MDE1065 - Bronze Age barrow south of Brockenbarrow Farm (Monument)
Summary
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
Type and Period (1)
Protected Status
Full Description
SS 6654 4173 A grass covered mound, 30 paces in diameter and 2 feet high, with several large stones on or near. It is uncertain as to whether this is a barrow. Visited by C Whybrow and Grinsell on 2 April 1961. [1] SS 665 418 Probable barrow; possibly the original Brocken Barrow (but see MDE1066 - this refers to a Holy Well in Parracombe, unsure if correct [11]). It must have been about 60 feet in diameter but has been ploughed down to a height of 3 feet and spread to over 100 feet. It is very amorphous but there are stones in the west bank of Brockenbarrow Lane where it cuts the barrow.Visited with C Whybrow, 1 May 1972. [2] SS 6653 4171 A circular mound of earth and stone 26.0 metres diameter and up to 1.0 metres high, in fallow ground sloping to the South is probably a round barrow. A portion of the east side has been destroyed by a lane, but the centre appears to be intact. Surveyed at 1:2500. [3] A turf covered barrow centred at SS 6653 4171 lying in improved pasture. The feature has been obliterated on the east and north by the construction of a sunken lane and a modern house respectively. All that survives, therefore, is the southwestern quadrant of the mound. It measures 27 metres east to west by 35 metres north to south. It is defined by a spread curving scarp 0.8 metres high on the south, and 0.6 metres on the west where it is particularly elongated. It is truncated at a hedge bank on the east side and a fence on the north. The mound itself, which is fairly flat topped but uneven, has been disturbed by access into the field from its northeatern corner, in the form of a track running southwest across the mound. The base of the scarp has also been sharpened up on the southern side by a recent ploughing edge. Other less interpretable episodes have disturbed the top of the mound and are visible as slight hollows and irregularities. Another feature of the mound are a number of earthfast stones on its southern crest and slope. These do not appear to form any constructional feature of the barrow, but equally do not appear to have been deposited there recently ([1] mentions "several large stones on or near" the barrow). [4] The barrow is visible on aerial photographs, including some which were taken prior to the construction of Brockenbarrow Farm. On this photograph it appears substantially smaller than described, approximately 20 metres in diameter, but cut by the lane in the east. It seems likely that the majority of the damage was caused by the construction of the modern dwelling. [5,6] A barrow west of Brockenburrow Lane. An amorphous mound, levelled and spread by ploughing: probably originally about 18 meters in diameter, height at present 1.0 - 1.2 meters. Where the barrow has been cut by a hedge stones are visible in the field. Greatest diameter 36.6 metres. Needs protection because a new farmhouse and garden is to be built near it. [7] The barrow can be seen from the footpath which runs along the track on the eastern side. The massive hedge on the west of the track appears to kink out to respect barrow, which has an amorphous shape. Under grass and covered in part with gorse. Limits of barrow hard to discern, but on the north it seems to extend into the garden of the house which was granted planning permission in 1972. The dimensions given by Grinsell are reasonable. No access gained to site. [8] The bulk of the barrow is still visible, but it is clear that it was severely affected by the construction of the access to the new house. Probably still reasonable survival of much of the barrow's structure, but it has sustained much damage despite being 'protected'. [9] The Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment of 2009 gave the site a survival score of 4. [12] The site was surveyed in June 2015 as part of the 2015 Exmoor Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment. It was given a survival score of 0. [13] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [14]
Sources/Archives (14)
- <1> SEM6798 Article in serial: Grinsell, L.V.. 1970. The Barrows of North Devon. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 28. P. 113.
- <2> SEM7789 Unpublished document: Fox, A.. 1972. Letter. 2 May 1972.
- <3> SMO7303 Unpublished document: BUCKLEY, MHB. Field Investigators Comments. Ordnance Survey visit, 22 August 1972.
- <4> SMO7329 Unpublished document: Wilson-North, R.. Various. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 20 July 1993.
- <5> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF 543/2821 (F65) 187-88 (27 April 1964).
- <6>XY SMO7564 Archive: 2007-2009. Exmoor National Park NMP: SS 64 SE. MD002181. [Mapped feature: #38470 ]
- <7> SEM7786 Report: Department of Environment. 1972. List of Ancient Monuments.
- <8> SEM7787 Unpublished document: Timms, S.. 1982. Field Notes.
- <9> SEM7788 Unpublished document: Griffith, F.. 1987. Field Notes.
- <10> SEM7441 Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Record Card. SS64SE23. Plan.
- <11> SEM8630 Verbal communication: Various. 1993-. Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Team staff comments. S Rimes, 16 January 2012, Record Cleanup..
- <12> SEM7402 Report: Bray, L.S.. 2010. Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment 2009, Exmoor National Park.
- <13> SEM8278 Report: Gent, T. and Manning, P.. 2015. Exmoor National Park Scheduled Monument Condition Survey 2015. Archaedia.
- <14> SEM7987 Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 34736, Extant 10 November 2021.
External Links (1)
- http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=34736 (Pastscape entry: 34736)
Other Statuses/References
- Devon SMR Monument ID: 5613
- Devon SMR: SS64SE/52
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MDE20182
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO35
- Local List Status (No)
- National Monuments Record reference: SS 64 SE23
- National Park: Exmoor National Park
- NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 34736
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 6652 4171 (31m by 31m) |
---|---|
Map sheet | SS64SE |
Civil Parish | CHALLACOMBE, NORTH DEVON, DEVON |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (4)
Record last edited
Nov 10 2021 12:31PM
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