Shovel Down & The Long Stone

The remains of several double stone rows and one single row of Bronze Age date. The rows are orientated roughly north south. Lying to the south is the Long Stone, a 3.2m tall menhir. Further south is the single remaining stone of The Three Boys. On open moorland.

Also known as:
The Three Boys
Nearest town:
Okehampton (12km WNW)
OS reference:
SX6602485792
OS sheet:
191
Latitude:
50° 39' 20.81 N
Longitude:
3° 53' 44.08 W

Images

Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by postman

DC, I’d put a million pounds on that being the same DC as was at White moors outlier.
Any guesses for what DC stands for, I think I know.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 26, 2018
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by postman

It’s that stone, you know, the Long one.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 26, 2018
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by postman

Some northern joker has slipped in a four poster.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 26, 2018
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by postman

Shovel down stone circle (2 stones left) is over the brown of the near hill, left. Just over the left most trees is Scorhill stone circle, honestly, Dartmoor eh?

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 26, 2018
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by postman

As you can see the tallest stones in the row rise upto the circle, Downtor like.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 26, 2018
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by postman

I think these two long stones are rising upto the stone circle Downtor like, if you know what I mean.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 26, 2018
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by postman

Approaching Kestor rock from the Shovel down stone row, another example of stones and outcrop as one.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 24, 2018
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by postman

The Tadpole filled rock basin on Kestor rock overlooks Shovel down.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 24, 2018
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by hrothgar

the concentric stone circles at the end of one of the rows – what was it for?

Image credit: Roger Milton
hrothgar
hrothgar Mar 15, 2011
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Meic

The Longstone – 4th March 2006

Image credit: Michael Mitchell
Meic
Meic May 6, 2007
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Meic

Shovel Down circle – 28th December 2004

Image credit: Michael Mitchell
Meic
Meic Oct 25, 2006
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Meic

Shovel Down circle – 28th December 2004

Image credit: Michael Mitchell
Meic
Meic Oct 25, 2006
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Meic

Three Boys 28th February 2005

Image credit: Michael Mitchell
Meic
Meic Apr 12, 2006
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Meic

Three Boys 28th February 2005

Image credit: Michael Mitchell
Meic
Meic Apr 12, 2006
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

Part of the settlement wall that is uphill to the southwest of the rows.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

Part of the settlememt wall that is up hill to the southwest of the rows.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

One of the reaves running northeast from Stonetor Brook to Batworthy corner.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

Looking downhill from the cairn, towards the Batworthy corner.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The cairn at the top of the hill leading to the Longstone .

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The row that leads away from the right of the fourfold circle to the cairn on the top of the hill. Looking south.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The fourfold cairn circle with Kes Tor in the background.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The last two stones of the row with the four fold cairn circle at its other end. These stones are not far from Batworthy corner.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The last remaining stone of the “Three Boys”. This stone is around 200 metres south of the Longstone.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The Longstone with the stones nearest to it.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The two stones that remain standing on the northwest arc.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The Shovel Down Circle looking northwest, showing all three remaining standing stones.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The Longstone, looking northeast, with Kes Tor in the background.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Oct 2, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Lubin

The fallen stones next to the fourfold circle at the end of one of the double rows. This stone has been cut with G P to mark the boundary of Gidleigh and Chagford. The G P standing for Gidleigh Parish.

Image credit: Peter Castle. ©
Lubin
Lubin Jul 11, 2005
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by pure joy

Shovel Down Complex – 1.4.2004. Last part of the north west row.

Image credit: Martin Bull
pure joy
pure joy Apr 30, 2004
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by pure joy

Shovel Down Complex – 1.4.2004. The last survivor of the Three Boys? Mainly fallen.

Image credit: Martin Bull
pure joy
pure joy Apr 30, 2004
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by pure joy

Shovel Down Complex – 1.4.2004. The Long Stone on a misty day.

Image credit: Martin Bull
pure joy
pure joy Apr 30, 2004
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by pure joy

Shovel Down Complex – 1.4.2004. The small concentric stone circles, trying to show the three concentric rings of stones. Massive stones and the north east stone row behind it.

Image credit: Martin Bull
pure joy
pure joy Apr 30, 2004
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by pure joy

Shovel Down Complex – 1.4.2004. The view you get as you enter the complex from the south. This is the bottom end of the north east row, looking up it.

Image credit: Martin Bull
pure joy
pure joy Apr 30, 2004
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by greywether

General view looking N with three of the five rows visible. The one to the right adjoins the Fourfold circle. Another row is located just off picture to the right and the fifth (which runs to the Longstone) starts S of this point. Scorhill is in the distance just beyond the trees.

greywether
greywether Dec 18, 2003
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by greywether

Fourfold circle and adjoining row. Fourfold circle has four concentric rings of stone almost circular – outermost is 9m diameter.

greywether
greywether Dec 18, 2003
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Moth

The main row (to the left of this one) goes for ‘miles’ & even when it seems to peter out, you can often find the stones under the turf.... It is traceable just about all the way to those woods & curves left if memory serves, to head towards Scorhill stone circle which is on the moorside beyond!

There’re also lots of rocks & erratics with a few possible cairny-type bits by the woods.

Image credit: Tim Clark
Moth
Moth Sep 3, 2003
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by Moth

As with most pics of the longstone, the boundary-marker ‘grafitti’ is extremely evident....

Image credit: Tim Clark
Moth
Moth Sep 3, 2003
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by moey

The fiftysomethings never even ventured over the brow of the hill to visit the Longstone – missed out.

moey
moey Sep 18, 2001
Image of Shovel Down & The Long Stone (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) by moey

We arrived at the same time as a herd of fiftysomethings on a tour. so we sat around until they cleared off.
Interesting to think what the Y avenues were for. A convergence of paths for marraige perhaps?

moey
moey Sep 18, 2001

Articles

Shovel Down & The Long Stone

Jane
Jane Jul 10, 2005

The rows here seem to meander forever taking the traveller past the almighty great nearby tor and point you towards the stone circle 1km at Scorhill. The longest stone row idles its way across the moor with two lines of small stones, some hidden under grassy hummocks. Walking the length is not an option. You have no choice but to do it. The most complete section is actually not part of the main row, but deviates off pointing back down to Batworthy.

Shovel Down & The Long Stone

pure joy
pure joy Apr 7, 2004

Shovel Down Complex – 1.4.2004

The instructions on the megalithic walks website (see link below) are excellent. Just a couple of additions though. First, to be clear that the bridge mentioned (i.e. where to park) is just outside Batworthy Farm, at SX662866. The space near the bridge should take 4 to 5 cars. I also saw cars parked at various small places off the road over the common, but the bridge area is better and more sensible. Secondly, the journey through the lanes is pretty tortuous, but at least you shouldn’t get lost if you have an OS map. Once successfully on the right road (after the crucial junction at SX690870), it is pretty much follow the road and don’t take any of the turnings off the lane. To avoid some of the earlier lanes try the B3206 to Chagford from the A382. Be careful to avoid the Range Rovers though! Judging from the cars and the shops this ancient Stannary town looks like a squeaky clean Devon version of Hampstead!

As you walk up towards Batworthy Corner, the north east most row comes clearly into view. A few hundred metres on and you’ve experienced your first bit of Shovel Down! This first row leads to an intriguing circle of three concentric stone circles. Up and over the hill and the enormous long stone suddenly comes into view. This massive, enigmatic stone has lots of stones around its base. Are they modern? They somehow don’t look quite right. The southern stone row (as shown on the OS map) basically doesn’t exist; there is nothing there.

I believe I found the remaining one of the ‘Three Boys’, but it is 70% fallen. From here, if you know where you are looking you can just see the top of the Long Stone. It would be interesting to know if it could be seen from the top of the three boys when it was / they were erect.

There must be 3 rows to the north, not just two as the OS map shows. The middle row starts and continues further away from the others, and is a good way to walk onwards to Scorhill.

When I later returned to the bridge I was led down the rocky path by a dog from Batworthy Farm, like Lassie leading an injured child!

Miscellaneous

Shovel Down & The Long Stone
Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue
Chance
Chance Apr 12, 2016

Details of the remaining Three Boys stone on Pastscape

(SX 66038549) Three Boys (Cromlech) (NR) (Remains of). (1)
The stone marking the southern end of a stone row (’F’ SX 68 NE 16) is the only survivor of three such stones known as the Three Boys. It stands 4 1/2 feet high and leans over. The other two have been removed to form gateposts for a neighbouring enclosure. The suggestion that they formed the supporters of a dolmen is unlikely as the remaining stone would be quite unsuitable for this purpose. They were probably three unusually large stones used to mark the end of the stone row. (2)
(SX 66038549) Three Boys (NAT) Standing Stone (NR). (3) The remaining stone of Three Boys leans at 45o to the NNE; it is 1.7m long, 0.8m wide and 0.3m thick. Packing stones are visible at its base. A surrounding wet-hollow, diameter 3.7m, depth 0.4m,has been created by sheep. There is no trace of a mound. The situation, shape and size of the stone strongly suggests that it formed a terminal/blocking-stone to the double stone row (SX 68 NE/16 ‘F’) which originally extended from the Three Boys to Long Stone. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (4) As described by authority 4. Se Sx 68 NE 16 E-F. (see also RCHME survey `The Shovel Down Stone Rows’(part 1) at 1:200 scale). (5)

Topics

Lovely ... 7
FourWinds
FourWinds
Oct 2005

Sites within 20km of Shovel Down & The Long Stone

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