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Summary

Hut circle of 8.3 metres diameter with walls 1.1 metres wide by 1.3 metres high with associated lengths of walling 210 metres north-west of Metherall farmstead and to the east of Fernworthy Reservoir

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019214: Four stone hut circles and associated boundary walls south east of Fernworthy Reservoir, 250m north west of Metherall
• SHINE: Earthwork remains of hut circles and associated bronze age walling at Metherall

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68SE41
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443837
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68SE/108
• Old SAM Ref: 28752

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HUT CIRCLE (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

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

One of the 'Hut Circle' shown on 19th century map.

Worth, R. H., 1935, 12th Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, 119-27 (Article in Serial). SDV259660.

One of two hut circles in a group of hut circles on the edge of Fernworthy Reservoir, excavated by Worth. (See also SX 68 SE 47, 49 & 50). These two particular circles were not actually mentioned as having been excavated but are positioned on his general plan. Described as Bronze Age.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1995, 2361-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDV224714.

Fox, A., 1954, Celtic Fields and Farms on Dartmoor in Light of Recent Excavations at Kestor, 87 (Article in Serial). SDV231175.

These hut circles are part of a group together with a field system and other huts now submerged by Fernworthy Reservoir.

National Monuments Record, 1979, SF1509, 962 (Aerial Photograph). SDV262885.

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

The two hut circles are visible and recorded: they form part of a group of five hut circles to the south-east of Fernworthy Reservoir.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 155-6, Map 35, Figure 35.1 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Hut circle '7' of 8.4 metres in diameter. This hut lies within the fields uphill from the main group and has not been excavated.

Gerrard, S., 1999, Metherall Bronze Age settlement, 152184 (Un-published). SDV259666.

Hut circle at SX67078403 210 metres north-west of Metherall. Diameter 8.3 metres, walls 1.1 metres wide, 1.3 metres high. Internal area 54.07 metres. A 180 degree facing gap may represent a doorway.

Ordnance Survey, 2011, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV346129.

'Hut Circle' is depicted on the modern digital mapping.

English Heritage, 2011, National Heritage List for England, 1019214 (National Heritage List for England). SDV347072.

The monument, which falls into four areas of protection, includes four substantial stone hut circles and associated boundary walls situated on a gentle north west facing slope overlooking Fernworthy Reservoir.
The stone hut circles survive as circular walls each surrounding an internal area which varies from 45 to 57 square metres. The heights of the surrounding walls vary between 1.1 metres and 1.8 metres. Two of the huts have visible doorways and one has a porch.
From this hut at SX67078403 an orthostatic wall with rubble infill measuring 1.8 meters wide by 0.6 metres high, leads east for over 50 metres.
A 1.5 metre wide, gravel covered path known as Potter's Way cuts through part of the monument. The surface of this path is excluded from the scheduling, but the ground below is included.

Newman, P., 2013, The Archaeology of Fernworthy Forest, Dartmoor, Devon. Supplement. The Lakeside Area and Lowton Farmsteads, 14, Figs. 5, 16 (Report - Survey). SDV356884.

Hut circle within that part of the Metherall settlement which lies outside the area affected by the construction of the reservoir. Both this and the hut circle to the south (MDV61334) appear to have suffered some stone robbing but the surviving walls are protected by a turf covering. They have notably levelled interiors. This hut is located at the T junction of two contemporary enclosure walls. Vestiges of another wall can be traced on the north side of the hut.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6533 - Archaeological Survey of South-West Lakeside Trust Land around Fernworthy Reservoir

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