An Iron Age defended settlement associated with prehistoric and medieval settlements immediately south east of Cadeleigh Court

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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

34261

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS90NW3, (1998)

End of official list entry

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