Scheduled Monument: Old Barrow on Old Barrow Down
(1021356)
Authority
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Other Ref
33076
Date assigned
01 November 1934
Date last amended
22 June 2004
Date revoked
Details
The monument includes Old Barrow, a bowl barrow located on the summit of Old Barrow Down. The barrow occupies a prominent and lofty position with extensive views in all directions including eastward across the valley of the River Barle. The barrow, which is of prehistoric date, is formed by a circular bowl-shaped mound of earth and stone with recorded dimensions in 1995 of 1.2m in height and 20.9m in diameter. The mound has been disturbed by two circular cuttings which have left depressions 1.5m wide and 0.3m deep. This disturbance may be the result of unrecorded antiquarian excavation in an attempt to define a kerb within the barrow mound; this type of activity has been noted elsewhere on Exmoor. In keeping with other barrows of similar construction in the region the mound will be surrounded by a ditch from which material was quarried during its construction. Although the ditch is no longer clearly visible at ground level it will survive as a buried feature up to 2m wide, giving the barrow an overall diameter of 24.9m.
Selected Sources
Book Reference - Author: R Wilson-North - Title: RCHME Field investigation - Date: 1995 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: RCHME Exmoor survey
Article Reference - Author: L V Grinsell - Title: Somerset Barrows Part 1 West and South - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Nat History Soc - Volume: 113 - Page References: 42 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Withypool 7