MSO6863 - Barrow on Great Tom's Hill (Monument)
Summary
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Type and Period (1)
Protected Status
Full Description
At SS 8040 4315 is a barrow 15 paces across and 3 feet high. Listed by Grinsell as Exmoor 11. Visited by Peter Taylor in 1958 but previously found by AD Hallam. [1,2] This is a bowl barrow. It is at SS 8050 4311 and is 0.6 metres high. (See GPs AO0/65/175/3 and 4 Stereo pair - [6?]). Surveyed at 1:2500 [3] SS 807432. Round barrow on Great Tom's Hill. Scheduled. [4] A prehistoric round barrow centred at SS 8040 4315. It consists of a turf covered stony mound 12.5 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres high. Around the foot of the barrow on its north and northeast side is a slight hollowing emphasised by reed growth, which might be interpreted as a ditch. A subrectangular pit 2.3 metres by 1.4 metres and 0.3 metres deep has been dug into the western half of the summit. It is probably associated with World War II activity in the area, as is a circular pit, 7 metres from the barrow on its northwest side. [5] A mound is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards, on the southwest facing slopes of Great Toms Hill, Exmoor parish, at approximately SS 80494311. The earthwork is likely to be the remains of a barrow of Bronze Age date, roughly 13 metres in diameter. It has been transcribed from aerial photographs as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. [7,8] Irregular circular mound 17 paces diameter and 1 to 1.5 metres high. Flat topped with shell hole in north-west quadrant showing medium sized stones. Vegetation gives an indication of a surrounding ditch. Prismatic compass fix at SS 8048 4309 rather than the Ordnance Survey Archaeological Division national grid reference. [10] 0.75 metres high and 15 metres diameter, some rush grass and stones on the surface. [11] This could possibly be Longcombe Barrow which is referred to in the 19th Century perambulations. (see MSO6879). [13] The Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment of 2009 gave the site a survival score of 0. [14] The site was surveyed in May 2015 as part of the 2015 Exmoor Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment. It was given a survival score of 0. [15]
Sources/Archives (15)
- <1> SMO5308 Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information or Staff Comments. AD Hallam, Somerset County Museum, Taunton.
- <2> SMO5467 Article in serial: Grinsell, L.V.. 1969. Somerset Barrows. Part I: West and South. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. 113. P. 32.
- <3> SMO7319 Unpublished document: PITCHER, GHP. Field Investigators Comments. Ordnance Survey visit, 7 July 1965.
- <4> SEM7732 Index: Department of the Environment (IAM). 1978. List of Ancient Monuments of England and Wales 1978. P. 117.
- <5> SMO7324 Unpublished document: Sainsbury, I.S.S. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 14 December 1995.
- <6> SMO1472 Photograph: BOWL BARROW AT EXMOOR FROM NORTH. OS65/F175/4. B/W. MICROFILM.
- <7> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR RAF 543/2821 (F65) 164-5 (27 April 1964).
- <8> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR OS/73109 864-5 (29 April 1973).
- <9> SMO7567 Archive: 2007-2009. Exmoor National Park NMP: SS 84 SW. MD002184.
- <10> SSO1 Unpublished document: Somerset County Council. Various. Somerset HER parish files - Exmoor records. PRN 33048.
- <11> SSO1247 Report: Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission. Field Monument Warden Report.
- <12> SSO1383 Report: McDonnell, R. 1985. Recommendations for the Management.... P. 54 (site 52).
- <13> SSO1007 Unassigned: Dennison, E, Somerset County Council. 23.09.86.
- <14> SEM7402 Report: Bray, L.S.. 2010. Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment 2009, Exmoor National Park.
- <15> SEM8278 Report: Gent, T. and Manning, P.. 2015. Exmoor National Park Scheduled Monument Condition Survey 2015.
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 8049 4311 (20m by 21m) (Estimated from sources) |
---|---|
Map sheet | SS84SW |
Civil Parish | EXMOOR, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
External Links (1)
- http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=36255 (Pastscape entry: 36255)
Other Statuses/References
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO176
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO10909
- National Monuments Record reference: SS 84 SW19
- National Park: Exmoor National Park
- Pastscape HOBID (was Monarch UID): 36255
- Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 33048
Record last edited
Jan 30 2017 3:56PM
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