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Summary

Part of the single stone row of 87 metres between two other sections of this stone row on Shovel Down

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1017874: The North Teign coaxial field system (western part) and associated later remains at Shovel Down, Stonetor Hill and Long Ridge

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68NE16
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443524
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68NE/59
• Old SAM County Ref: 144
• Old SAM Ref: 28663

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• STONE ALIGNMENT (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Ormerod, G. W., 1857-1858, On some British and druidical remains in the parishes of Chagford and Gidleigh, 20-24 (Article in Serial). SDV274183.

This alignment appears to have been recognised by Ormerod, and is marked on his plan as a 'trackline'.

Wilkinson, J. G., 1860, The Rock-Basins of Dartmoor, and Some British Remains in England, 113-114 plate 6 (Article in Serial). SDV273188.

Spence Bate, C., 1870-1871, On the Prehistoric Antiquities of Dartmoor, 504-505 (Article in Serial). SDV277110.

Worth, R. H., 1932, The Prehistoric Monuments of Scorhill, Buttern Hill, and Shuggledown (Shoveldown), 286 (Article in Serial). SDV239731.

Worth, R. H., 1946, The Stone Rows of Dartmoor. Part 1, 303 plate 37, row 39 (Article in Serial). SDV251172.

Shuggledown H (row 39) returning to row G, abreast of this, and overlapping it to the north, is a single row on the east, at a mean distance of 12 metres. This appears to end in a blocking stone not far from the cairn which forms the southern terminal of row C. The southern 29 metres of its length bears north 11 degrees west, but to the north the row extends a further 140 metres to the supposed blocking stone, bearing somewhat west of the direction above given. This may be an independent row.

Fox, A., 1957, Cairns and stone alignments on Shovel Down, 155-158 (Article in Serial). SDV348211.

Lady Fox refers to the whole Shovel Down complex as a sanctuary and suggests that all the monuments are contemporary with the Beaker period.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1974, SX68NE16 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV274181.

13/06/1974 and 16/07/1974. Stone Row G SX66018588 to SX66028585. A single row, 27 metres long with no end feature. This is considered by Worth to be part of row 'D' (from which it is separated by a gap of 21 metres) but this seems unlikely since it is straight and on an entirely different alignment.

Walrond, L. F. J., 1975, Details about Shovel Down stone rows, July 1975 (Personal Comment). SDV273490.

Only recognised 45 stones north of the blocking-stone: to a point where a leat (MDV27723) runs through.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1976, Report of Field Visit to the Shovel Down stone rows (13/08/1976) (Report - non-specific). SDV362905.

See notes from visit on 13/08/1976.

Walrond, L. F. J., 1976, Shovel Down stone rows, July 1975 (Correspondence). SDV274168.

Only recognised 45 stones north of blocking-stone: to point where a leat runs through.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1976, Site visit notes and plan of the Shovel Down stone rows, 13/8/1976, Row L-M (Site Visit). SDV274180.

(Described as part of one long single row (Row L-M), including records MDV6145, MDV14881 and MDV14882)
This row appears to extend well beyond the blocking stone, and also beyond the southern end seen by Worth. About 71 stones lie to the north of the blocking-stone and row extends nearby to Batworthy Corner. It is cut by a 19th century tinners drive and probably has been robbed of stone for enclosure walls thus reducing its length. Total length approximately 570 metres.

Quinnell, N. V., 1978, Resurvey of the Shovel Down Stone Rows (Plan - measured). SDV362907.

Resurvey in July 1978 of the rows by N. Quinnell of the Ordnance Survey. Five double rows were recorded and four single rows but T. Greeves believes the latter may in fact be parts of one row (the eastern row).

Emmett, D. D., 1979, Stone Rows: The Traditional View Reconsidered, 111 (Article in Serial). SDV251087.

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

Not visible in Royal Air Force 1947 aerial photographs.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1987-1993, Duchy Farms Project Survey Visit (Report - Survey). SDV350839.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 143942, 1997 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Stone row No. 1 on Butler’s plan. Runs from SX66038573 to SX65978626.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 178-81, 235, Map 36, Figures 36.7 & Fig 36.7 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Part of Shovel Down single stone Row '1' which extends south from Batworthy Corner with several gaps and changes of direction.

Quinnell, N. V., 1995, Shovel Down stone rows notes, 22/3/1995 (Personal Comment). SDV274190.

Shovel Down 39. Runs SX66058566 to SX65978624. Total length including gaps between extensions is now approximately 588 metres.

Sites and Monuments Record, 1999?, Unattributed Shovel Down entry (Unattributed Sites and Monuments Register Entry). SDV273524.

Worth's row 39 is recognised by the Ordnance Survey (25/8/1978) as rows D and G. The total length being 209 metres, with 47 and 25 stones respectively. The remaining length recognised by Greeves is also divided into two rows, H and J, with 24 and 46 stones respectively. Row H is 51 metres long, and row J is 228 metres long, and it is probably overlain by a reave at its southern end. Row G is the possible independent row referred to by Worth (see related records).
Wilkinson's plan does not show this as a separate row but the stones which he marks on it appear to form the line of this row. His line begins 100 metres to the north of the southern limit of Ordnance Survey row D and continues to where the reave (SX68NE/112) crosses it. There is no sign of the break suggested by the Ordnance Survey which gives the separate rows D and G.

Griffith, F. M., 20/02/1987, DAP/ID, 7-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDV306073.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Prehistoric Survey Information (Cartographic). SDV345521.

Stones shown on survey.

Greeves, T. A. P., 2018, Culture and nature need equal weight for good of Dartmoor (Article in Serial). SDV361729.

Ordnance Survey, 2018, MasterMap 2018 (Cartographic). SDV360652.

'Stone Rows (remains of)' depicted on the modern mapping, generally in accurate positions, when compared with the Royal Commission survey (1991) and aerial photograph information.

Historic England, 2018, National Heritage List for England, 1017874 (National Heritage List for England). SDV360653.

See designation record for details.

National Monument Record, 2018, Pastscape (Website). SDV360651.

Original field work of July 1974 was supplemented by minor revision in July 1978 following a report (1976, Greeves) of a new single stone row location (see Row 'J'), and additional stones made visible by peat shrinkage during the very long summer drought of 1976. Stones range in height from those just visible as stumps at ground level to up to about 1.0 metres and the 'standing' angles vary from the vertical to near recumbent. The definite possibility exists that further stones will be located, and the present stone count (July 78) cannot be considered as final.
Five double, and four single stone rows can be identified; others including Pettit's double row, appear to be mis-identifications of denuded probable Bronze Age reaves (see SX 68 NE 63) containing stone.
Row G: SX 66008591 to SX 66028585. A single row (25 stones visible July '78), 60.0 metres long; two gaps (? stone robbing) of 6.0 metres and 8.0 metres occur towards the north end. The north penultimate stone (now recumbent) is of much larger slab-like proportions and may have originally served as a blocking-stone (citing Ordnance Survey Field Investigators Comments 16/07/74, amended 1978).
A complex of four double stone rows A, B, C and E-F and one single row D-G-H-J. They lie between 398 metres and 425 metres Ordnance Datum on north facing slopes between Chagford Common and Shovel Down.
The single row, D-G-H-J, has no surviving focal points.
The complex has been cut through by a later reave, part of a system whose construction must have marked the end of the use of the rows. Stones from row C are visible within the bank of the reave, but it is clear that the reave bisects the whole complex (see RCHME plan `Shovel Down' at 1:2500 scale and 1:200 survey of the Shovel Down Stone rows), (citing Wilson-North, R., 19/09/1991, Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments in England Field Investigation).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6198 - Geophysical Survey on Shovel Down and Kes Tor
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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