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Summary

A much ruined and robbed prehistoric enclosure of two elements and earthwork evidence of a single hut circle on the south-western slope of Pudsham Down. The smaller enclosure is 20 metres by 15 metres. The outer, larger enclosure is attached to the smaller one on the eastern side. It is roughly oval and measures 51 metres by 42 metres. The walls have been extensively robbed, leaving only an earthwork and some shallow stones, but the outline and shape of the enclosures is clear. The hut circle comprises a crescent-shape earthwork depression only, located centrally within the smaller enclosure.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and walling remains of a Bronze Age coaxial field system around Pil Tor with remains of reaves, enclosures, hut circle settlements including Foales Arrishes, continuing south onto Blackslade Down
• SHINE: Remains of a Bronze Age reave system fossilised in the fields west of Ruddycleave; part of a wider system that preserves potential links to nearby prehistoric reave systems

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX77SW/139
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ENCLOSURE (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)
• HUT CIRCLE (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, 1317 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Royal Air Force, 1961, 58/4424, F43/58/4424/0191 (Aerial Photograph). SDV280247.

National Monuments Record, 1977, SX7374, 2 (Aerial Photograph). SDV314947.

Belsey, P. M., 1983 - 1987, Buckland In The Moor Parish Checklist (Un-published). SDV345904.

Small enclosure on the south facing slope of Pudsham Down, chiefly visible as an area free of bracken and gorse on aerial photograph (Gawne, on aerial photograph f43/58/4424/0191, cited by Belsey).
3/4/1985 The track from north end of enclosure to a point opposite field boundary of Ruddycleave Farm can not be seen on the ground except for a short double banked length near road, because of gorse cover. The enclosure, which has an opening on the east side, has banks on the east and south, steepening sharply at the south-east corner. The west boundary is marked by an irregular line of stones and the north by a slight bank. In the north-west corner there is a possible house platform. There is a very vaguely defined house circle below and to the east of this enclosure adjacent to the reave.

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

Fragments of what may have been a d-shaped enclosure in a parallel reave system. There are two, possibly three or four, hut circles in the wall of the enclosure that may originally have been attached to a reave. The enclosure is in poor condition and appears different in character when comparing Royal Air Force photos (1946) with National Monuments Record photos (1977).

Newman, P., 2015, Rippon Tor Premier Archaeological Landscape, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, 51, fig 17 (Report - Survey). SDV359145.

A much robbed enclosure of two elements and the site of a single hut circle. Centred at SX73288 74629. A much ruined and robbed prehistoric enclosure of two elements and earthwork evidence of a single hut circle on the south-western slope of Pudsham Down. The smaller enclosure is 20 metres by 15 metres. The outer, larger enclosure is attached to the smaller one on the eastern side. It is roughly oval and measures 51 metres by 42 metres. The walls have been extensively robbed, leaving only an earthwork and some shallow stones, but the outline and shape of the enclosures is clear. The hut circle comprises a crescent-shape earthwork depression only, located centrally within the smaller enclosure.

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

(25/10/2020) Condition assessed as bad; bracken and gorse covers around 80% of the feature; also bramble cover.

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

Image taken during October 2020 visit.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6836 - Rippon Tor Premier Archaeological Landscape survey

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