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Summary

Pillow mound situated within agglomerate enclosure. Mound survives as a 10 metre by 5.6 metre by 1.2 metre high, flat-topped, oblong-shaped mound of soil and stone surrounded by a 2.5 metre wide and 0.6 metres deep ditch from which material was quarried during construction. A clearly defined shallow gully leads for 3.0 metres from the lower end of the mound. These gullies have traditionally been interpreted as drainage ditches, but they may also have served as preferred access routes for rabbits and vermin. Traps placed within these gullies could have been used to control both rabbit and vermin populations.This pillow mound is not known to belong to a warren and may have been constructed by the tinners working the nearby tinworks, to help supplement their diet.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1009093: An enclosed stone hut circle settlement, round cairn, pillow mound and tinworking earthworks 820m WSW of Nun's Cross
• SHINE: Earthwork and structural remains of a section of the late 18th century Devonport Leat running from Raddick Hill to Nun's Cross, including extensive tinning remains at Cramber Tor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56NE350
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1446516
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/123/12
• Old SAM Ref: 24123

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PILLOW MOUND (Constructed, Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD)

Full description

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 133255, 19/5/1993 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(SX59666984) Pillow mound situated within agglomerate enclosure. Mound survives as a 10 metre by 5.6 metre by 1.2 metre high, flat-topped, oblong-shaped mound of soil and stone surrounded by a 2.5 metre wide and 0.6 metres deep ditch from which material was quarried during construction. A clearly defined shallow gully leads for 3.0 metres from the lower end of the mound. These gullies have traditionally been interpreted as drainage ditches, but they may also have served as preferred access routes for rabbits and vermin. Traps placed within these gullies could have been used to control both rabbit and vermin populations.
This pillow mound is not known to belong to a warren and may have been constructed by the tinners working the nearby tinworks, to help supplement their diet.

Crossing, W., 1992, Crossing's Dartmoor Worker, 61 (Monograph). SDV351364.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 64-5, Map 47, Figure 47.2 (Monograph). SDV137656.

'Bury' shown within Settlement 'A' at Newleycombe Lake Head to the north of the main enclosure.

Cartographic Engineering, 2006, Dartmoor 2006 1:1250 Aerial Photography (digital) (Aerial Photograph). SDV345590.

Visible on aerial photograph.

Newman, P., 2007, Cramber Tor Training Area Monument Baseline Condition Survey (Report - Survey). SDV348210.

(01/08/2007) Two Pillow Mounds, one either side of Drivage Bottom Stream. The larger mound is on the north side of the stream at SX 5971 6993 (see MDV131010).
The smaller pillow mound is on the south side of the stream at SX 5966 6985 in a natural hollow. It measures 11.3m by 4.6m by 0.9m high. It has curved ends and parallel sides. There are partial remains of a ditch 1m wide by 0.3m deep.

Probert, S., 2013, Cramber Tor Survey data (Cartographic). SDV361430.

Recorded during survey.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, WLK-DT20 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

Visited 12/07/2019. Mound covered with grass, whortleberry and heather with reeds outcrops along west side and at south end. Many animal burrows throughout mound but no evidence of animal droppings. Photo taken

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording photographs, WLK-DT20 (Photograph). SDV363073.

Visited 12/07/2019. Photo taken showing an overall view of the mound looking south

Historic England, 2021, National Heritage List for England, 1009093 (National Heritage List for England). SDV364016.

A pillow mound lies in the north eastern enclosure and survives as a 10 metres long, 5.6 metres wide and 1.2 metres high, flat-topped, oblong shaped mound of soil and stone surrounded by a 2.5 metres wide and 0.6 metres deep ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of the mound.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7382 - Condition Survey of the Cramber Tor Training Area
• EDV8351 - Walkhampton Premier Archaeological Landscape; Field Investigation Project
• EDV8711 - Condition Survey of the Cramber Tor Training Area

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