Principal Archaeological Landscape: Holdstone Down (34)
Authority | Exmoor National Park Authority |
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Date assigned | 01 January 2011 |
Date last amended | |
Date revoked |
Location
The area encompasses Holdstone Down, an area of coastal heath towards the north west edge of Exmoor National Park. It is defined by its distinctive dome shaped hill, with dramatic sea cliffs, clearly visible from locations around and outside the National Park.
Description of Archaeology
The area contains archaeological features from a number of time periods. It contains extensive prehistoric remains in the form of four hut platforms overlooking the sea, with associated field banks and clearance cairns, as well as the remains of parliamentary enclosure, identifiable through a series of boundary stones, a 19th century holiday village development and World War Two military training.
Principal significance
This PAL is significant because of the complexity of the early prehistoric archaeology. The concentration of hut platforms and fields within this area is unusual. In addition, Holdstone Down is of historical significance for the role it played in bringing to an end the system of Parliamentary Inclosure. This phase of its history is marked by a number of boundary stones on the slopes of Holdstone Down, some inscribed with numbers. Attempts to develop a holiday village from the 1870’s onwards have left the remains of building platforms. Combined these form an exceptional archaeological landscape.
External Links (0)
Sources (1)
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 6202 4764 (1869m by 1164m) |
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Map sheet | SS64NW |
Related Monuments/Buildings (40)
- 19th Century field system and boundary stones on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE21579)
- Alleged stone row on Holdstone Hill, Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE1041)
- Bronze Age burial cairn northwest side of Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE9008)
- Bronze Age hut circle north of Trentishoe Down (Monument) (MMO1774)
- Bronze Age hut circle north of Trentishoe Down (Monument) (MMO1777)
- Bronze Age hut circle north of Trentishoe Down. (Monument) (MMO1776)
- Bronze Age hut circle on northern slope of Trentishoe Down (Monument) (MDE8961)
- Building remains southeast of Red Cleave (Monument) (MDE20520)
- Central Bronze Age cairn at Holdstone Barrows (Monument) (MDE20203)
- Cross Stone Quarry (Monument) (MDE21121)
- Easternmost Bronze Age cairn at Holdstone Barrows (Monument) (MDE20204)
- Field system on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE9007)
- Holdstone Down (Place) (MDE8573)
- Holdstone Holiday Estate, Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE8962)
- Hoylake or Holelake Quarry, Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE21045)
- Ironstone workings east of Sherrycombe (Monument) (MMO277)
- Possible circular enclosure on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE8999)
- Possible prehistoric linear clearance banks on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE9013)
- Post-medieval boundary stone north of Trentishoe Road (Monument) (MDE21363)
- Post-medieval boundary stone north of Trentishoe Road (Monument) (MDE21365)
- Post-medieval boundary stone on northwest side of Trentishoe Down (Monument) (MDE21311)
- Post-medieval building within field system on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE9010)
- Post-medieval buildings on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE9009)
- Post-medieval field system northeast of Holdstone Farm (Monument) (MMO1763)
- Post-medieval Inclosure Allotment on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE9014)
- Post-medieval Inclosure Allotment on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE9015)
- Post-medieval quarries on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MEM22751)
- Post-medieval quarry northeast of Trentishoe Down (Monument) (MMO1784)
- Post-medieval quarry on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MEM22752)
- Post-medieval slate quarries on Trentishoe Down (Monument) (MDE1035)
- Prehistoric remains on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE8574)
- Probable Bronze Age hut circles between Trentishoe Down and Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE1040)
- Quarry south of Holdstone Barrows (Monument) (MDE21046)
- Rectangular fields or allotments on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE20521)
- Site of a post-medieval boundary stone north of Trentishoe Road (Monument) (MEM22753)
- Two post-medieval boundary stones on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MEM22417)
- Undated bank near Red Cleave (Monument) (MDE20519)
- Westernmost Bronze Age cairn at Holdstone Barrows (Monument) (MDE20202)
- World War Two building complex on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE9011)
- World War Two features on Holdstone Down (Monument) (MDE8963)