Reasons for Designation
Bodmin Moor, the largest of the Cornish granite uplands, has long been
recognised to have exceptional preservation of archaeological remains. The
Moor has been the subject of detailed archaeological survey and is one of the
best recorded upland landscapes in England. The extensive relict landscapes of
prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval date provide direct evidence for human
exploitation of the Moor from the earliest prehistoric period onwards. The
well-preserved and often visible relationship between settlement sites, field
systems, ceremonial and funerary monuments as well as later industrial remains
provides significant insights into successive changes in the pattern of land
use through time. Stone hut circles were the dwelling places of prehistoric
farmers on the Moor, mostly dating from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The
stone-based round houses survive as low walls or banks enclosing a circular
floor area; remains of a turf or thatch roof are not preserved. The huts occur
singly or in small or large groups and may occur in the open or be enclosed by
a bank of earth and stone. Although they are common on the Moor, their
longevity of use and their relationship with other monument types provides
important information on the diversity of social organisation and farming
practices among prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative
of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes a small, partly-enclosed hut circle settlement situated
near another discrete group of hut circles at the southern edge of the Withey
Brook valley floor, north of Trewortha Tor on eastern Bodmin Moor.
The settlement contains four stone hut circles, surviving with circular walls
of heaped rubble, up to 1.5m wide and 0.75m high, around levelled internal
areas ranging from 6m to 12m in diameter. All show edge-set inner facing
slabs and two also have outer facing slabs. Entrance gaps survive in three
hut circles, variously facing SW, east and NW. The three smaller hut circles
are arranged as a triangular cluster, spaced 2.5-3m apart and closely
contained within a curvilinear enclosure wall of heaped rubble, up to 1.5m
wide and 0.5m high. This enclosure encompasses 0.06 hectares. Its northern
side is interrupted by a small rectangular annexe built against the northern
side of the NW hut circle in the cluster. The annexe is similarly rubble
walled and measures 12.5m NE-SW by 11m NW-SE internally, encompassing 0.014
hectares which is also levelled. It has an entrance gap at its southern
corner, adjacent to the NW entrance of the adjoining hut circle and to a break
in the enclosure wall. The fourth, and largest, hut circle stands unenclosed,
situated NW of the enclosure containing the other three and separated by a gap
of 14m from the enclosure wall.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
15119
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
