Reasons for Designation
During the Iron Age a variety of different types of settlement were
constructed and occupied in south western England. At the top of the
settlement hierarchy were hillforts built in prominent locations. In addition
to these a group of smaller sites, known as defended settlements, were also
constructed. Some of these were located on hilltops, others in less prominent
positions. They are generally smaller than the hillforts, sometimes with an
enclosed area of less than 1ha. The enclosing defences were of earthen
construction. Univallate sites have a single bank and ditch, multivallate
sites more than one. At some sites these earthen ramparts represent a second
phase of defence, the first having been a timber fence or palisade. Where
excavated, evidence of stone- or timber-built houses has been found within the
enclosures, which, in contrast to the hillfort sites, would have been occupied
by small communities, perhaps no more than a single family group.
Defended settlements are a rare monument type. They were an important element
of the settlement pattern, particularly in the upland areas of south western
England, and are integral to any study of the developing use of fortified
settlements during this period. All well-preserved examples are likely to be
identified as nationally important.
The Iron Age defended settlement, together with its associated prehistoric and
medieval settlements immediately south east of Cadeleigh Court, survive well
and will contain information relating to both the construction and continued
use of this monument as well as containing environmental evidence relating to
the local area through the later prehistoric and historic periods.
Details
This monument includes an Iron Age defended settlement associated with
prehistoric and medieval settlements, situated on a hillslope overlooking the
valley of The Burn, a tributary to the River Dart and immediately south east
of Cadeleigh Court. The monument survives as a sub-circular enclosure with
ramparts and outer ditch, containing building platforms, with further building
platforms and linear earthworks to the north and east and some terraces to the
south. Associated remains of Iron Age settlement have been recorded some 300m
to the west; these are the subject of a separate scheduling.
The main enclosure measures 71m north to south by 72m east to west internally.
The whole is enclosed by a rampart which measures up to 3.1m high externally
on the downslope side, to the south, up to 1.2m high internally to the north
and up to 4m wide. On the northern side is the largely buried ditch which
measures up to 7.2m wide and 0.4m deep; on the other sides much of the
rampart is placed along a naturally steep slope. Within the enclosed area
there are at least 18 building platforms measuring up to 15m in diameter and
terraced into the hillside. To the south of the rampart are a series of
smaller terraces running parallel to the hillslope and measuring up to 10m
wide and 1.2m high. To the east of the enclosure and running in an east to
west direction are a series of linear banks up to 2m wide and 0.6m high.
Similar banks are also evident to the north of the enclosure. In both areas
these banks are interspersed with further sub-circular platforms up to 5m in
diameter. The features are cut by, and do not extend beyond the present field
boundaries to the north and east and also appear to cease along the line of a
natural slope just inside the field boundary to the west. The whole area of
the field surrounding the enclosure is composed of undulations, some of which
are thought to represent medieval and prehistoric settlement remains.
A small stream cuts through the north eastern section of the monument and this
has been fenced and a modern bridge crosses it. The bridge, fence and
gateposts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these
features is included.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
