MSO12280 - Post-medieval gravel pits at Bat's Castle on Croydon Hill (Monument)

Summary

A group of gravel pits is shown on historic mapping straddling the parish boundary between Dunster and Luxborough. This area has previously incorrectly been stated as the site of a Bronze Age burial cairn.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

  • None recorded

Full Description

SS 9717 4016. Dunster 1, a round barrow on Croydon Hill, visited by Grinsell 8th June 1969 when under heath. It is apparently a modern stone heap 11 paces diameter, 3 ft high, but may be on the site of a sepulchral cairn. A mound is shown here on the one inch First Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1809. It is on or near the Luxborough Boundary. (A cairn and human remains were found 'hereabouts Bats Castle' before 1840. See MSO9091 - Identified with Bat's Castle in Dunster Park (MSO9082), but ?possibly from this site.) [1] It was noted in the RCHME survey undertaken in 1998 that the cairn mentioned by [1] was actually sited at SS 9720 4007. [4] The cairn is clearly marked on the 25 inch 1st Edition map [5], and is just to the south of the parish boundary, on the summit of Croydon Hill. The grid reference given by Grinsell [1] refers to the area of stone extraction some 80 metres to the north which, unlike the cairn, is marked on the six inch First Edition map [6]. [7] See MSO10028 for the correct location of the cairn, some 80 metres to the south. [8] SS 9720 4014. The 25 inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map depicts and labels an area of old gravel pits as several earthworks straddling the Parish Boundary between Dunster and Luxborough. [5]

Sources/Archives (8)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1809. 1" 1st edition.
  • <2> Article in serial: Grinsell, L V. 1969. Somerset Barrows: part 1. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. 113. 30.
  • <3> Unassigned: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1986. card SS94SE. 44.
  • <4> Unpublished document: Riley, H.. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 1998.
  • <5>XY Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500. 1889, Somerset 47(5). [Mapped feature: #46434 Site of gravel pits, ]
  • <6> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1896. County Series, First Edition 6 Inch Map. 1:10560. 1889, Somerset 47NW.
  • <7> Archive: English Heritage. National Monuments Record / AMIE / Monarch entry - viewable via Pastscape. Reference 36947.
  • <8> Verbal communication: Various. 1900-. Somerset County Council staff comments. Chris Webster, Somerset Historic Environment Record, 5 December 2005.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO9434
  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 SE44
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • Pastscape HOBID (was Monarch UID): 36947
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 35349

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 9719 4015 (47m by 44m)
Map sheet SS94SE
Civil Parish DUNSTER, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET
Civil Parish LUXBOROUGH, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jan 21 2020 4:35PM

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