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Summary

Remains of a prehistoric settlement comprising three hut circles and fragmentary field walls north-west of Swincombe Water Intake. No coherent pattern or relationship to other systems along the Swincombe Valley can be deduced from the field walls. Most are turf-covered stony banks 0.8m to 1.2m wide and 0.3m high, incorporating some orthostats. Two possible cairns noted at this location by Worth (1948) could not be found by the Ordnance Survey field advisors (1950/1980) and it appears likely that these features are huts (see related records). This site is on the local list of Nationally Important Dartmoor sites.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Walling remains of a Bronze Age settlement north-west of Swincombe Water Intake, comprising three hut circles and fragmentary remains of field walls

Other References/Statuses

• Dartmoor Non-designated Heritage Asset (Historical): NI Site
• National Monuments Record: SX67SW28
• National Monuments Record: SX67SW55
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443313
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443400
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67SW/52
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX67SW55

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) CAIRN? (Unknown date)
• FIELD SYSTEM (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))
• BOUNDARY WALL (Constructed, Early Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1066 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))
• TETHERING POST (Constructed, Post Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1540 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1980, SX67SW28 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV234018.

SX6303 7191 Two small cairns recorded by Worth, R. H. (10/12/1948).
(27/04/1950) Visit by the Ordnance Survey could not identify these features.
(18/02/1980) No trace of these cairns was found during field investigation; it is possible that they are in fact the two hut circles at similar National Grid reference for which see SX 67 SW 55.

National Monuments Record, 1969, NMR SX6272/1, 159 (Aerial Photograph). SDV214892.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1970, SX67SW55 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV234019.

(28/08/1970) SX 630719. Two good hut circles. Three standing stones widely spaced and somewhat inconclusive. Three other standing stones of gate-post type, all grouped together, seem to be tethering posts either in connection with the newtake or tinning. In any case fairly modern - say early 19th century (citing oral information from Lady Sayer).

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1977, SX67SW55 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV357704.

(08/08/1977) In the enclosure known as 'Joan Ford's Newtake' are two hut circles possibly of type 2, on a south-facing slope at 340.0m OD. The northern one has a wall 1.7 m thick double-faced with the very large orthostats, and its internal diameter is 7.0m. There is a probable entrance on the south side.
The southern hut is very fragmentary; its internal diameter is 4.5m. On the hillside nearby are traces of field boundary walls, and there are some extensive clearance heaps providing evidence of cultivation.
The three "widely spaced" (MDV6375) standing stones could not be positively identified but there are several standing stones in the vicinity most of which are probably orthostats which formed part of the field boundary walls, and the two most likely, of 0.8m height, may be tethering posts like the three stones grouped together. Surveyed at 1:10 000 on PFD.

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

Cairns not visible on National Monument Record aerial photos. The hut circle is incorporated into a coffin-shaped enclosure with fragmentary banks extending to SX62947201 and to SX63077190. These banks may once have been part of a field system or an agglomerated enclosure.

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

(18/08/1989) On a moderate south-eastern slope, and centred at SX63057196, are the remains of a settlement covering 3.6 hectares. It comprises three hut circles and fragmentary field walls. There has been some robbing for newtake walling and more recent disturbance, but almost certainly further remains are buried beneath the peat cover. The interiors of the huts retain the natural slope of the hillside.
SX 63067198. (A). A hut circle 5.6m in diameter. Its eastern half has been destroyed and the remainder consists of a stony bank, 1.2m wide and 0.3m high, with some inner facing slabs. The entrance, in the S, is represented by two slabs, 0.7m apart and 0.7m high.
SX 63067191. (B). A hut with an internal diameter of 4.4m, well preserved in the S and W quadrants with walling 1m wide and between 0.2m and 0.5m high, mostly inner and outer facing slabs with rubble infil. An entrance on the S is 0.7m wide, flanked by orthostats.
SX 63047195. (C). A hut of 7m internal diameter, robbed in the SW quadrant. The walling is about 2m wide, consisting of massive inner and outer facing slabs between 0.3m and 1.3m high. No entrance can be seen. Small stones protrude from the turf within the hut on the E and S, and outside, to the W, a stony patch may indicate robbed or excavated material.
No coherent pattern or relationship to other systems along the Swincombe Valley can be deduced from the field walls. Most are turf-covered stony banks 0.8m to 1.2m wide and 0.3m high, incorporating some orthostats, probably the "wide spaced standing stones" noted by Ordnance Survey (1970).

Butler, J., 1993, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Four - The South-East, 213, Map 63 (Monograph). SDV337765.

Disconnected scraps of walling at 'Joan Ford's Newtake' bounded more than one enclosure but they are now incomplete. Two huts can be recognised with double rings of slabs 6.9 metres and 5 metres across.

Agricultural Development Advisory Service, 1995, ADAS Record (Worksheet). SDV234022.

(28/02/1995) Site recorded as stable; unable to identify the two small cairns.

Gerrard, S., 2004, List of Sites Remaining to be Considered for Designation on Dartmoor (Un-published). SDV345444.

This site was considered for designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument during the Monument Protection Programme. The programme ended before the entire list of sites was successfully scheduled so this is included on a local list of Nationally Important Sites.

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

Vestiges of enclosures and three hut circles shown on survey.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8146 - Royal Commission Survey at Down Ridge and Swincombe
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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