Reasons for Designation
Dartmoor is the largest expanse of open moorland in southern Britain and,
because of exceptional conditions of preservation, it is also one of the most
complete examples of an upland relict landscape in the whole country. The
great wealth and diversity of archaeological remains provide direct evidence
for human exploitation of the Moor from the early prehistoric period onwards.
The well-preserved and often visible relationship between settlement sites,
major land boundaries, trackways, ceremonial and funerary monuments as well as
later industrial remains, gives significant insights into successive changes
in the pattern of land use through time. Stone hut circles and hut settlements
were the dwelling places of prehistoric farmers on Dartmoor. They mostly date
from the Bronze Age, with the earliest examples on the Moor in this building
tradition dating to about 1700 BC. The stone-based round houses consist of low
walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area; remains of the turf or thatch
roof are not preserved. The huts may occur singly or in small or large groups
and may lie in the open or be enclosed by a bank of earth and stone. Although
they are common on the Moor, their longevity and their relationship with other
monument types provide important information on the diversity of social
organisation and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities. They are
particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of
surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.
In addition to the stone hut circle settlement, the monument includes an
irregular aggregate field system. Elaborate complexes of fields and field
boundaries are a major feature of the Dartmoor landscape. Irregular aggregate
field systems are one of several methods of field layout known to have been
employed in south west England from the Bronze Age to the Roman period (about
2000 BC-AD 400). They comprise a collection of field plots, generally lacking
conformity of orientation and arrangement, containing fields with sinuous
outlines and varying shapes and sizes, bounded by stone or rubble walls or
banks, ditches or fences. They are often located around or near ceremonial
and funerary monuments. They are an important element of the existing
landscape and are representative of farming practices over a long period. A
substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.
The northern edge of the monument is denoted by a contour reave which
separates the lower land from the upland prehistoric grazing zones. Reaves are
part of an extensive system of prehistoric land division introduced during the
Bronze Age (about 2000-700 BC). They consist of simple linear stone banks used
to mark out discrete territories, some of which are tens of kilometres in
extent.
The systems are defined by parallel, contour and watershed reaves, dividing
the lower land from the grazing zones of the higher Moor and defining the
watersheds of adjacent river systems. Occupation sites and funerary or
ceremonial monuments are often incorporated in, or associated with, reave
complexes. Their longevity and their relationship with other monument types
provide important information on the diversity of social organisation, land
divisions and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities. They show
considerable longevity as a monument type, sometimes surviving as fossilised
examples in medieval field plans. They are an important element in the
existing landscape and, as such, a substantial proportion of surviving
examples are considered worthy of protection.
Towards the eastern end of the reave lies a round cairn. Round cairns are
prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age (about 2000-700 BC).
They were constructed as earthen or rubble mounds, the latter predominating in
areas of upland Britain where such raw materials were locally available in
abundance. Round cairns may cover single or multiple burials and are sometimes
surrounded by an outer ditch. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a
major visual element in the modern landscape. Their considerable variation in
form and longevity as a monument type provides important information on the
diversity of beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric
communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a
substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection. Dartmoor provides one of the best preserved and most dense
concentrations of round cairns in south western Britain.
The monument was also a focus for occupation in the post-medieval period, when
Roundy Farmstead was occupied.
Of more than 600 post-medieval farmsteads recorded on Dartmoor, around 100 are
now deserted. Although some of these were established as late as the 18th and
19th centuries, many have their origin as medieval settlements, some perhaps
dating back to as early as the 11th century. Those founded in the post-
medieval period represent a time in which arable farming increased in
popularity on the Moor, resulting in a large number of new farms being built
on previously unenclosed moorland. Many of these farms were abandoned after a
relatively short time and provide rare examples of planned single period
farmsteads.
Most deserted post-medieval farmsteads survive as single farmhouses associated
with a variety of outbuildings, including: ash houses, barns, cow houses,
dairies, hulls, stables, linhays, shippons, cartsheds, dog kennels and
lavatories. Other features commonly found with farmsteads include gardens and
a farmyard which acted as a focal point for many farming activities. In most
cases, deserted post-medieval farmsteads are associated with contemporary
field systems, many of which still remain in use for grazing or cultivation.
Deserted post-medieval farmsteads will provide information about the
developing character of agricultural exploitation within an upland landscape
during the historic period, and reflect a response to changing environmental
and economic conditions. Surviving examples are relatively rare away from the
moorland areas in south west England, and consequently those on Dartmoor
provide a major source of evidence for this type of site.
Despite limited damage as a result of post-medieval agriculture and more
recent forestation, the large stone hut circle settlement, irregular aggregate
field system, contour reave and cairn east of Raddick Lane survive well and
together with a large number of nearby broadly contemporary settlements,
provide an important insight into occupation, funerary and farming practices
during the prehistoric period. The cairn lies on the interface between the
lower land and upland grazing zone and may contain information concerning the
different activities carried out within these areas. Information concerning
the post-medieval agriculture and settlement of this area also survives well,
and together with the earlier evidence provides a contrasting picture of
exploitation of the same area in different periods.
Details
This monument includes the majority of a large stone hut circle settlement, an
irregular aggregate field system, a length of contour reave, a round cairn, an
historic farmstead, two associated caches and a field system, all situated on
a south east facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Meavy. An
outlying part of the stone hut circle settlement, and a contemporary round
cairn, are situated a short distance to the west. These are the subject of
separate schedulings. This part of the stone hut circle settlement includes 42
stone hut circles composed of stone and earth banks surrounding circular
internal areas. These huts are dispersed throughout the irregular aggregate
field system. Four of the huts are oval in shape and their interiors vary in
area
from 8 sq m to 18 sq m. The remaining huts are circular in plan and the
internal diameters of these buildings vary from 1.5m to 6.7m, with the average
being 4.44m . The height of all the walls varies between 0.25m and 0.9m, with
the average being 0.63m. The interiors of the circular huts vary in area from
1.77 sq m to 35.23 sq m. Fourteen of the huts have visible doorways, 12 are
conjoined, four have identifiable internal partitions and 27 are attached to
contemporary boundary walls.
The irregular aggregate field system includes at least 13 field plots defined
by rubble walls, many of which are lynchetted. These walls vary considerably
in character, but average 1.5m wide and 0.5m high. A post-medieval field
system overlies the earlier irregular aggregate field system and in may places
fossilises its original character.
The stone hut circle settlement and associated field system are separated
from the higher slopes by a contour reave. A 210m length of this reave
survives and is included within the monument. The western length of the reave
lies below a later post-medieval drystone wall and survives as a spread and
lynchetted
rubble bank measuring 3m wide and 0.4m high. The eastern length lies in open
moorland, survives as a rubble bank with an average width of 3m and stands up
to 0.8m high. This reave appears to be contemporary with the settlement and
was constructed to denote the boundary between the lowland and upland grazing
zones.
The eastern length of the reave terminates near to a round cairn, which
measures 5.5m in diameter and stands up to 0.6m high. A hollow in the centre
of the mound suggests partial early excavation or robbing. The cairn appears
to partly overlie the reave, although this may be the result of slippage over
the years.
Two possible post-medieval caches built into the interiors of earlier stone
hut circles survive within the settlement. The first of these lies at
SX7687033 and survives as a rubble walled rectangular structure with internal
dimensions of 2.5m long by 1.3m wide. The second cache lies at SX57757033
and survives as a small `D'-shaped drystone wall surrounding an area measuring
2m long by 1.5m wide. These structures were probably constructed primarily
for storing tools, although they may have been used occasionally as shelters
against inclement weather.
Roundy farmstead is situated in the eastern part of the monument and lies
within a large sub-circular enclosure. The farmhouse is terraced into the
hillslope and survives as a two roomed rectangular building defined by a 0.7m
wide drystone wall standing up to 2.6m high. The upper room measures 5.1m
long by 3.9m wide and is separated by a rubble partition wall from the lower
room which is 3.9m long and 3.3m wide. Opposed doorways in the long walls of
the building are visible within the lower room, although the east-facing
example is now blocked. This doorway gave access to a small structure which
had been excavated into the hillside and now survives as a 0.7m deep drystone
lined pit with interior dimensions of 2.44m long by 1.37m wide. This structure
has been identified as the base of a stairwell. The west-facing doorway leads
onto a stone revetted passage giving access to the farmyard. This passage
would have provided cover against the prevailing westerly winds. It has been
suggested that this building was originally a medieval long house, and the
surviving evidence including the opposed entrances, shape and orientation of
the building relative to the prevailing slope, would certainly support this
identification. Much of the standing fabric, however, probably dates to the
later part of the 17th century, and evidence to support this assertion is
provided by the door lintel stone which bears the letters RC and the date
1668. This stone can no longer be seen at the farm as it was subsequently
removed to Burrator. It has been suggested also that the initials RC are those
of Richard Crymes, whose family were long seated at Crapstone, in Buckland
Monachorum, and to which the manor was granted at the Dissolution. A barn or
shippon is attached to the lower side of the farmhouse and survives as a
single roomed rectangular building defined by drystone walling, standing
up to 1.3m high. The interior of this structure measures 7.62m long by 3.05m
wide, the doorway faces west and leads directly into the farmyard. A short
distance east of this barn is a rectangular stone lined hollow, which measures
8.8m long by 2.2m wide and up to 1.5m deep at the northern end. This structure
is open at its southern end, where it meets the hollow way leading towards the
farmstead. This feature is probably a root crop storage facility, similar to
the hulls found at most farms in the vicinity, except that this one is only
partially subterranean.
The hollow way leading to the farmstead is 2.6m wide and 1m deep. It is
defined on the northern side by a drystone revetment and on the south by a
1.2m wide and 0.7m high drystone wall. The eastern end of the hollow way is
blocked by a 0.9m wide and 1m high drystone wall. Two garden areas have been
identified within the farmstead. The first lies immediately west of the
farmhouse, is irregular in shape and has maximum dimensions of 11.9m long by
8.54m wide. The second garden lies east of the barn and measures 11.28m long
by 8.54m wide. In recent years small temporary stone shelters have been
constructed within this garden. A third garden belonging to the farm lies 70m
NNW of the farmstead and was constructed within an abandoned stone hut circle,
whose walls were heightened to provide additional protection against the wind.
Immediately west of the farmyard is a small open sided rectangular structure,
with internal dimensions of 2.1m long by 1.37m wide, defined by a drystone
wall standing up to 1m high. This may be an outside lavatory or dog kennel.
A short distance west, lies a rectangular building composed of large granite
boulders. The walls measure 1m wide and up to 1.1m high and clearly denote a
two roomed structure with substantial openings in both short sides. The
eastern room measures 7.32m long by 2.44m wide and the western one is 5.79m
long by 2.44m wide. The precise function of this building is not known, but
it may have provided additional storage space or an undercover work area.
The earliest published reference to this site is a 1609 presentment
respecting the forest, which refers to this part of the moor, and speaks of
`certayne howses that had been erected here and of land that had been
enclosed.'
The date at which this site was abandoned is not known with certainty, though
the Tithe Apportionment Map of 1839 shows the buildings still to be roofed,
although by the early 20th century, when Crossing was visiting the area, the
site was deserted.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
