme. Archaeological Survey 2009. Exeter Archaeology Report. 09.113. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV344664Un-published: Passmore, A. + Knight, S.. 2009. Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites. Exeter Archaeology Report. Digital.
SDV357296Report - non-specific: Heathcote, J. + Campbell, G.. 2013. NHPP 3A5 Identification of Wetland/Waterlogged Sites. 6240 Exceptional Waterlogged Heritage. Stage 1: Inventory. English Heritage. N/A. Digital. 25.
SDV4711Report - Assessment: Turton, S. D. + Weddell, P. J.. 1993. Archaeological Assessment of SWW Taw-Torridge Tidal Waters Improvements. Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report. 93.25. A4 Stapled + Digital. 4.
SDV4712Report - Assessment: Turton, S. D. + Weddell, P. J.. 1993. Archaeological Assessment of SWW Taw-Torridge Tidal Waters Improvements, Part 1: Southern Routes. Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report. 93.32. A4 Stapled + Digital. 4.
SDV6210Monograph: Hall, T. M.. 1863-1872. Privately printed manuscript. Unknown.
SDV6212Correspondence: Nayling, N.. 2002. Email re Westward Ho!. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV6254Report - Survey: Hall, T. M..
SDV6255Article in Serial: Young, T.. 1906. Pigmy Flint Implements in North Devon. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 38. A5 Hardback.
SDV9998Report - Survey: Natural Environment Research Council. 2003. Mesolithic to Neolithic coastal environmental change c6500-3500 cal BC. Natural Environment Research Council Project. NER/A/S/2000/00490. A4 Stapled + Digital.

Associated Monuments

MDV468Related to: Mesolithic Tools from Westward Ho! (Monument)
MDV50845Related to: Peat Deposit at Westward Ho! (Monument)
MDV53224Related to: Peat Deposit at Westward Ho! (Monument)
MDV14854Related to: Shell Middens at Westward Ho! (Monument)
MDV44568Related to: Submerged Forest, Westward Ho! (Monument)
MDV71574Related to: Westward Ho!, Peat Deposit (Monument)
MDV71573Related to: Westward Ho!, Peat Deposit (Monument)
MDV71575Related to: Westward Ho!, Peat Deposit (Monument)
MDV44571Related to: Wooden Stakes at Westward Ho! (Monument)
MDV44570Related to: Wooden Stakes at Westward Ho, (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • EDV2005 - Mesolithic to Neolithic coastal environmental change c6500-3500 cal BC
  • EDV2006 - Archaeological assessment of SWW Taw-Torridge tidal waters improvements
  • EDV2007 - Archaeological assessment of SWW TawTtorridge tidal waters improvements Part 1: Southern routes
  • EDV4737 - Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey, Braunton Burrows

Date Last Edited:Jul 23 2015 3:50PM