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Summary

A 19th century rabbit warren of circa 500 metres long by 100 metres wide which contains at least fifty pillow mounds, mostly aligned with the generally south facing slope and the majority surrounded by a quarry ditch. A small rectangular platform located visible near the northern boundary of the warren may represent the site of a structure used to store nets, traps etc. The earliest reference to the warren dates from 1808 and is believed to have been established around this time. Also known as Bray's Warren. Mounds vary in size but are mostly all aligned with the direction of the natural slope.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021176: Rabbit warren 410m west and 310m north west of Beardown Farm
• SHINE: Earthwork and structural remains of a section of the late 18th century Devonport Leat running from from its take off point near Wistman's Wood to Holming Beam

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX67NW71
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 442718
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NW/95
• Old SAM Ref: 34473

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RABBIT WARREN (XVIII to XIX - 1798 AD (Between) to 1818 AD (Between))
• STOREHOUSE (XVIII to XIX - 1798 AD (Between) to 1818 AD (Between))

Full description

Duchy of Cornwall, 1808, Lease to James Mason (Record Office Collection). SDV247472.

Lease of 528 acres to James Mason.

Duchy of Cornwall, 1818, Map of enclosures on Dartmoor (Record Office Collection). SDV247473.

Map of freehold and early enclosures on Dartmoor.

Duchy of Cornwall, 1935, Lease to E. A. Bray (Record Office Collection). SDV247474.

Lease of 1203 acres to Edward Atkyns Bray.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2149, 4386-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDV282746.

Photograph taken in June 1947.

Worth, R. H., 1953, Dartmoor, 440 (Monograph). SDV231148.

Royal Air Force, 1961, 58/4424, 173 (Aerial Photograph). SDV280247.

Photograph taken in May 1961.

Linehan, C. D., 1966, Deserted Sites and Rabbit-Warrens on Dartmoor, Devon, 124 (Article in Serial). SDV307246.

Rabbit warren containing 25 pillow mounds was seen on air photographs of Beardown, Lydford.

Marshall, W., 1970, Royal Economy of the West of Engalnd (1796) (Monograph). SDV337753.

Haynes, R. G., 1970, Vermin Traps and Rabbit Warrens on Dartmoor, 164 (Article in Serial). SDV166302.

Enclosed in or about 1780 by the Rev E. A. Bray, possesses a rabbit warren where historic evidence and the absence of stone-built vermin traps suggest a 19th century origin.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1980, SX67NW71 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV247470.

Visited on 5th March 1980. Beardown Warren centred at SX00755 has 41 ditched and stone revetted pillow mounds, all but one of which are enclosed within a stone wall and the majority more or less aligned with the slope. They vary in size but average 9.5 metres long, 2.0 metres wide and 0.9 metres high with a ditch 1.5 metres wide and 0.3 metres deep. An exception is one mound, segmented into 5 parts, with a total length of 54.0 metres.

Hemery, E., 1983, High Dartmoor (Monograph). SDV249702.

Bear Down Warren mentioned in 1808 lease.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Group of pillow mounds on south-west slope of Beardown Hill between the Devonport Leat and the Cowsic River. 16 mounds visible.

Probert, S. A. J., 1988, Beardon Warren (Report - Survey). SDV366095.

Visited on 31st August 1988. Beardown Warren centred at SX60007552. Occupies 3.8 hectares and contains 50 pillow mounds, mostly aligned with the generally south facing slope. All but one of the mounds are enclosed by drystone walls, with the Cowsic River on the south and west, a moorland stream on the east and a now abandoned section of the Devonport Leat to the north. The pillow mounds range from 5.4 metres to 16 metres long by 2.2 metres to 5 metres wide and 0.5 metres to 1 metre high. Most have a continuous drainage ditch, 1 to 2.9 metres wide and 0.2 to 0.5 metres deep. Three sub-circular features probably represent disturbed linear or round pillow mounds, though they may be heaps of construction material. A small rectangular platform, 4.2 metres east-west by 3.1 metres north-south, is visible at SX 60154 75536, near the north boundary of the Warren. This may have formed the base for a wooden structure used to store nets, traps etc. The eastern half of the warren is traversed by four drainage ditches on average 1.2 metres wide and 0.3 metres deep. One of these has been obstructed by a mound. A buried pipe, diverting the Devonport leat runs roughly north-east to south-west across the eastern area to an aqueduct at SX 6006 7539. Three of the mounds overly field boundaries which are probably associated with the earliest field pattern of Beardown Farm. The farm itself was established around 1780 by Mr Edward Bray, not the Rev A Bray as misquoted by OS from Worth. The first reference to Beardown Warren is contained in a Duchy of Cornwall lease of 1808 and it seems likely that it was established early in the farm's history. The number of pillow mounds, which undoubtedly increased over the years, points to the warren fulfilling a commercial role. Supplying meat for the local population. The dockyard at Devonport and after 1809 the prisoners of war at Prince town would also have created markets for Beardown rabbit.

Agricultural Development Advisory Service, 1988, Beardown Farm, Princetown, Yelverton, Devon, 24, Map D (Report - Assessment). SDV355062.

Beardown Warren, also known as Bray's Warren, is situated above the Cowsic River on a south-facing slope. The warren contains 50 stone-revetted pillow mounds which have ditches around their upper ends. Sizes vary, but on average they measure 9.3 metres long, 3 metres wide and 0.7 metres high; one mound, made up of five segments has a total length of 54 metres. The majority are aligned with the direction of the natural slope.

Probert, S., 1989, Beardown Warren, Princetown, Dartmoor, 229-233 (Article in Monograph). SDV232550.

Beardown warren was probably established late 18th - early 19th century, and was a recognised feature by 1808. Covering 4.2 hectares it lies on a south-facing slope above the north bank of the Cowsic River, and is bisected by an early turf and stone bank and completely enclosed by a later drystone wall. RCHM survey revealed 50 pillow mounds, all but one within an "island" created by post-1794 remodelling. Evenly distributed and aligned against contours. All but 3 are linear with well defined square ends. Tops rounded or, less commonly, flattened - one with sharply pointed crest. Most possess a drainage ditch. Three overlie boundaries of the early Beardown farm layout. Not shown on 1839 Tithe Map, nor mentioned in 1835 lease. Hemery claims it had a sporting use but this is unlikely at this early date.

Ordnance Survey, 2013, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV350786.

Over 40 pillow mounds are depicted on the modern mapping.

Historic England, 2021-2022, NRHE to HER website, Accessed 23/08/2021 (Website). SDV364039.

Full description(s) ?
SX 600 755: Rabbit warren containing 25 pillow mounds was seen on air photographs of Beardown, Lydford. (1-2)
Beardown, enclosed in or about 1780 by the Rev E A Bray (3)
possesses a rabbit warren where historic evidence and the absence of stone-built vermin traps suggest a 19th century origin(4). (3-4)
SX 600755: Beardown Warren is situated on a well-drained south slope and occupies 3.8 hectares. It has 41 ditched and stone revetted pillow mounds all but one of which are enclosed within a stone wall and the majority more or less aligned with the slope (see ground photograph). The mounds vary in size but average 9.5 metres long, 2 metres wide and 0.9 metres high with a ditch 1.5 metres wide and 0.3 metres deep. An exception is one mound segmented into five parts, with a total length of 54 metres.
Surveyed at 1:10000 (SX 57 NE) and at 1:2500 on MSD. (5)
"I find a mention of `Bear Down Warren' however in the Rev J H Mason lease from the Duchy (of Cornwall) dated 1808 as an indication of bounds for his new property.". (6)
SX 6000 7552: It occupies 3.8ha and contains fifty pillow mounds, mostly aligned with the generally south facing slope. All but one of the mounds 50 in all, are enclosed by drystone walls, with the Cowsic River on the south and west, a moorland stream on the east and a now abandoned section of the Devonport leat to the north. With three exceptions 5, 23 and 35, the mounds are linear and often possess sharply defined squared ends. Their tops are either rounded or flattened though No 37 displays a sharply pointed crest. Where disturbed the mounds exhibit a loosely packed boulder base beneath an apparently stone-free peat cap. The measurements of each mound are given in tabulated form, the vast majority verging from 5.4 to 16 metres long, 2.2 to 5 metres wide and 0.5 to 1 metres high. Most have a continuous drainage ditch, 1 to 2.9 metres wide and 0.2 to 0.5 metres deep.
Three sub-circular features no`s 5, 23 and 35, probably represent disturbed linear or round pillow mounds, though they may be heaps of construction material.
A small rectangular platform, 4.2 metres east-west by 3.1 metres north-south, is visible at SX 60154 75536, near the north boundary of the Warren. This may have formed the base for a wooden structure used to store nets, traps etc.
The east half of the warren is traversed by four drainage on average 1.2 metres wide and 0.3 metres deep. One of these has been obstructed by mound 37. A buried pipe, diverting the Devonport leat runs roughly northeast-southwest across the east area to an aqueduct at SX 6006 7539.
Three of the mounds 19, 22 and 26 overly field boundaries which are probably associated with the earliest field pattern of Beardown Farm. The farm itself was established around 1780 by Mr Edward Bray, not the Rev A Bray as misquoted by OS from Worth. The first reference to Beardown Warren is contained in a Duchy of Cornwall lease of 1808 (6) and it seems likely that it was established early in the farm's history.
The number of pillow mounds, which undoubtedly increased over the years, points to the warren fulfilling a commercial role. Supplying meat for the local population. The dockyard at Devonport and after 1809 the prisoners of war at Prince town would also have created markets for Beardown rabbit. (7)
Additional tables with information on all 50 pillow mounds, is held in the archive.

Sources ?
Ref Title (& comments) Year SoR Pages Volume Notes
Beardown Warren/ink survey
1 Medieval archaeology : journal of the Society for Medieval Archaeology
Index to vols 1-5 (1957-61); 6-10 (1962-66); 11-15 (1967-71); 16-20(1972-76); 21-25 (1977-81); 26-30 (1982-86); 31-35 (1987-91); 36-40 (1992-1996) 10 1966 opp 124(C D Linehan)
2 Vertical aerial photograph reference number
Default value used to record large numbers of archive items which are not separately catalogued. See Monument Recording Guidelines for details of use. APs (RAF/CPE/UK 2149 4386-4387 June 1947)
3 Dartmoor 1953 by the late R Hansford Worth 440 1953 (R H Worth)
4 Post-medieval archaeology : the journal of the Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology 164 4 1970 (R G Haynes)
5 Field Investigators Comments F1 NJA 05-MAR-1980
6 High Dartmoor : land and people 1983 Eric Hemery 397 1983, E Hemery.
7 Field Investigators Comments RCHME Field Investigation, 31-AUG-1988, SAJ Probert.
8 Scheduled Monument Notification
Default value used to record large numbers of archive items which are not separately catalogued. See Monument Recording Guidelines for details of use. 22-Dec-03
1a Vertical aerial photograph reference number
Default value used to record large numbers of archive items which are not separately catalogued. See Monument Recording Guidelines for details of use. APs (58 RAF4424 173 May 1961)
5b Aerial photograph Default value used to record large numbers of archive items which are not separately catalogued. See Monument Recording Guidelines for details of use. AP's (OS 72/066 2 3 7 17 5 72)

Historic England, 2024, National Heritage List for England, 1021176 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365835.

The monument, which falls into two areas of protection, comprises a rabbit warren situated on a south facing slope of Beardown Hill overlooking the valley of the Cowsic River. The warren includes at least 50 pillow mounds, with all but one lying to the south of a now abandoned length of the Devonport Leat. The pillow mounds vary between 2.3 metres and 54 metres long, with the average being 9.38 metres. They stand between 0.5 metres and 1 metre high and most are surrounded by a ditch from which material was quarried during their construction. The earliest reference to the warren is in a Duchy of Cornwall lease of 1808 and it is generally believed that the warren was established at around this time. The nearby Dartmoor Prison may have been the primary market for the produce.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7431 - Woodland Survey (1989-90) at Bellever, Soussons and other woodland parcels
• EDV8643 - Beardown Farm, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project

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