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Summary

Round cairn located at the eastern end of a short stone alignment near the Great Western Reave on Walkhampton Common. Cairn measures approximately 7.8 metres in diameter and stands up to 0.7 metres high. A shallow hollow in the centre of the mound suggests robbing or partial early excavation.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1007433: Stone alignment, two round cairns and a length of Walkhampton Common reave lying in a valley between Sharpitor and Leeden Tor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX57SE46
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 440158
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX57SE/163

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CAIRN (Constructed, Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Worth, R. H., 1906, The Stone Rows of Dartmoor. Part VII, 535 (Article in Serial). SDV277335.

Worth, R. H., 1923, 42nd Report of the Barrow Committee, 50 (Article in Serial). SDV272438.

Worth, R. H., 1946, The Stone Rows of Dartmoor. Part 1, 269-7 (Article in Serial). SDV251172.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 175 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

25/4/1973 (SX5626 7082) Barrow with hollow centre, diameter 6 metres, height 0.7 metres.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1980, SX57SE46 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV219199.

(28/05/1980) A double row of stones extending for about 120 feet with a cairn at its western end. The average distance between the rows is 10 inches. The cairn is 36 feet in diameter and lies 326 feet south-west of the junction of Routrundle track with the Princetown road (SX 56217081).
There is also a small cairn 95 feet north-east from the eastern end of the stone row (citing Worth, R. H., 1906, 1923 and 1946).
A stone row, with a cairn at the west end at SX 56147078, extends almost due west for 26.0 metres to SX56167078. The cairn, mutilated and amorphous, is now approximately 6.7 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high at its maximum.
There are nine stones in the row, including three pairs, with an additional stone which seems to be displaced, all between 0.1 metres and 0.3 metres high (see plan). The east end of the row is terminated by a reave (MDV15038) which has cut across and evidently destroyed any westward extension.
Worth's second cairn is at SX56197079, turf-covered and circular, it is 6.3 metres in diameter and 0.6 metres high, with a central depression (see ground photograph)
Row and cairns surveyed at 1:10 000 on MSD and at 1:2500; row also surveyed at 1:500 for archaeological records.

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

Not visible on Royal Air Force or National Monuments Record aerial photographs.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP130544, 1992 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Cairn 7 metres east of Walkhampton Common reave. Part of a complex including two cairns and a stone alignment. Diameter 7.8 metres, height 0.7 metres. Central hollow measures 2.5 metres by 1.7 metres by 0.3 metres deep.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 46-7, Map 45, Figure 45.9 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Sharpitor N E cairn at SX56217080 of 6.0 metres diameter by 0.7 metres high. A hollowed cairn to the north-east of the stone row to the east of the reave.

Fletcher, M. J., 2007-2008, Walkhampton Premier Archaeological Landscape; Field Investigation Project (Report - Survey). SDV359195.

(11/05/2007) The cairns and the stone row are becoming overgrown; some gorse occurs in the vicinity. Surveyed at 1:2500 scale.

Ordnance Survey, 2016, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359352.

'Cairns' depicted on the modern mapping.

Historic England, 2016, National Heritage List for England, Accessed 23/08/2016 (National Heritage List for England). SDV359353.

This monument includes a stone alignment, two round cairns and a length of Walkhampton Common reave lying in a valley between Sharpitor and Leeden Tors overlooking the valley of the River Meavy.
The second cairn lies 7m east of the reave and the mound measures 7.8m in diameter and stands up to 0.7m high. A shallow hollow in the centre of the mound, measuring 2.5m long by 1.5m wide and 0.3m deep, suggests robbing or partial early excavation. See designation record for full detail.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, WLK-54 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

(14/06/2019) Condition assessed by volunteer recorder as very good. About 10% low gorse cover, which would be easy to remove. Cattle, sheep and ponies are free to roam over this ground, but appear to be causing little visible damage.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording photographs (Photograph). SDV363073.

Site photographed during June 2019 site visit.

Historic England, 2021-2022, NRHE to HER website, Accessed 05/10/2021 (Website). SDV364039.

The cairn on the east side of the reave is 7.8 metres across, up to 0.7 metres high with a shallow hollow in the centre 2.5 metres by 1.5 metres and 0.3 metres deep. The other cairn is 7 metres in diameter, up to 0.4 metres high with a flat top. The stone alignment extends almost due east for 26 metres from the cairn and has nine stones including three pairs. Scheduled (citing Scheduled Monument Notification 4/11/1993).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8351 - Walkhampton Premier Archaeological Landscape; Field Investigation Project

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