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Summary

Lambs Down was mentioned in the 13th century. The remains of a deserted farmstead consisting of three rectangular buildings measuring 22.5m by 3.8m, 21.5m by 6.3m and 19.0m by 4.3m, grouped around a levelled yard. Two outbuildings form the north east and south west sides are now visible as turf covered walls 0.8m wide and 0.5m high. The main house would appear to be that to the south east, levelled up on its north east end to a height of 1.2m. No sub-divisions are visible in any of the buildings. Lime mortar has been used suggesting a post-Medieval date.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX66NE46
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 441488
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66NE/67

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FARMSTEAD (Built, Post Medieval - 1540 AD (Between) to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

'Lambsdown' shown on 19th century Tithe Map as ranges of buildings around the east, north and west sides of a square yard with another building, possibly the farmhouse on the south side with two small rectangular enclosures adjoining between the house and the lane. The Apportionment for 'Lambsdown' lists Field Numbers 261, 262 and 263 as 'Houses & Gardens'.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

'Lambsdown Farm (Ruin)' marked.

Gover, J. E. B. + Mawer, A. + Stenton, F. M., 1931, The Place-Names of Devon: Part One, 294 (Monograph). SDV1312.

'Lambs Down' is referred to in the 13th century Buckfast Cartulary as 'Lamescumbe', 'Lombescumbe' and 'Lomescome'.

Royal Air Force, 1946, CPE/UK 1890, 4268-9 1012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV140289.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223, 5218 (Aerial Photograph). SDV147275.

Royal Air Force, 1953, RAF/58/1110, 0044/5 (Aerial Photograph). SDV161743.

Linehan, C. D., 1965, Deserted Sites on Dartmoor, Devon, 172 (Article in Serial). SDV217992.

Lambsdown or Lemson. Two long buildings. Remains of other with enclosure beside the track.

Linehan, C. D., 1966, Deserted Sites and Rabbit-Warrens on Dartmoor, Devon, Table 2 (Article in Serial). SDV307246.

(SX 697660) Deserted site at Lambsdown, West Buckfastleigh including two buildings and enclosures.

Haynes, R. G., 1966-1969, Ruined Sites on Dartmoor, 60 (Un-published). SDV150434.

Site visit 20th January 1968. A very ruined farm, now turfed over. Two apparent dwelling houses, one divided into at least three rooms. Remains of outbuildings and gardens. Probably mortared. A chimney was still standing 40 years agao.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1979, SX66NE46 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV147682.

(02/08/1979) The deserted farmstead at SX 69796601 consists of three rectangular buildings, 22.5m by 3.8m, 21.5m by 6.3m and 19.0m by 4.3m, grouped about a yard levelled into a north east slope at 318.0m OD. Two outbuildings form the north east and south west sides, now visible as turf covered walls 0.8m wide and 0.5m high. The main house would appear to be that to the south east, levelled up on its north east end to a height of 1.2m. No sub-divisions are visible in any of the buildings. Lime mortar has been used suggesting a post-Medieval date.
There is no evidence of rig and furrow in the surrounding area.
Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD.

The Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England Aerial Photograph Unit, 1985, The Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England Aerial Photograph Project (Interpretation). SDV340940.

Two buildings visible and recorded. They lie in a small area of peat cutting which extends eastwards.

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

Outline of buildings visible.

White, P., 2013, Previously Unsurveyed Dartmoor Historic Farmsteads, Lambsdown (Un-published). SDV352501.

Lambsdown ruined farmstead.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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