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Summary

This millstone lies within an enclosure situated within a large partially enclosed settlement.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1013427: A partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement, round cairn, post medieval farmstead, millstone and stone cutting pits 580m ESE of Merrivale Bridge

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX57SE/369
• Old SAM Ref: 24191

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MILLSTONE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

1895, Untitled Source, 87 (Article in Serial). SDV252776.

Other details: Plan.

Worth, R. H., 1981, Dartmoor, 108 (Monograph). SDV231173.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 74 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Crossing, W., 1992, Untitled Source, 113 (Monograph). SDV252772.

Gerrard, S., 1994, MPP/133501 (Site Visit). SDV219156.

This millstone lies within an enclosure situated within a large partially enclosed settlement. The millstone survives as a 2.0 meter diameter and 0.3 meter thick circular slab of granite with a flat base and convex upper surface. The stone is propped on top of several smaller stones, presumably in preparation for transport. This disposition led to at least two antiquarians independently identifying the site as that of a dolmen. According to Worth, Major Hamilton Smith erroneously identified the millstone as a dolmen in the early part of the 19th century, whilst Crossing notes that Mr C. Spence Bate also believed in its funerary origin until his young son located the man responsible for making it. Both Worth and Crossing agree that the stone is an edge runner for a cider mill, though it is not clear why it was not removed. Other details: 133539.

Gerrard, S., 1994, Untitled Source (Photograph). SDV252774.

Probert, S. A. J., 2000, The Merrivale Guardianship Area, Walkhampton, Devon (Report - Survey). SDV344969.

An unfinished and abandoned granite millstone, possibly for use in an apple or gorse crusher. The dome-shaped stone has a perfectly flat underside and measures up to 2.1 meters across. The edge runner is 0.25 meters wide and the thickness of the stone (to the apex) is 0.4 meters. There is no central hole for a drive axle and the stone was presumably rejected for use because it is not circular and the rim is damaged. Other details: 440035 NMR number: SX 57 SE 5.

Dartmoor National Park + English Heritage, 2004, Merrivale: An Archaeological Landscape, 22 (Leaflet). SDV320201.

A large circular shaped block of granite supported on blocks can be seen within one of the enclosures. Although described by some of the early Merrivale recorders as the remains of a prehistoric burial cromlech, it is actually an unfinished apple or gorse crushing stone. The reason for its abandonment is unknown.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4830 - Survey of guardianship area, Merrivale

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