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. Within the landscape of Dartmoor
there are many discrete plots of land enclosed by stone walls or banks of
stone and earth, most of which date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC), though
earlier and later examples also exist. They were constructed as stock pens or
as protected areas for crop growing and were sometimes subdivided to
accommodate stock and hut circle dwellings for farmers and herdsmen. The size
and form of enclosures may therefore vary considerably depending on their
particular function. Their variation in form, longevity and relationship to
other monument classes 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.
Details
This enclosure with hut circles lies on the south western slope of Corringdon
Ball, some 10 metres west of Corringdon Leat. It is built into the hillslope
and there has been a considerable build up of soil on the uphill side of the
enclosure bank. The enclosure measures 37m by 30m and has banks of boulders up
to 4m in width and 1m in height. There are two hut circles within the
enclosure. One, close to the north west bank, measures 8m in diameter and has
walls 1.5m in thickness and 0.75m in height and an entrance to the south. The
other is attached inside the southern bank; it measures 4m in diameter and has
walls 0.5m in thickness and 0.4m in height. A third hut circle is attached to
the outside of the bank near the enclosure entrance at the south; it measures
5m in diameter and has walls 0.5m in thickness and 0.5m in height. There are
traces of at least one further hut inside the enclosure.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
10863
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
