Reasons for Designation
The term animal pound is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word `pund' meaning
enclosure, and is used to describe stock-proof areas for confining stray or
illegally pastured stock and legally-kept animals rounded up at certain times
of the year from areas of common grazing. The earliest documentary references
to pounds date from the 12th century, and they continued to be constructed and
used throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods. Most surviving
examples are likely to be less than three centuries old, and most will have
fallen into disuse in the late 19th or early 20th century. Animal pounds are
usually located in villages or towns though some lie in more open locations,
particularly on the edge of old woodlands and commons. Construction methods
vary according to the availability of building materials: stone, brick,
fencing, iron railings and earthworks being used to enclose areas ranging from
4m by 6m to over 0.5ha. The walls are normally about 1.5m high, although
greater heights are not uncommon as attempts to prevent poundbreach. In
addition to stock control, animals were sometimes taken as a `distress'
(seizure of property in lieu of debt or to enforce payment) and kept under the
care of the pinder or hayward until redeemed. Pounds are usually unroofed and
have a single entrance, although some have additional low entrances to allow
the passage of sheep and pigs while retaining larger stock. Other features
include rudimentary shelters for the pound-keeper, laid floors, drainage
channels, troughs and internal partitions to separate the beasts.
Animal pounds are widely distributed throughout England, with particular
concentrations in the west and Midlands. About 250 examples are known to
survive in fair condition, with perhaps another 150 examples recorded either
as remains, or from documentary evidence alone. Pounds illustrate a
specialised aspect of past social organisation and animal husbandry, and
reflect the use and former appearance of the surrounding landscape. All
examples surviving in good condition, particularly those supported by
historical evidence for ownership and function, are considered worthy of
protection.
Despite slight damage to its wall, the animal pound at The Cottage is an
unusual survival in an area where few examples are known. Its walls and
interior will contain archaeological information about its use and
construction.
Details
This monument includes an animal pound, located on the west side of the former
Tavistock Road at the north end of Roborough village. It flanks the entrance
to The Cottage, a 19th century estate worker's house.
The monument survives as a sub-rectangular walled enclosure with a blocked
gateway on its east side. The wall is up to 1.8m high and 0.45m thick and is
curved at the south east corner. It is built of mortared slate and quartz
rubble with some carved lava fragments. Some reconstruction, particularly of
the roadside wall, is suggested by a granite block with a benchmark, reused
upside down in the north jamb of the gateway. The gateway, centrally set in
the east wall, is 2m wide, blocked with cemented slate rubble. An earth
hedgebank, fronted with drystone rubble, continues the line of the east wall
to the north.
The road and path surfacings are excluded from the scheduling where they fall
within the pound's 2m protective margin, as is the paved and gravel surface
inside the pound. The ground beneath them is, however, included.
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.
