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Summary

Round barrow possibly utilised as a beacon during 17th century. Marked on 19th century maps but exact location not shown.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020075: Round barrow cemetery and beacon at Heathfield, 650m west of Moorlands

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX47NE19
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX47NE/13/1
• Old SAM Ref: 34284
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX47NE19
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX47NE6

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

National Monuments Record, SX47NE19 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV342327.

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

'The Beacon' is marked on the 1880s-1890s 25 inch Ordnance Survey map, although the exact site of the beacon is unclear.

Unknown, 1950, The Parish Constables' Accounts of St. Mary Tavy, 1672-1709, 319 (Article in Serial). SDV342325.

The Constables' Accounts for 18th July 1690 refer to the repairing of the Hearthfill Beacon in the parish of Lamerton. This is presumed to be at Heathfield.

Russell, P., 1955, Fire Beacons in Devon, 278 (Article in Serial). SDV336138.

Fire beacon at Heathfield. Used in 1690 at the time of the French landing at Teignmouth.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1983 - 2004, SX47NE19 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV342331.

1. The parish constable's accounts for Mary Tavy contain a reference on 18th July 1690 to repairing the Hearthfill beacon in the parish of Lamerton.
2. Round barrow 22.0 metres in diameter by 1.4 metres high, the east part removed to build walls which meet near the centre.
3. Site visit 7th November 1983. On the level top of a hill with relatively unrestricted views in all directions. An extremely mutilated mound at the junction of three earth hedgebanks. The position and appearance are compatible with a round barrow utilised as a beacon mound.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1983 - 2004, SX47NE6 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV342330.

Barrow at the junction of three parishes is probably the mound at which the published name "The Beacon" refers to.

Devon County Council, 2000, Fire Beacons: Warning Signals across the Countryside (Monograph). SDV320945.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2002, Round Barrow Cemetery and Beacon at Heathfield, 650 metres West of Moorlands (Schedule Document). SDV342326.

Whiteaway, T., 2004, Barrows, Tumuli, Standing Stones, Beacon at Lamerton (Report - Assessment). SDV342328.

This barrow is depicted as 'Beacon' on the Tithe Map, as opposed to that to the east (Mon Id. 3842).

English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West, 118 (Report - non-specific). SDV342694.

Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems. Principal vulnerability plant growth.

Knight, S. + Watts, S., 2009, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV342329.

There is confusion in the literature as to which barrow is the site of the beacon. This barrow is the more visible site and is apparently marked as the beacon on the Tithe Map. A small test pit in Mon ID 12636, however, revealed layers of ash which was taken by the Ordnance Survey Archaeologist to indicate successive beacon fires.

English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West, 111 (Report - non-specific). SDV344777.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4502 - Site Visit to Westcott Farm

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