Chance

Details of stone on Pastscape

SS 81164446 Stone. A possible monument, annotated `Stone’ on the OS 25” map of 1905 (a). It is uncertain if this was an antiquity and it has been destroyed. It lay within Stowey Allotment which is now cultivated land. (1)(`Stone’ published at SS 81164446 but cancelled by reviser (not by OS archaeological staff). May still be extant. Two other stones 250m to NW are published on 1:10,000 1978).

Details of stones on Pastscape

SS 73903815 A setting of six stones in Squallacombe form roughly a rectangle of 45 feet NE-SW by 12 feet. The stones are between 21 inches and 28 inches long, and two, one at the E. corner and the one in the centre of the SE side are now prostrate. The setting was discovered by members of the North Devon Archaeological Society. SS 73903815. In 1973 this stone setting comprised 6 stones in two parellel rows of 3, 4 of the stones standing and 2 fallen. It was aligned more or less north-south. In September 1982 Eardley-Wilmot noted that only the 3 western stones were standing. The south-east corner stone was broken and fallen but the stub was still upright. (2) Four photographs of the stone setting supplied to the NAR (3). Squallacombe I SS 73813822.
A stone setting comprising a double row of at least seven stones. It is orientated NNE to SSW along a contour, with four upright stones forming the W row 19.2m long, individual stones spaced 5.8m (F-E) 8.9m (E-C) and 4.6m (C-A) apart. The row is not quite straight, F being slightly out of alignment.
Three fallen stones forming the E row are probably close to their original positions (B,D and G). The stump of G is visible giving a distance here between the rows of 4.7m.
Another two subsurface stones were located along the E row. Their nature and antiquity are uncertain. They are deposited as crosses on the plan.
All the in situ stones except C are aligned across the major axis of the setting. The original layout may have been an elongated rectangle but with stones not necessarily exactly paired stones F and G for instance.
The setting lies in rush and coarse grass on a moderate E slope with clear views from NE through E to S. Like many others is situated close to a steep valley side. The remains of two other stone settings lie close by (see SS 73 NW 32,33).
The identification of four upright stones in the W row is problematic due to the fact that previous fieldworkers have noted only three (in 1973 and 1982 (2)). From an existing sketch plan it seems that stone A is the new arrival, possibly a recent insertion. The erosion hole is deep and its edges quite sharp, which suggests the possibility that it may be a hole caused by the extraction of a buried stone which was subsequently re-erected. Its different alignment in comparison to the other stones is noted above and may be significant in this context (4).

Details of stones on Pastscape

SS 73613800. Stone setting.
A probable setting of two stones, one leaning the other fallen, with the possible site of a third stone represented by a prominent hollow.
A and B are 9.3m apart, aligned NW to SE across the contour. The hole C lies to the NE, 7.2m from A and $m from B, forming a flattish triangle.
The stones are situated on a gentle SE slope on Squallacombe in rush and coarse grass. There are clear views to the E. Two more stone settings lie close, to the NE (see SS 73 NW 18 and 33) (1).
Photography of stone `A’ from the South presented to the NAR (2).
An additional table of information on the stones is held in the archive.

Details of stones on Pastscape

SS 73943820 Standing stones (Squallacombe III).
A stone setting situated on a fairly steep E facing slope above a gently sloping shelf. The site overlooks the confluence of two tributaries of the River Barle to rising ground beyond and it lies on undulating moorland in bracken and reed vegetation. The geology is the Morte Slate Series.
It comprises two low upright slabs 7m apart on an approximate NW/SE axis; no other stones or boulders are visible in the general area. The SE slab remains firmly set in spite of clumsy digging around its base which has resulted in aragged, shallow pit and a low spread soil heap on one side (1).

Details of stone on Pastscape

SS83154732. In 1939-40 a cross-decorated stone of the 7th to 9th century was found in a wood or near the Culbone-Porlock boundary. It was over 3ft long, a slab of local Hangman grit, with an obliquely placed incised ring-cross having a projecting stem. It was re-erected in 1940 at the spot where it was found with 2ft showing above ground. The stone, as described by Grinsell, is in dense woodland at SS 83214736. It falls in Porlock parish but is so close to the
Culbone/Porlock boundary that this would seem to have been mered to the stone. Surveyed at 1:2500 (not on publication document).
SS 83204736. It is speculative as to whether the inscribed cross and circle was removed from the stone row 40m to the north (SS 84 NW 20) for its purpose, as it is very similar in size to the larger stones of that row. ST (should be SS) 832474. Incised stone W of Stent Hill. Scheduled.
A sandstone block, known as the Culbone Stone, found and re-erected in 1940. It is 0.65m high, 0.44m wide and 0.19m thick. A wheel cross is incised on its south-eastern face, 0.11m in diameter and cut to a depth of 0.004m. The lower right arm of the cross has been extended beyond the circle for 0.07m. This extension is wider, shallower and more crudely cut, perhaps it is a later addition. Grinsell (1) has suggested that this is a memorial stone of the 7th to 9th centuries (6). An inscribed cross is also visible on one of the stones of the adjacent stone row (SS 84 NW 20). (7)
Such simple monuments could be assigned to an early date, to the high Mediaeval, or even post-Mediaeval periods. (8)

Details of stones on Pastscape

SS 83274739. An incomplete stone row on Culbone Hill was found by N VQuinnell in 1975 and independently by J E Hancock in 1981. It would seem to be of Prehistoric date. It is situated on a spur at about 380m OD with a slight, false crested east slope. Twenty stones are traceable over a distance of 340m from SS 83274739 to SS 83604738 (seeillust). Fifteen stones are in woodland, the remainder in deep bracken and furze where it is possible some have not been detected. Under open conditions the ends of the row would not be intervisible, but these are unlikely to be the original terminations. The stones are local sandstone slabs between 30cm and 70cm long, 5cm to 20cm thick and 25cm to 70cm high. A common interval between the stones cannot be deduced, but some of them are so widely spaced as to suggestheavy robbing.
For 100m at the west end, the row coincides with the parish boundary although this is described as undefined on OS 25” 1957. The boundary must originally have been mered to the row, but it is most unlikely that the stones are boundary markers. It is speculative as to whetherthe inscribed stone at SS 83204736 (SS 84 NW 15) was removed from the row as it is similar in size to the larger stones. A detailed plan of the stone row is lodged with the Somerset SMR. (1)
Additional Bibliography. (2)
This fine stone row commences at SS 83244738 in coniferous woodland at about 405m OD on the NE slopes of Culbone Hill. It crosses a fenced trackway and rough grass/bracken covered ground beloe the crest of the ridge. It terminates in coniferous woodland on the N slope of Stent Hill about 385m OD at SS 8362 4737, atotal length of 371m. It now consists of 21 earthfast sandstone blocks all set longitudinally following the general E-W alignment. The intermittent and irregular spacing suggests robbing; it is now impossible to know if the row extwnded further E or W. Stones 1 to 17 are almost in a straight line (allowing for minimal movement of some stones) the remaining four curving slightly towards the N stones 4,10a & b, 16 and 21 are broken stumps. The others range in height from 0.2m to 0.62m (an average of 0.4m) they are from 0.29m to 0.9m wide and 0.10m to 0.33m thick (3). A further table of information on the stone row is held in the archive. Stone No 3 has an inscribed cross. The cross, on the upper, eastern part of the northern side, is 12cm high and 10cm wide, with the arms of the cross cut 0.05cm deep. The arms of the cross are not sharply incised, and as such are reminiscent of the crude style in which one of the arms of the cross on the Culbone Stone (SS 84 NW 15) has been extended. The cross is not set vertically, but rather is oriented like an `x’, and as such is roughly parallel with the sides of the stone. This may be because the stone has tilted eastwards. The upper ends of both arms have what appear to be `tails’ or short perpendicular extensions. (4)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A mound is depicted at SS 8692 4414, but not described, on the O.S. 25”, 1890. Sited in a strip of moorland between two pasture fields. The strip has now been incorporated into the pasture but the mound remains. It is 12 metres in diameter, 0.7 metres high, with no surrounding ditch, and is comprised of earth and small stones, overgrown with turf. Shape, size and situation, on the northern end of Tarr Ball Hill, indicate an unexcavated round barrow. (1)
A mound on Tar Ball Hill at circa SS 86934414, visible on aerial photographs as a low earthwork, may be a barrow of possible Bronze Age date. Just over 12 metres in diameter, it may be part of a small funerary group with three or more similarly sized mounds approximately 200 metres to the south-west. Possible evidence for a surrounding ditch is visible on aerial photographs of 1973. (2, 3).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SS 94773705). Tumulus (NR). Cutcombe No 9, a bowl barrow 16 paces diameter and 5 ft high with hollow in centre. (2)
This is a bowl barrow 1.6m high with a shallow depression in its top. (See GP’s AO/65/187/5 & 6). Published 1/2500 survey revised. (3)
SS 94783705. Cutcombe 9. Bowl barrow listed as Authy.2. Visited by Grinsell 10 May 1952. A round barrow lying in improved pasture. It comprises a circular flat-topped mound measuring 13 m north-south by 15.8 m west-east, and is 1 m high. The barrow has been extensively disturbed by animal erosion and has recently been fenced off to prevent further damage. However, the fence has been placed too close to the monument and impinges on the foot of the barrow. (5)
This barrow is visible as a slight cropmark on vertical air photographs and was plotted as part of the Brendon Hills Mapping Project. (6)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A circular ditchless mound on King’s Brompton Common at ST 01273396 may be a bowl barrow. It is 0.6m high and has a flattened top. Surveyed at 1:2500. (1)
ST 01273396. Brompton Regis 4. Possible bowl barrow. It is a slightly squarish mound which has been mutilated. (2) [ST 01273396] Tumulus (NR) (3)
The Bronze Age bowl barrow described by the previous authorities was seen as an earthwork and mapped from aerial photographs and measures roughly 15m in diameter. (4) The Bronze Age barrow survives as a circular earthen mound 12.5 m in diameter and 0.5 m high. It lies in improved pasture, and has been truncated on its southern side by a track which is also a public footpath. In addition, the summit of the barrow has been disturbed, probably by a ring feeder being placed upon it; this seems to have happened very recently. (5) ST 01263396. Bronze Age bowl barrow. The barrow mound measures 14 metres in diameter and stands roughly 0.7 metres high. Scheduled. (6)

Details of hill fort and barrow on Pastscape

[ST 1602 3912] Dowsborough Camp HILL FORT [GT]
[ST 1590 3917] TUMULUS [GT] (1)

Dowsborough (Danesborough) Camp, Didington, c.340 yds. by 170 yds., the defence is a bank of stones with a ditch and second rampart below, following the natural line of the hill. The upper bank has been demolished for some distance along the S. face from the W. The entrance seems to have been at the apex on the S.E., but here the banks have been altered and the ditch partly filled up. At the N.W. end inside the rampart is a circular tumulus of stones with flat top but no surrounding ditch. Plan. See photo AO/63/374/6. Univallate hillfort (3-15 acres). Scheduled. (2-4)
This is a univallate hillfort with a nearly complete counterscarp bank. The entrance is at the east end. The wide gap in the ditch is an original feature, and an amorphous scatter of stones inside the rampart may indicate that the entrance was more complex than it now appears to be.
Inside the rampart at the north-west is a ditched bowl barrow. The mound is 1.2m high and the ditch 0.3m deep. Re-surveyed at 1:2500. (5)
A plan and illustration of the hillfort are present together with text. (7) ST 160 391. Dowsborough. Listed in hillfort as a univallate hillfort covering 2.0ha. (8) Dowsborough Camp was surveyed at a scale of 1: 1000 by the Exeter Office of EH as part of the archaeological survey of the Quantock Hills AONB. Additional elements include trial pits for stone/copper ore, a charcoal burning platform and evidence of WWII activity. The possiblity of a late Roman/post-Roman phase is discussed in the site report, which contains full details of the survey and a plan (9).The Iron Age hillfort, Bronze Age barrow and some internal features are partially visible, through trees, on aerial photographs.

etails of cairn on Pastscape

SS 97174016. Dunster 1. Round barrow on Croydon Hill at Bats Castle, visited by Grinsell 8th June 1969 when under heath. It is apparently a modern stone heap 11 paces diameter, 3 ft high, but may be on the site of a sepulchral cairn. A mound is shown here on the OS 1” first edition 1809. It is on or near the Luxborough Boundary. (Cairn and human remains found ‘hereabouts Bats Castle’ before 1840. – See SS 94 SE 41 – Identified with SS 94 SE 17, but ?possibly from
this site.) (1 & 2)
The remains of a substantial Bronze Age burial cairn lie on the summit of Croyden Hill at SS 9720 4007. The monument comprises a circular stony mound 14.8m in diameter. The centre of the mound has been disturbed and a shelter 4.3 x 3.5m with an entrance to the north has been constructed from mound material. Much of the northern sector has been quarried away, and the surrounding area shows evidence of stone extraction in the form of pits. The cairn lies in an area of dense coniferous plantation (3).
The cairn is clearly marked on the 25” 1st edition map, and is just to the south of the parish boundary, on the summit of Croydon Hill (4). The grid reference given by Grinsell (1) refers to the area of stone extraction some 80m to the north which, unlike the cairn, is marked on the 6” 1st edition map.

Details of hill fort on Pastscape

[SS 86293758] Road Castle (NAT) Camp (NR) Road Castle, an almost square camp, some distance below the top of the hill about quarter of a mile SE of Exford. The defence on the E, S & W was a high bank of stones mixed with earth, with a ditch below, whilst on the N it was a steep scarp with a ditch below now much silted up. The E side has been destroyed and replaced by a modern bank and hedge, where the entrance seems to have been. (2). Road Castle Camp: univallate hill fort under 3 acres. (3) This is a small, apparently Iron Age, enclosure situated on the highest point at the end of a ridge. The rampart is strong, and it is particularly well preserved on the southern side.Re-surveyed at 1:2500. (4) SS 864376. “Road Castle (intrenchments) S of Lyncombe Wood”. Scheduled. (5)
Road Castle is a strongly fortified site under improved pasture. The bank is 4.5m high on the S, where it is best preserved. On the N side ploughing has masked the rampart, the ditch is slight and two breaches have been made in the defences. On the E most of the defences have been destroyed by a hedge bank which runs N – S across the N part of the site but then turns SE, leaving a gap between the field and the surviving defences on the S and it is probable that this is the original entrance. Visited 30 3 73. (6)( SS 86293758) Road Castle (NAT) Earthwork (NR) (7) The site is within the Exmoor National Park Farm Conservation Scheme. It is now fenced off separately from the surrounding land. Large scale survey is planned during the winter of 1997 as part of RCHME’s East Exmoor project. (12) Scheduling amended. (13)
The earthworks of the Road Castle bank and ditch defined later prehistoric enclosure are clearly visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards. The enclosing banks are up to 13 metres in diameter, defining an almost square internal area of circa 0.25 hectares. The external ditch is only clearly visible on the southern side. No internal features can be seen on the photographs available to the survey. (14-16)

Details of stones on Pastscape

SS 76993838. Stone Setting.
The remains of a stone setting (1) situated about 400m OD on amoderate SE facing slope of rush covered rough grassland. The setting, which does not appear to be complete, now consists of at least 8 original stones (B to D, F to I and K) which form two lines set almost at right angles to each other, C,D,I,K and F,G,H,I (I being common to both lines). Stone B seems to form part of another row on the NW side of C, of which stone A, a small stone almost hidden by the turf, may be a third stone. A similar small stone E may also be an extension of the line F to I.
The monument is sited on a stony slope and there are a number of loose stones which may be displaced or natural litter. A similar number of small earthfast stones, all apparently natural occurences, are also visible.
A backfilled field drain crosses the site from N to S but appears to have done little damage (2).

Details of stone on Pastscape

SS 862410. A standing stone 0.4m high and leaning to the east was recorded at the north end of Hoar Moor in 1981. (1)
A standing stone, at SS 8621 4106, lies in an area of heather and rushes, on a slight south slope at 454 metres O.D. It comprises a sandstone post, 0.2 metres by 0.25 metres in section, and 1.2 metres long with a chisel-form top. The stone now leans to the north east and is 0.6 metres high; a sheep worn hollow around the base has exposed two or three possible trigg stones and few loose stones.

Details of stone on Pastscape

SS80514266 A standing stone and a split fragment from the standing stone 200m south east of the Long Combe sheep pen on Swap Hill.
The stone is a slab orientated north west to south east and is 230mm high, 330mm long and 96mm wide. (1)

Details of stone on Pastscape

Centred at SS 7616 3810 close to the head of Drybridge Combe, is a prehistoric standing stone. It is post-shaped, and is 0.55m high, 0.23m long and 0.16m wide. The stone is situated within a large erosion hollow 2m in diameter and 0.3m deep. Surveyed at 1:2500 scale with Blue Gate Mine complex. This site has also been recorded by source 1a. (1)

Details of stone on Pastscape

A standing stone is recorded by source 1 at SS 7745 3595. At SS 77385 35935 on the crest of the south-east facing slopes of Long Holcombe is a standing stone. It lies within a patch of rushes at 430m above OD; and is 106m south-east of a cairn (SS 73 NE 7).
It is an upright, lichen-covered slab leaning slightly northwards and it is 0.65m high, 0.6m long and 0.18m thick within an erosion hollow 3.5m in diameter.
The stone is probably that recorded as SS 73 NE 18. Despite being some 350m from the NGR cited for SS 73 NE 18, the dimesions are proportionally similar (1.4m high, 1.4m wide and 0.15m thick).Surveyed at 1:2500 scale, December 94. (1a, 1).

Details of stones on Pastscape

SS 790373. Stone setting found by H Pilkington on Horsen on the slope facing Cow Castle. It comprises a small indeterminate group with somestones upright and some lying. Ther are large outcrops nearby. Visited February 1980 by Pilkington, Eardley-Wilmot, and Ian Burrow who plotted it for the SMR. (1)

(Horsen) SS 79063736. A setting of five upright slabs in the form of a four stone parallelogram, with a fifth off centre stone,lies in a prominent position on a very steep NE facing slope. LOcated on a slightly sloping triangular shaped shelf, at 355m OD, the site has impressive views to the NE across the wide and deep River Barle valley to rising ground beyond. The hillslope is on Morte Slates and the ground cover is rough pasture, heather and reed.
The setting is a maximum 9.6m long and 5.5m wide and the slabs are of a sedimentary rock. A recumbant earthfast slab which lies within the setting is most probably a natural feature rather than a displaced upright. Numerous earthfast natural rock slabs and some small rock outcrops occur in the vicinity of the setting; to the SW there are a few small ? stone quarry pits. The two stones noted to the E were not identified.
Two low, amorphous, probable cairns, lie to the NE of the setting. Both are apparently composed of turf-covered large slabs and no constructional features are evident. They have flattish tops and slight off centre pits. The cairn at SS 79063736 is sub-rectangular & approximately 4.0m by 3.5m and 0.4m high; the second at SS 79073737 is sub oval 4.6m by 3.4m and 0.5m high with a 4.5m long tail on the downhill side. Their relationship to the setting is not clear (2).

Details of Horsen Hill barrow on Pastscape

[SS 7891 3560] Tumulus (NR) Exmoor No 19, a bowl barrow 25 paces diameter and 4 ft. high, slight hollow in centre. (3) This is a bowl barrow and is as described by Grinsell. Published survey (1/2500) revised. (4) Exmoor 19. Bowl barrow listed, details as Authy 3. Visited by
Grinsell 27th Sept 1961. Part of group known as “Sherdon Barrows (together with SS 73 NE 5) and so called in Chase records of 1794 and 1819 (a) (5)
A barrow, centred at SS 7891 3560, located on the summit of Horsen Hill. It consists of a grass & reed covered circular stony mound 22-25m in diameter (with a summit diameter of 13-14.5m) and 1.3m high. Traces of an encircling ditch, 4m wide and 0.2m deep, are visible especially on the northern side.
A trench, 3m wide and 0.4m deep, has been cut into the west and east slopes of the barrow. The summit is hollowed, leaving a rim of material around the crests of the barrow scarp. In addition, a narrow, zig-zagging slot, 2m wide and 0.3m deep has been cut into the summit within the hollowed area. It is clear that these features represent a combination of excavation and stone robbing, and although superficially disturbed, it is proabable that most of the fabric of the barrow remains intact. Further slight erosion is occuring in the form of sheep scrapes on the mound. (6-7)
The barrow described above is clearly visible on aerial photographs close to the summit of Horsen Hill. Several other barrows have been identified in the area (see NMR UID 1029500 and 34995) (8).

Details of stones on Pastscape

SS77994256 A stone alignment of three standing, four recumbent stones arranged in three parallel rows. The standing stones are between 120mm and 300mm high, 170mm to 240mm wide and 140mm to 180mm thick. The stone alignments date between the later Neolithic and Middle Bronze Age (c2500-1000 BC). (1)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

[SS 9005 4206 and SS 9003 4200] Kit Barrows [NR] The Kit Barrows are two barrows 185ft apart from centre to centre. The first, is a flattened area of stones about 75ft. in diameter, from one part of which stone appears to have been recently removed. The second, is again a flattened area of stones from which much material has been taken. There are several very large blocks of stone still lying about, some as much as 3ft. in length. Diameter of the area – 53ft. No signs at either barrow of burnt stones – the result of beacon fires (2). Scheduled (3). (2)(3)
Both cairns have been robbed of almost all their material. They are now reduced to slight heather covered cairn rims enclosing patches of small stones, and a scatter of larger boulders. Published 1:2500 survey revised. They are listed by Grinsell as Cutcombe Nos. 7 and 8. (4)
Kit Barrows:
SS 9003 4200. Cutcombe 7. Levelled cairn 17-18 paces diameter.
SS 9005 4205. Cutcombe 8. Almost levelled cairn 25-26 paces diameter. Both visited by Grinsell 25th May 1958. (5)
Two cairns lie on a spur of Dunkery Hill, between Dunkery Beacon and Robin How, at SS 90042 42026 and SS 90073 42077. The cairn to the south (SS 90042 42026) has been severely robbed and comprises a low, heather covered rim 12.5m in diameter and a maximum of 0.6m high. Several large boulders are scattered across the centre, with a recent stone heap in the southern sector of the cairn. A depression to the south of the cairn appears to be a quarry scoop for the cairn material, being very similar to those associated with the large cairns at Robin How (SS 94 SW 2 and 4). The cairn to the north (SS 90073 42077) has also been robbed. It comprises a circular heather covered bank, 24m in diameter and 0.5m high. Three stone heaps lie across the centre of the cairn, which is a flat, heather covered area. An amorphous depression to the S may be a quarry scoop for cairn material. Many small depressions and hollows between Kit Barrows and the track to Dunkery Beacon may be the result of stone extraction. The cairns were surveyed using differential GPS as part of the RCHME Exmoor Project (6).SS 90054206; SS 90034201. Two prehistoric cairns known as Kit Barrows Cairns. Scheduling amended. (7)
Both of the Kit Barrow monuments have been transcribed as earthworks from aerial photographs as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. The northern cairn is 23 metres in diameter and centred on circa SS 90064207. The southern mound is 15 metres in diameter and centred on circa SS 90044202. Both mounds show slight evidence for irregular, and probably damaged encircling ditches on aerial photographs of 1964, ranging from 4-10 metres wide.
Irregularly shaped pits or scoops are visible 50 metres to the south of the southern cairn and 60 metres to the east of the northern monument. As suggested above these may be the remains of quarries for cairn building material. (8-9)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[SS 84003445] Tumulus (NR) Withypoole No. 6 (a). This is a robbed bowl barrow, 1.1m high. (See GPs AO/65/192/3 & 4). Published Survey (1:2500) revised. (3)
Withypool 6. Bowl barrow listed, details as Authy 3a. The mound is truncated and hummocky, and is crowned by OS trig point. Visited by Grinsell 30th Sept 1961. (4) Centred at SS 84003445 on the summit of Withypool Hill is a prehistoric barrow. It is 20.5m in diameter and 0.9m high. Its summit has been disturbed by robbing and possibly excavation: it is now covered by amorphous hollows. A modern cairn has been built on the eastern side of the summit. The southern part of the mound has a break in slope suggesting that the material from the robbing hollows has been dumped on the slope. “Quarry” ditches around the eastern and northern sides of the barrow appear to be recent and either represent robbing, or an attempt to locate a presumed kerb around the monument.
Despite the interference to the monument, no excavation is documented. A nearby field bank forms part of an extensive system of enclosures on Withypool Hill , and might provide a context for the disturbance to the barrow (see SS 83 SW 49). (5) SS 84013445. Bowl barrow on Withypool Hill. Scheduled. (6)
The much disturbed remains of a bowl barrow of probable Bronze Age date are visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards, centred on circa SS 84003445. The diameter of the outer earthwork bank is circa 20 metres in diameter. Within this, a smaller irregularly shaped mound of circa 9 metres diameter can be seen, presumably the modern cairn described by the above authority.
In addition it may be valuable to note that on the 1940s aerial photographs the ground surface is visibly rutted and disturbed probably by military vehicles, immediately around the barrow and for an area around for at least 8 hectares. Less visible disturbance probably extended for a considerable distance beyond this area. (7-10)

Details of Stone Circle on Pastscape

[SS 83833430] Stone Circle (NR) A stone circle (diam 40 yds) on the SW slope of Withypoole Hill, 733 yds ESE of Portford Bridge. Remains consist of 37 stones (3) (but formerly there were c.100) 3.5 ft apart. (see plan) (2 & 3)
The remains consist of 29 earthfast stones set as the circumference of a true circle. The largest stone is 0.7m long by 0.2m thick and stands 0.5m above the ground but the majority of the others are considerably smaller. There is no trace of a bank, ditch, or any other feature associated with the stones. Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)SS 837342. Stone Circle, Withypoole Hill. Scheduled. (5)
SS 83833430. The remains of a stone circle, 36m in diameter are located on a moderate SW facing slope at about 385m OD on the SW side of Withypool Hill. The area, predominantly heather, has been recently swaled so the stones were clearly visible. (see plan at 1:100). It was first described by St George Gray in 1906. Thirty-seven stones out of a possible original total of about one hundred, were planned. Twenty-nine were recorded in 1965 and again in 1978. In 1989 twenty-seven earthfast uprights and three fallen stones were identified by RCHME. Stone 20a may simply be a residual packing stone. The majority of the uprights are about 0.1m high, 0.3m wide and 0.1m thick, with some very small exceptions; stone 26, for example, measures only 0.01m high, 0.17m wide and 0.02 m thick. Only four are reasonably large 2,12,15 and 24 and are about 0.5m high, 0.6m wide and 0.2m thick.
The RCHME plan follows the numbering on the 1906 survey, thus indicating former stones, such as 16 and 17, which are now lost.
On the early plan, two unnumbered hollows were shown at 2a and 31a; they are no longer visible (10).
SS 83823431. The remains of a stone circle standing on the south west slope of Withypool Hill. It is alleged that the circle once consisted of about 100 stones, but it now consists of around 25 upright stones and several fallen ones which remain close to their original positions. The stones average 0.5 metres high, 0.4 metres wide and 0.2 metres thick. The overall diameter of the circle is approximately 36 metres with a circumference of about 115 metres. Scheduled. (11)
Considering their dimensions it is perhaps unsurprising that the stones of the Withypool Hill stone circle are not visible on aerial photographs. However, the site can be easily seen on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards due to the footpath encircling the site and hollows around several of the stones, eroded by visitors to the site and livestock using the stone settings as rubbing posts. Hints of shadows within these hollows may be cast by the larger stones or simply the hollows indicating their former locations. The eroded path is up to 40 metres in diameter and over 120 metres in circumference. (12-14)

Details of camp on Pastscape

Staddon Hill Camp is a ditch and bank defined hill-slope enclosure of probable later prehistoric date. Two outworks are visible on aerial photographs as cross-banks, approximately 27 and 140 metres to the south-west of the enclosure. A post-medieval field boundary bank, part of an extensive field system visible to the north-west and south-east, runs through the centre of the enclosure and across the inner cross bank. The outer cross bank is incorporated into this later field system. [SS 88183768] Camp (NR) Staddon Hill Camp on the lower slope of the N. side of Staddon Hill, an enclosure with outer ditch and entrance to the W. About 24 yds S. of the enclosure is a bank and ditch running E-W for 90 yds. (2)
Staddon Hill Camp – univallate hillfort of under 3 acres. (3)Hill slope fort consisting of three enclosures, the outer two of crossbank type. Described as a cross bank enclosure. (5)This is an Iron Age hill-slope enclosure with two widely spaced outer ramparts on the uphill side. Except for the western and the southern rampart, which ends near the head of a small combe, the outer ramparts terminate on open ground and not against any natural obstacle. The small bank that Bothamley shows linking the main enclosure with the inner of the southern ramparts is part of a post medeval enclosure bank. (This shows clearly on APs) Re-surveyed at 1:2500. (6-7)A small Iron Age Hill-slope fort on a promontory with associated cross-dykes previously unrecorded (Evidently the two outer banks – See5; but these are recorded by VCH). ‘Threatened’ (by unspecified danger). (8)
Staddon Hill Camp visited by Burrow 30 3 73. The main enclosure and first bank are under bracken, but the surrounding area is under commercial forestry and the outer bank could not be located. (Burrow mis-interprets the OS card, to which he refers, and confuses the description by Authy 6 of the bank running SW – NE linking the main enclosure and inner cross bank (shown on VCH plan), with the outer cross bank. In fact he states that the bank running SW – NE between the main enclosure and the inner cross bank seems to pre-date the latter as it continues SW beyond the cross bank for about 30m). The main enclosure has an entrance on the SW with a slight inturn on the NW side and a low bank connecting the angle of the inturn with the rear of the inner bank. (9)
Whybrow (9) mentions a ‘simple cousewayed entrance’ apparently original, towards the eastern end of each cross bank, that in the outer crossbank being more doubtful. He also notes that in 1965 the area around the outer crossbank had been afforested, some of the trees actually on the bank itself. (10-11)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

Three bowl barrows:-
Winsford 1, SS 87563431. 33 paces diameter and 3.5 ft high.
Winsford 2, SS 87613430. 21 paces diameter and 4 ft high with large hollow in centre.
Winsford 3, SS 87683428. 25 paces diameter and 5 ft high with hollow in centre. (4)
The most western (Grinsell’s Winsford 1) has been truncated and is 1.3m high.
The central barrow (Winsford 2) has had an irregular pit dug into the top and has a maximum height of 1.7m.
The eastern barrow, 1.7m high, has had a pit 1.1m deep dug into the top.
Wambarrows listed, details as Authy 4. Visited by Grinsell 6th April 1958. The Wambarrows were mentioned in a boundary perambulation of 1219. (6)

Wambarrows, mentioned in Exmoor Forest perambulations of 1219 and 1279 as `Wamburg’ and `Wimbureghe’ respectively.
This group of three barrows with an outlier (see SS 83 SE 3) occupy the summit of Winsford Hill and have panoramic views. They lie on heather moorland now owned by the National Trust. The group is close to the modern B3223, and an adjacent lay-by results in considerable visitor access, which has caused some erosion of the barrows themselves and the surrounding ground surface (see individual descriptions below). Winsford Hill is largely covered with a late medieval/post-medieval field system comprising earthen banks and ridge and furrow. This system has encroached on the barrows in several places.

SS 8756 3432 (Grinsell Winsford 1). A heather and grass-covered circular mound measuring 27.7 m N-S by 28.8 m and 1.8 m high. The summit is uneven and slopes noticably to the north, suggesting that the barrow, which is skirted on its southern side by a field bank, has been overploughed by ridge and furrow.
The barrow has been further disturbed by a modern track which passes it on its northern side.

SS 8761 3430 (Grinsell, Winsford 2). This barrow has been fenced around to protect it from erosion. It consists of a circular mound 17.6 m in diameter with a very disturbed summit. The eastern part of the summit survives to its original height (1.8 m), whilst the central and western part has been extensively robbed away, probably for road building, and is now only 0.9 m high. Subsequent to this robbing, a sub rectangular pit, 5.3 m by 3.4 m and 0.6 m deep has been dug into the south-western quadrant.

SS 8768 3429 (Grinsell, Winsford 3). A very well defined barrow, comprising a circular mound 21.7 m in diameter and 1.9 m high. A massive, steep-sided, sub-square pit, 8-9 m across, has been dug into its centre, leaving only an outer rim standing.
The barrow lies in the corner of a former field, and is skirted by a field bank on its eastern and southern sides. Very slight north-south ridge and furrow runs up onto the barrow on its north-eastern quadrant. More recent disturbance has taken place in the form of an OS triangulation pillar mentioned by Grinsell as being on the barrow, but which is now close by on its south-eastern side. Visitor erosion has caused extensive erosion, but this is now being managed through the use of nylon meshing to consolidate and preserve the ground surface. (8)

SS 876343. Wambarrows on Winsford Hill, forming part of a barrow cemetery. Scheduled. (9)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

[ST 1473 3836 and ST 1475 3836] TUMULI [G.T.] Two (Grinsells’ Holford No. 8 and No. 10) bowl barrows; the western is 0.9 m high and the other 1.6 m high.
Between them, at ST 1473 3836, is a small mound 0.6 m high, which may be a very small barrow. Listed as a bowl barrow (Holford No. 9) by Grinsell.
See G.Ps AO/65/118/4 & 5. Published 1/2500 survey revised. (2-3)
Two Bronze Age bowl barrows and a possible third on Black Hill. The dimentions are 13 metres, 5 metres and 12 metres in daiameter and 1.5 metres, 0.5 metres and 1.3 metres in height. Scheduled. (4) One of the possible Bronze Age barrows described above is visible on aerial photographs. It is centred at ST 1473 3836 and can be seen as a mound with a diameter of 14m. Thick gorse and heather obscure the other barrows. A triple barrow forms part of the Black Hill linear barrow cemetery. The site lies on the northern side of Stert Combe, overlooking Higher Hare Knap, at ST 1473 3836. The site comprises the earthwork remains of three barrows: two large barrows with a small barrow in between. The east mound is 14m in diameter and 1.5m high. The west mound is slightly smaller, being 11m in diameter and 1.5m high. The southwest side of this mound has been cut by the packhorse way which runs E/W just to the south of the site. The central mound is 6m in diameter and 1m high. Although no encircling ditch can be seen, the close proximity of these three mounds suggests that they may be classified as a triple barrow: the only such site on the Quantock Hills. The site was recorded at a scale of 1:200 as part of the EH survey of the Quantock Hills AONB using differential GPS (6).

Details of Cairn on Pastscape

[ST 1336 3963:] Cairn, 13 paces x 4 ft. (1,2) This feature, at ST 1336 3963, is a disturbed bowl barrow 0.7 m high (See GPs AO/65/123/3 & 4). Surveyed at 1/2500. (3) The possible Bronze Age round barrow, described above, is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. It is visible as a mound with a diameter of 18m. It is situated on a north east facing slope of Black Ball Hill at 315m above OD.(4-5)
A large Bronze Age burial cairn lies to the northeast of the summit of Black Ball Hill, on a small spur between Ladys Edge and Slaughterhouse Combe, at ST 13366 39632. The cairn comprises a stony, circular mound, 15m in diameter and 1.2m high. There is some disturbance on the top of the mound. It was recorded using differential GPS as part of the EH survey of the Quantock Hills AONB (6).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SS 87342859) ANSTEY BARROW (NR) A round barrow 12.0m in diameter and 1.5m high, with no visible ditch. Mutilated in the centre and on the north side. Situated in moorland. (2)
SS 87357 28585. This barrow is situated at about 332m above OD on the eastern summit of East Anstey Common. The rather flattish ridge top is mainly covered by rough grass with a scattering of heather and bracken. The barrow does not appear to be scheduled (3a).
The barrow is evident as a turf, bracken and gorse-covered, flat-topped, earth and stone mound 9.5m in diameter and 1m in height. There is a central hollow, about 2m diameter and 0.7m deep accessed by the remains of an open `excavation’ trench, from the ESE. The spoil has been dumped around the hollow and along both sides of the trench, raising the barrow height by some 0.4m. There are remains of a surrounding ditch and bank, about 1.5m wide and 0.7m high now in a very poor condition and best seen around the NW and NE. Elsewhere it has either gone, eroded or is hidden under the gorse around the southern arc.
Published survey accepted. (3-5)
A round barrow is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs, centred on circa SS 87352858. The mound is roughly circular in shape, although appears slightly irregular in plan, measuring up to circa 11 metres in diameter. The central hollow is visible, but vegetation obscures any trace of surviving surrounding ditch or outer bank. (6-7)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 00553486] Wiveliscombe Barrow (NR) Brompton Regis 2. Bowl barrow 23 paces diameter, 8’ 6” high. (2)
A large well preserved bowl barrow 2.0m high. An excavation trench has recently been cut by an unknown person. See GP AO/65/182/5. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
ST 005348 Wiveliscombe Barrow, round barrow. Scheduled (4)ST 00563486. Brompton Regis 2. Wiveliscombe barrow listed, details as Auth 2. Visited by Grinsell 11th May 1952. He suspects that the name Wiveliscombe Barrow may possibly have been originated by the Ordnance Survey during the original survey of 1790-1810 for convenience of reference. It is named Eastern Barrow on the 1833 tithe map.
The Bronze Age bowl barrow described by the previous authorities was seen as an earthwork and mapped from aerial photographs. The excavation trench described by authority 3 was also visible. (6-7)
Wiveliscombe Barrow survives as a circular turf-covered mound 20.5 m in diameter and 2.3 m high. The barrow is well defined, and stands in the corner of an improved pasture field. Previous ploughing operations have cut into the base of the mound giving an abrupt end to the base of the scarp. Damage caused by ?sheep or animal burrowing has recently been repaired with patches of fresh soil. The excavation refered to by previous authorities is visible in the south-west quadrant of the barrow. It comprises a trench 7.8 m long by 2 m wide and 0.4 m deep. It runs south-west to north-east. Field visit as part of RCHME’s Exmoor Project, 12 March 1999. (8)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

SS 94844423. Minehead 1.
SS 94874422. Minehead 2.

Two bowl barrows on Periton Hill listed, both 11 paces diameter and 2ft high. Minehead 2 has had the south side impinged upon and destroyed by a trackway. Visited by Grinsell in May 1967 when under heath. “These two barrows seem to be shown on OS 2in MS Map c 1809” (What Grinsell refers to is the 2” drawing of 1802-3, where an ambiguous feature is shown at this location but appears to be on the south side of a trackway. Nothing is shown here on OS 1” first edition 1809. (1) Grinsell’s Minehead 1 is clearly visible at SS 9484 4423, 15 m north of the OS triangulation pillar. It comprises a turf-covered mound 0.5 m high and 12 m in diameter. A modern path runs over its south side, and here beside the path a bench has been placed on the barrow. The northern part is currently in dense scrub, comprising silver birch, brambles, gorse and heather. Grinsell’s Minehead 2 could not be located. Minehead 1 surveyed at 1:2500 scale, July 1997. (2)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

[A] SS 88383718. A round barrow 18 paces diameter and 3ft high.[B] SS 88403716. Round barrow 11 paces diameter, 1.5ft high. (1)
Two barrows first reported by Leslie Grinsell in 1967 (see source 1 above). The sites do not appear to have been published in his `Somerset Barrows’ of 1969. (2)The two barrows are centred at SS 8840 3715 on the saddle of Staddon Hill. They lie in improved pasture fields and are no more than 20 m apart (centre to centre).SS 88392 37160 (`A’ on OS 1:10,000 record map). A prominent, dome-like, circular, earthen mound 16.5 m in diameter and 0.7 m high. SS 88407 37146 (`B’ on OS 1:10,000 record map). A circular earthen mound 10.8 m in diameter and 0.4 m high. Surveyed at 1:2500 scale, 16th September 1997. (3)
Two Bronze Age round barrows can be seen on aerial photographs as low earthworks on Staddon Hill. The larger, westernmost of the two, is clearly visible on aerial photographs as a mound circa 16 metres in diameter centred on circa SS 88383716. The second, smaller earthwork, discernible only as a very subtle feature circa 10 metres in diameter, at circa SS 88403714. The earthworks have probably been significantly denuded by post-medieval agricultural improvements, visible immediately to the east as narrow ridge and furrow. (4)

Details of Stone on Pastscape

SS 73843870. An isolated single stone on Ricksy Ball. It is of slate or shale, now leaning and is 0.32m wide and 0.17m high. Found 31-4-90
(Ground photograph supplied) (1).
Not investigated: although isolated, other similar stones occur on Ricksy Ball, all of which appear to be natural surface stones or `outcrop’ (2).

Details of barrows on Pastscape

Four bowl barrows not published by OS:- Exmoor No.20, SS 79193550, is 19 paces diameter and 2 ft high, and has a hollow in the centre. Exmoor Nos. 21a and b, adjoining mounds at SS 79243549. 21a, the NE mound, is 7 paces diameter by 1.5ft. high and is ditched. 21b, the SW mound, is 7 paces diameter by 2.5 ft.high and is also ditched. Exmoor No 22, SS 79413548, is mutilated and was first discovered from A.Ps. It is 11 paces in diameter and 2ft high. (1)
Grinsell’s No. 20, at SS 79213554 is a truncated bowl barrow 0.6m high. 22, at SS 79433548, has been almost completely destroyed. A small oval mound 0.6 m high is all that remains though the original extent of the barrow can be traced as a crop mark. Surveyed at 1/2500.
21a and b, at SS 79253552 are both small square mounds enclosed by a slight ditch. They do not seem to be of any great age and may be drying platforms associated with peat digging (2)
Exmoor 20 and 22. Bowl barrows listed, details as Authy 1. Visited by Grinsell 27th Sept 1961 and 23rd April 1962. Known as Sherdon Barrows(together with SS 73 NE 4), and so called in Chase records of 1794 and1819(a).Exmoor 21a and 21b. Listed as ‘doubtful or rejected’. (3)
(SS 79213554) Tumulus (NR)(SS 79433548) Tumulus (NR) (4)
Grinsell No 20, centred at SS 7921 3554 on open moorland, consists of a truncated, turf & reed-covered stony mound 16.5m in diameter (summit diameter of 13m) and 0.4m high.A narrow slot has been driven through the south edge and opens out into a rectangular pit, measuring 3.5m by 6.5m and 0.4m deep, to the south of the centre of the mound. This, and the truncated form of the mound are the result of stone robbing activity.
Grinsell No 22, centred at SS 7943 3548 in improved pasture, consists of a turf-covered oval mound measuring 7.3m north-south by 9.5m and 0.3m high. Around the mound is a swathe of disturbed ground which probably corresponds with the “cropmark” mentioned by source 2. This presumably represents the former extent of the barrow, and would have given a diameter of 13.2m.
The possible peat drying platforms, mentioned by source 2, are centred at SS 7925 3552. They consist of a pair of adjacent turf covered mounds enclosed within a shallow ditch. The eastern, flat-topped mound is rectangular, measuring 6.2m by 7.3m and 0.4m high. The western mound is sub-circular and measured 6.3m in diameter and is 0.5m high. The two mounds are separated by a shallow ditch. Both lie within a rectangular area measuring 15.5m by 8.5m and defined by a sharp-sided ditch 1m wide and 0.3m deep. The purpose of the mounds is unclear. The sharpness of the enclosing ditch suggests a Post-Medieval date.
Source 2’s classification as peat drying mounds is unfounded. Local information (source 7) states that peat was never dried on mounds or platforms within memory. Source 8 suggests that on Bodmin Moor where similar features have been identified and so classified, the mounds represent peat charcoal production sites. However, there is no known documentary evidence for peat charcoal production on Exmoor. (6-8)
The mounds described above are clearly visible on aerial photographs, although only one small sub-rectangular square (identified as a peat stand) can be seen. It is clearly very different in size and form to the larger barrows at SS 7921 3554 and SS 7943 3548. The mounds lie in an area of extensive peat cutting, and it is possible that the sub-rectangular mound is related to this activity (9).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

SS 804433 (approx) Exmoor 27, Longcombe Burrow shown on map of 1819 (in Authy 2). If correctly marked it is on the Exmoor/Oare boundary, but Exmoor 11 (SS 84 SW 19) is not far away. (1)
In the perambulation of September 1815 the boundary is described as proceeding in “an easterly direction along several Boundary Stones through a place called Lannicombe Burrows (SS 84 SW 46) to a Boundary Stone in the centre of a Burrow called Long Comb Burrow” (2). The barrow is shown on a map of 1816 (in Authy 3) on the Oare Common boundary about half-way between Badgworthy Water and Toms Hill Corner but MacDermot (2) states that it has “entirely vanished”. The material was probably used during construction of the forest wall (a wall around the boundary of the former Exmoor Forest was constructed in 1820-4). (2-3)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

A group of three barrows, only two of which survive as visible earthworks. The third was destroyed in 1913 to provide stone for road building. The easternmost barrow survives as an earth and stone rim about 0.5 metres high with an average width of 6 metres. An irregularly shaped mound lies within the rim. This mound has a maximum diameter of 12.5 metres and stands 1.4 metres high. It is topped by an OS triangulation pillar. The rim is surrounded by an outer ditch which is visible on the south eastern side as a shallow depression. The second barrow lies to the west and is visible as a slight ring bank 4.2 metres wide, up to 0.75 metres high and with a maximum overall diameter of 19 metres. This encloses an uneven, slightly raised area of ground which represents the remains of the bowl barrow mound.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A bowl barrow visible as a turf-covered earth and stone mound of 2.8m maximum height. The diameter varies between 31.4m and 17m. Untypically for Exmoor it has a retaining kerb which has been robbed on the eastern side. The barrow has been robbed or “excavated” from the SE, the spoil form which has been dumped on the summit creating a false top. Surrounding the barrow there are traces of a ditch about 2.5m to 3m wide and 0.1m in depth. The barrow is crossed by an enclosure wall which marks the county boundary between Devon and Somerset. The barrow was alleged to have a trig point inserted but there is no immediate evidence for this.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[SS 84153241] Old Barrow (NR) Withypoole No 7, a bowl barrow 13 paces diameter and 2.5 ft. high with a hollow in the centre. It is enclosed by a bank with outer ditch which is not concentric with the barrow and is clearly a tree-clump enclosure, probably 18th century. (2)Scheduled. (3)
Old Barrow is at SS 84083244, the feature has been omitted from the OS6 inch and the name erroneously applied to a pit. It appears to be a very robbed bowl barrow, 0.9m high the bank mentioned by Grinsell is not well defined and has only slight traces of an outer ditch. Although clearly later than the barrow it is not certainly a tree-ring, and it may have been formed when the barrow was robbed. (See GPs AO/65/192/5 & 6).Published 1:2500 survey revised. (4)SS 84093244. Withypoole 7. Old Barrow listed, details as Authy 2.Visited by Grinsell 25th May 1958. (5)
[SS 84083244] Old Barrow (NR) (6)
Old Barrow, a prehistoric barrow, is centred at SS 84083244 at the eastern end of the ridge forming Old Barrow Down. It is a circular earth and stone mound, 20.9m in diameter and 1.2m high and has been heavily disturbed by robbing or excavation trenches. These appear as two, sharp-sided, concentric circular cuttings 1.5m wide and 0.3m deep. Their shallowness suggests that they are less likely to be stone robbing trenches and more likely to be the result of an antiquarian attempt to define a kerb within the monument. Such an event does not appear to be documented but has been noted elsewhere on Exmoor (see SS 83 SW 2 and SS 73 NW 10 (D)).
Aspect: Old Barrow has extensive views in all directions.Vegetation: Grass with some reeds. (7)
The probable Bronze Age round barrow known as Old Barrow is clearly visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards.On the aerial photographs available to the survey the monument can be seen as a mound circa 10 metres in diameter with evidence of disturbance visible as an off-centre pit about 4.5 metres in diameter. The mound appears to be enclosed by a narrow bank which in turn is surrounded by a ditch less than 1.5 metres wide, and finally an outer bank. It is possible these are also evidence of antiquarian disturbance as suggested by authority 7 above. (8-11)

Details of Cairn on Pastscape

[ST 1572 3970] TUMULUS [GT] Descending Dowsborough in its direction of Holford, is a large cairn lying on the slope to the right of the green path. It is surrounded by a shallow trench. (2)
(13) A ruined cairn with two recent stone heaps in middle. Low mound enclosed by ditch and outer bank. Query whether saucer barrow or steading of an outpost to the hillfort. Overall 19 paces x 3/4 ft. (3)
This is a robbed cairn. The unsurveyable traces of a ditch and outer bank seem to have resulted from robbing stone from just within the rim and thereby producing a shallow trench. The cairn is 0.4m high excluding the modern stone heaps.Surveyed at 1/2500. (4)
The possible Bronze Age round barrow or cairn, described by the previous authorities, survives as earthworks on a slope overlooking Knacker’s Hole. It is visible on aerial photographs as an amorphous mound, with a diameter of 14.5m, surrounded by a ring ditch with a diameter of 19m. The cairn appears to have been dug into, possibly for stone, and some of the material from the mound appears to have been dumped over the ditch. It is situated amid a Medieval and/or Post Medieval field system (ST 13 NE 98)but it is unclear if it has ploughed around or over.
(5-7)An embanked platform cairn lies at the head of an un-named combe, above Knackers Hole, at ST 1572 3970. The cairn comprises a circular, flat-topped mound, 19m in diameter and 0.8m high, with an incomplete bank around its periphery. The interior of the site is rather disturbed, but the mound, 4m in diameter and 0.8m high in the south of the interior is most likely to an original feature.
The site was recorded at a scale of 1:200 using graphic methods as part of the EH survey of the Quantock Hills AONB (8).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[SS 96493571) Cutcombe Barrow (NR). Brompton Regis No.1, a bowl barrow 23 paces diameter and 3.5 ft.high. (2)
This is a bowl barrow 1.3 m. high. Surveyed at 1/2500. (3)
SS 96503571. Brompton Regis 1. Cutcombe Barrow listed, details as Authy 2. Visited by Grinsell 10th May 1952. He suspects that the name Cutcombe Barrow may possibly have been originated by the OrdnanceSurvey during the original survey of 1790-1810 for convenience of referece. It is named Western Barrow on the 1838 tithe map (but the present name appears on OS 1” first edition 1809). (4)
The barrow known as Cutcombe Barrow lies at the edge of a pasture field, and measures 22 m in diameter and 1.7 m high. It comprises a smoothed grass covered mound. On its eastern side the hedgebank clips the edge of the barrow and several large quartz blocks are visible on the ground. (5)
The remains of the Bronze Age bowl barrow described by the previous authorities was seen as an earthwork and mapped from aerial photographs. (6)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

Bowl barrow, known as Leather Barrow, on Withiel Hill. The earth and stone barrow mound measures 23 metres in diameter and 3.3 metres high. It stands at the junction of three boundary banks which form the remains of a field system (NMR 1128212) of possible post medieval date and may have been used as a point of alignment during the construction of the banks. The boundary which runs south from the junction forms part of the Luxborough and Treborough parish boundary.

Details of cairn on Pastscape

[SS 9082 4278] Joaney How [NR]
[SS 9082 4278] Joaney How (Beacon) [NR]. (1-2)
Cairn or beacon known as “Joaney How” or (a) “Yonney How” on Luccombe Hill. A structure of piled stones much mutilated and having several depressions with ridges between. The surface stones are very loose as if moved in recent times. On the top is a roughly conical pile of stones, wide at the bottom, and about 3ft. in height, again, possibly rebuilt after destruction. Diameter of exposed stones – about 62ft. Scheduled under Burial Mounds.
This is a disturbed cairn 1.7 metres high. (See G.P.s AO/65/126/1 and 2.) Grinsell lists it as Luccombe No. 4; and although he records a “partly visible” ditch no certain traces can be identified. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (5)
[SS 9082 4279] Luccombe 4. Joaney How, a mutilated cairn 27 paces diameter and 5ft. high, surmounted by a modern stone-heap. Ditch partly visible. Visited by Grinsell Whitsun 1958. Joaney How and Robin How (SS 94 SE 2) were shown as Luckham Barrows on O.S. 1” first edition 1809, and as Luccombe Barrows on the map by
W. C. Cox 1829 and in Savage (c). The earliest appearance of Robin and Joaney How on the maps appears to be on the O.S. 6” 1889. (6)
Joaney How, Robin How (SS 94 SW 2) and adjacent mount (SS 94 SW 4).
Scheduled. (7)
A large cairn, known as Joaney How, lies on the edge of a natural terrace in a false crest position on the N slope of Dunkery Hill at SS 90813 42789. It comprises a circular stony mound, enclosed by a heather covered ring, 22m in diameter and 1.8m high. The stony mound is flat topped. The evidence for this being the site of a beacon comes from the OS 25” first edition map (Somerset 34.14), there is no other evidence that this was the case. The cairn was surveyed using differential GPS as part of the RCHME Exmoor Project (8).
Round cairn known as Joaney How. Part of a round cairn cemetery on Dunkery Hill. Traditionally thought to be named after Little John. Scheduled. (9)
The cairn known as Joaney How has been transcribed as earthworks from aerial photographs as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. The cairn appears to be circa 24 metres in diameter and centred on circa SS 90814279. It is one of eight cairns recorded as part of the survey in this area, although more are present but not visible on the aerial photographs available. (10-11)

Details of cairn on Pastscape

[SS 9077 4272] Robin How [NR] [SS 9077 4272] Robin How (Beacon) [NR]
Cairn of beacon known as “Robin How” on the Luccombe-Wootton Courtney parish boundary. On it there are two conical erections one to N., one to S., each about 3ft. high. Between them the mound has a flat top composed of smaller stones than elsewhere. Diameter of exposed stones about 62ft., height above the moor excluding the surmounting stone heaps – 6ft. (3) Scheduled under Burial Mounds (4). (3)(4)
This is a disturbed cairn 1.6 metres high and listed by Grinsell as Luccombe No. 3. As Grinsell suggests, a quarry pit 0.7 metres deep against the east side of the cairn probably provided its material.
(See G.P.s AO/65/126/3 and 4.)Resurveyed at 1:2500. (5)
[SS 9076 4272] Luccombe 3. Robin How, cairn 24 paces diameter, 10ft. high. The material may have come from quarry pits to the east, north-east and south-east. Visited by Grinsell Whitsun 1958. Robin How and Joaney How (SS 94 SW 3) were shown as Luckham Barrows on O.S. 1” first edition, 1809, and as Luccombe Barrows on the map by W. C. Cox 1829 and in Savage (b). The earliest appearance of Robin and Joaney How on the maps appears to be on the O.S. 6” 1889. (6) Joaney How (SS 94 SW 3), Robin How and adjacent mound (SS 94 SW 4).Scheduled. (7)
The large cairn known as Robin How lies on Dunkery Hill at SS 90761 42724. It comprises a large, circular mound of stone, enclosed by a heather and turf covered bank. The cairn measures 21.5m in diameter and stands 2m high. The eastern side is flanked by a large pit, 19m N-S, 8m E-W and 0.8m deep, probably the source of material for the cairn. The stone mound is flat topped, and has probably been re-worked recently, as there is no sign of the two conical erections mentioned by authy 3. The evidence for this being the site of a beacon comes from the OS 25” first edition map (Somerset 34.14), there is no other evidence that this was the case. The cairn was surveyed using differential GPS as part of the RCHME East Exmoor Project (8).
Surveyed at 1:500 scale with EDM, 24 February 2000 (9).
Round cairn known as Robin How. Part of round cairn cemetery on Dunkery Hill. Traditionally thought to be named after Robin Hood. Scheduled. (10)
The cairn known as Robin How has been transcribed as earthworks from aerial photographs as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. The cairn appears to be circa 25 metres in diameter and centred on circa SS 90764272. It is one of eight cairns recorded as part of the survey in this area, although more are present but not visible on the aerial photographs available. (11-12)

Details of cairns on Pastscape

Five cairns of probable Bronze Age date are visible on the summit of Dunkery Beacon. The cairns were surveyed by English Heritage in August 2004 in response to a request by The National Trust and have been transcribed as closely as possible during the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. The group was previously recorded as both UID 35995 and 35990, but have now been combined into 35990 utilizing Grinsell’s numbering scheme and with a concordance with the Scheduled Monument numbers.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

SS 90874277. Prehistoric round cairn cemetery on Dunkery Hill. The cemetery comprises at least five round cairns, including three distinctive examples each surrounded by a low bank. These cairns, which include Robin How (SE 94 SW 2) and Joaney How (SE 94 SW 3) appear to have formed the focus of the cemetery. The third, unnamed, cairn (SE 94 SW 4) lies further to the south. Two further cairns lie to the east and north east. Three small mounds, east of Joaney How, have been interpreted as cairns but may be later in date than the others. Scheduled. (1)

Details of burial cairns on Pastscape

A group of 11 well preserved Bronze Age burial cairns on Selworthy Beacon.

Minehead Without 1. At SS 91884799 a mound 20 paces across by 3 feet
high, probably a barrow.
Minehead Without 2. At SS 92184803 is a bowl barrow 13 paces across
by 3.5 ft high with a hollow centre.
Minehead Without 3. At SS 92304804 is a bowl barrow 13 paces across
by 2.5 ft high with a hollow centre.
Minehead Without 4. At SS 92334801 is a truncated bowl barrow 15
paces x 2 ft.
Minehead Without 4a. At SS 92484798 is a hollow centred barrow 10
paces x 3 ft.
Minehead Without 4b. At SS 92544796 is a hollow centred barrow 16
paces by 3 ft.
Minehead Without 5. At SS 92494791 is a barrow 13 paces across by 4
ft high with a hollow centre (the heap to the west may be a robbers‘
spoil heap).
Minehead Without 6. At SS 92504792 is a mound but it is uncertain
whether it is a robbers’ spoil heap or a round barrow.
Minehead Without 7. At SS 92554790 is a barrow 16 pace x 1 ft high.
Minehead Without 8. At SS 92604785 [No other information].
Minehead Without 9. At SS 92604783 [No other information]. (1)

Grinsell’s Nos 2,3,4,5,7, and 8 are published on OS 25”.
1 at ‘A’ SS 91884798 is Selworthy Beacon. A modern cairn stands on
what may be the remains of a truncated cairn though it may only be a
beacon platform.
2 at ‘B’ SS 92174804 and 3 at ‘C’ SS 92294803 are undisturbed bowl
barrows.
4a at ‘D’ SS 92404803 is a bowl barrow with a hollow centre.
4b at ‘E’ SS 92414802 and 8 at ‘L’ SS 92604783 are truncated bowl
barrows.
5 at ‘F’ SS 92504790 is probably a pair of confulent bowl barrows. Theeastern one has a large hole in the centre and overlies a smaller bowlto the west at SS 92494790 (considered by Grinsell to be a spoil
heap).
4 at ‘G’ SS 92314801 and 7 at ‘H’ SS 92544789 are both truncated
cairns.
A small low heather covered mound at ‘K’ SS 92414797 is rather
doubtful bowl barrow.
6 at ‘J’ SS 92514790 is a rectangular mound and is almost centainly
material taken from the centre of 5.
‘M’ a further barrow published to the south west of 8 has been
completely destroyed.
See GPs AO/65/177/3-8 and AO/65/180 3-8
Surveyed at 1:2500. (2)

(’B’ SS 921174804; ‘C’ SS 92294803; ‘D’ SS 92414803) Tumuli (NR)
(’F’ SS 92504790) Tumuli (NR)
(’G’ SS 92314801) Cairn (NR)
(’H’ SS 92544789) Cairn (NR)
(’L’ SS 92604783) Tumulus (NR) (3)

‘A’ SS 91884799. Minehead Without 1. Selworthy Beacon listed as
Authy. 1. Probably used as a beacon.
‘B’ SS 92174804. Minehead Without 2. As Authy 1.
‘C’ SS 92294804. Minehead Without 3. As Authy 1.
‘G’ SS 92324801. Minehead Without 4. As Authy 1.
‘D’ SS 92404803. Minehead Without 5. Bowl barrow 10 pace diameter 2
ft high with hollow in centre.
‘E’ SS 92424803. Minehead Without 6. Bowl barrow 16 paces diameter, 3ft high with large hollow in centre.
‘K’ SS 92414797. Minehead Without 7. Bowl barrow.
‘F’ SS 92514791. Minehead Without 8. Bowl barrow 13 paces diameter
and 3 ft high.
‘F’ SS 92504791. Minehead Without 8a. Mound ?10 paces diameter, 2 ft
high, with very large hollow in centre. Uncertain whether a barrow ora spoil heap from No 8.
‘J’ SS 92524791. Minehead Without 8b. Mound 2 ft high. Uncertain
whether a barrow or spoil heap from No 8.
‘H’ SS 92554790. Minehead Without 9. Bowl barrow 16 paces diameter
and 2 ft high.
‘L’ SS 92604783. Minehead Without 10. Bowl barrow 17 paces diameter
and 1 ft high with slight hollow in centre.
‘M’ SS 92604784. Minehead Without 10a. Mound marked on OS 6”, not
now visible.
Nos 1-6 and 8-10 visited by Grinsell 11th September 1959.
Two or three barrows of this group were opened in 1807 by Richard
Fenton (b) with no result excepting charcoal only. (4)

SS 925479. Group of cairns east of Selworthy Beacon. Scheduled. (5)
A mound, possibly a barrow has been located at SS 9261 4787 and is 13 paces in diameter. (6)

This group of Bronze Age burial cairns were recorded as part of the RCHME Exmoor project. The cairns were located using differential GPS and are described under the following records: SS 94 NW 102-112 inclusive. Apart from SS 94 NW 112, which has been destroyed and is now only recorded from documentary sources, the monuments are well preserved, and form an impressive linear group of cairns on the ridge leading up to the summit at Selworthy Beacon. The ridge looks out over the Bristol Channel to S Wales on the north, and over to Dunkery Beacon to the south (7).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A heavily mutilated Bronze Age cairn can be seen as an earthwork on aerial photographs, to the west of Dunkery Beacon. The earthwork measures up to 25 metres in diameter and field investigation reveal it stands up to 1.6 metres high. Numerous small and shallow quarry pits, probably the source of the cairn material, lie to the south and west of the monument.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 10004210] Tumulus [NR] Bleary Pate [NAT] A large circular tumulus called ‘Bloody Pate’ situated in a field on the left, between the lane and the highroad coming up from Williton, and on a farm known as Rydon. It has never been opened. This is a ditchless bowl barrow (Grinsell’s Williton No. 4).
Surveyed at 1/2500. A bowl barrow 13.0 metres in diameter and up to 1.7 metres high. Covered in thick vegetation. The name “Bleary Pate” is in local use. (4)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

‘’Herne’s Barrow’, a mile S.S.W. of Exford Church and immediately S. of the trig. point on Court Hill. The remains consist of an enclosure bank (internal diameter 38ft) from which five stones protrude possiblyrepresenting the retaining wall of a round barrow which has been dug over – but not recently. Visited – 1931 and 1938. This feature at SS 85223697, is a truncated bowl barrow 0.4m high (Exford No. 2). There are four retaining stones just inside the western perimeter of the mound, and their average dimensions are 0.6m by 0.2m by 0.5m high. ( See GPs. AO/65/187/7 & 8).Surveyed at 1:2500. (2-3)
SS 85233700. Exford 2. Bowl barrow 19 paces in diameter 1ft high found by R Rainbird Clarke in 1938. Within the margin of the mound is a retaining circle 35ft diameter of which four stones all forced outwards remain in situ, and one is recumbent. Visited April 1958. Herne’s Barrow, mentioned as Ernesburg in 1219 and Hernesbureghe in 1279 boundary perambulations. Centred at SS 85224 36977 are the mutilated remains of a round barrow. It is situated at 391 m above OD on the summit of Court Hill. It lies some 48 m south of an OS triangulation pillar in an enclosed pasture field.
The barrow is visible as a turf-covered earth and stone mound about 17 m in diameter and 0.5 m high. It has been robbed leaving an amorphous and uneven interior and a ragged edge eroded by ploughing, especially in the south-east. Four earthfast stones, each about 0.7 m high, 0.4 m long and 0.2 m thick, are set about 4 m in from the perimeter in the NNe, NW, W and SW. They all lean outwards and are probably the remains of an internal kerb. Tops of other stones, one of them possibly being the fifth stone as noted by Gray (1), can be seen protruding through the turf, especially on the south-east. From the irregular spread of the internal material it would appear to have been a true barrow and not a ring or enclosure bank as suggested by Gray.
The barrow was not shown on the 1888 Ordnance Survey 1st edition mapping (sheet Somerset 45.16), in what was then enclosed rough grassland, and the name `Court Hill’ does not appear on this or later OS maps. The barrow was surveyed by the OS Archaeology Division in 1965, and first appears on the 1976 map (OS 1:2500 revision, sheet SS 8569). (6)
The barrow earthwork does not show well on many aerial photographs. Nonetheless, the earthwork is visible on aerial photographs of 1952 and has been transcribed during the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. In addition on these images an indication of the disturbance described by the above authorities can be seen. A possible second larger mound is also visible approximately 145 metres to the east. Cropmarks immediately to the south of the mound, visible on aerial photographs of 1985, may also indicate the presence of a circular enclosure of later prehistoric in this area. (7-8)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[SS 81793456] Green Barrow (NR) A tumulus of the simple bowl type some 3-4 ft high and 50-60 ft diameter. A trench has been dug into it from the edge to the centre. No signs of a ditch. Visited 13 9 50. Withypoole 4, a bowl barrow 15 paces diameter and 4 ft high. Formerlyon Hawkridge boundary. (3)
This is a bowl barrow 1.6m high. There is a hollow in its top. (See GP AO/65/192/1 & 2). Resurveyed at 1:2500. (4) Withypool 4. Green Barrow, bowl barrow listed details as Authy 3. Visited by Grinsell 30th Sept 1961. (5) Green Barrow, a prehistoric round barrow, is centred at SS 81793456. It is 13.3m in diameter (summit diameter 6.6m) and 1.4m high. It is compact and well-defined, but has been disturbed by a sub-rectangular pit, measuring 2.2m by 2.7m and 0.5m deep, aligned north-west to south-east dug into the centre of the summit. A hollowing leads into the pit from the south-east and has been exploited by a modern path. The barrow is heather and grass covered but is surrounded by long moor grass which may conceal an encircling ditch. It has good visibility in all directions except to the north, this because it is off the crest of the hill. (6) SS 81793456. Scheduled. (7)The Bronze Age bowl barrow known as Green Barrow is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs from the 1940s onwards. The barrow is centred on circa SS 81793456, on the upper slopes of a south-east facing ridge on Hawkridge Common. It may also be located on a false crest if approached from the south-east. (8-9)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 02863417] HUISH CHAMPFLOWER BARROW [GT]. Huish Champflower Barrow, an almost circular mound 68ft. in diameter. Excavated by St. George Gray who drove two trenches across it, at right angles, with inconclusive results:-
An encircling depression was proved not to be a ditch, as was first thought. Outside this there is a bank which appears to have been cut away vertically on its outer slope and faced round the outside by a stone wall surmounted by a bank of earth. The ‘wall’ appeared to take an oval form though excavation was abandoned before establishing definitely that the ‘wall’ was continuous. No relics were found, but in parts, piles of loose stones, some 2’ in height, were laid bare. Black masses, chiefly near surface of the summit afforded proof of the presence of charcoal and would appear to indicate beacon fires. (2)
Huish Champflower No 1, a bowl barrow 22 paces diameter and 6 ft high, with a hollow in centre. Traces of ditch noted by St. G. Gray may be of ditch dug when mound was planted with larches and enclosed by stone wall in 1830. This is a very disturbed bowl barrow 1.6 m high. The slight encircling ditch probably resulted from the construction of the tree ring.