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Summary

Headland Warren dating from the early 18th to the early 20th century and bounded by at least 14 inscribed boundary stones. The warren included seven isolated enclosures, 37 pillow mounds and at least five vermin traps

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1009189: Bennett's Cross: a wayside cross on the south side of the B3212, 900m north east of the Warren House Inn
• Scheduled Monument 1021342: Two Headland Warren boundary stones, 275m and 430m north of Birch Tor
• Scheduled Monument 1021345: Three Headland Warren boundary stones, 350m, 330m and 400m south east of Headland Warren Farm
• Scheduled Monument 1021340: Tinworks, field systems, settlements, warren, cairns and a stone alignment at Headland Warren

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68SE/8

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RABBIT WARREN (XVIII to Early 20th Century - 1780 AD to 1920 AD (Between))

Full description

Harris, H., 1968, Industrial Archaeology of Dartmoor, 211 (Monograph). SDV149229.

Headland Warren, of about 590 acres (262ha) was bounded by a high rabbit proof wall to the south, Wallabrook to the west, and the road on the east, and extended northwards level with Birch Tor.

Haynes, R. G., 1970, Vermin Traps and Rabbit Warrens on Dartmoor, 162 (Article in Serial). SDV166302.

Boundary stones mark the edge of the warren between the Wallabrook and the Widecombe road. The warren is deficient in buries. One has been found in the vicinity of the house, and seven on the slopes below Bennett's Cross. The rabbits were kept in walled enclosures thickly planted with sheltering gorse. Four of these remain in the west of headland, and others are in the vicinity of the Warren House. Two vermin traps have been noted.

National Monuments Record, 1979, SF1508, 15 (Aerial Photograph). SDV346563.

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

Two walled fields are visible and recorded, and one pillow mound is visible at sx69058111.

Williamson, T. + Loveday, R., 1988, Dartmoor Pillow Mounds, 297 (Article in Serial). SDV166308.

It is argued that warrens with such enclosures had no need for pillow mounds which are more common on extensive or open warrens.

Newman, P., 2001, Headland Warren Part 3: The Warren, Figure 2 (Report - Survey). SDV359913.

Headland Warren occupies 246 hectares of land at the head of three River Dart tributaries, Walla Brook, Redwater Brook and the West Webburn. To the west the Walla Brook forms a natural boundary, to the south a drystone wall extends along the Manaton and North Bovey parish boundary to a point close to Firth Bridge. From there a series of inscribed boundary stones delineate the north and north-west sides of the warren. The warren dating from the early 18th to the early 20th century included seven isolated enclosures, 37 pillow mounds and at least five vermin traps.

National Monument Record, 2016, Pastscape, 1344328, SX68SE/339 (Website). SDV359354.

Headland Warren. A rabbit warren which is first documented in 1797 and operated until the early 1920s. The warren is spread over 248 hectares to the north of the Manaton and North Bovey parish boundary wall and includes Birch Tor and the northern end of Soussons Common. The remains include a series of boundary stones marking the northern and eastern limits of the warren; 34 pillow mounds; six isolated enclosures and five vermin traps. The original Headland Warren house is still occupied as a private residence.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7139 - Headland Warren and the Birch Tor and Vitifer Mines Survey (Ref: A1/20/2001, A1/34/2002)
• EDV7390 - Archaeological condition survey in Soussons Woods
• EDV7402 - Archaeological condition survey in Soussons Woods
• EDV7431 - Woodland Survey (1989-90) at Bellever, Soussons and other woodland parcels

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