ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



earthwork originally consisting of a rampart and ditch. That to the south is now 900 ft. in 

 length, and that to the north 960 ft. The end of the latter, on the declivity of a hill, turns 

 slightly to the east. The inhabitants say that when the work was in a more perfect condition, the 

 vallum was from twelve to fifteen feet high, and that the ditch was on the eastern side. The 

 suggestion that this was the western side of a vast camp may be dismissed ; the wall was evidently 

 a portion of a scheme of defence, forming part of a group of works, from Berry CliiF and Castle 

 Close on the south to Blackbury Castle on the north. With the fosse on the east the probable 

 enemy was looked for from the direction of the River Axe ; while the Hanna ditches and Seaton 

 Down trenches were possibly outposts. All these works are pressed into service for the battle of 

 Brunanburgh by those who advocate this as the site of the engagement. 



Seaton and Beer (O.S. Ixxxiii, 7). — On the crown of the hill above Colyford, about 

 i^ miles north-west of Seaton, and close to the great road from Colyford to Exeter, are the 

 remains of two lines of entrenchments, drawn across Seaton Down. The first is an agger 770 ft. 

 long, and 33 ft. on the slope of the escarpment, with a fosse on the south side. The second, 

 466 ft. to the north of the latter, is of the same character but only 130 ft. in length. It has been 

 suggested that the latter was never completed ; but the cultivation surrounding it, and at the present 

 time reducing its proportions, is probably accountable for its restricted limits. 



Shute. — Upon Shute Hill, just above Icknield Street, traces of entrenchments are along its 

 north-eastern side, opposite ' Dane's Hill.' 



Uffculme. — Pixie Garden. Lysons mentions a small earthwork on Uffculme Down 

 (about seven miles east of Tiverton) which was 60 ft. square, surrounded by banks 2 ft. high. It 

 was divided into four compartments ; in the middle of each was a raised oval bank, and the square 

 was open at the corners.^ This was destroyed early in the nineteenth century. 



In 1 86 1 Mr. Hutchinson found an old man who remembered it, and described it as above 

 with the addition of a mound in the centre.^ 



TUMULI 



AsHBURTON. — ^Tumuli remains in Aweswell Wood on the E. side of the River Dart, and one on 



Horridge Common. 

 AsHBURY. — A tumulus on Wadland Down. 

 Ashreigney. — Three large tumuli occupy a position on the SE. corner of Beaford Moor, and two 



others, one of which is of considerable size, are to the S. of Riddlecombe Moor, near the road 



from Torrington to Winkleigh. 

 Ashwater. — Two large barrows lie to the W. of Ash Cottage and Oak Cottage near the road 



leading to Hemscott, and another of a smaller size some distance to the S. Three large 



tumuli are on Langaford Moor, and one other to the N. of them. 

 AwLiscoMBE. — ^A tumulus to the NW. of Rowbarrow Plantation. 

 Aylesbeare. — A tumulus near the Roman road from Exeter to Lyme Regis. 

 Bea WORTHY. — North of Halwill and Beaworthy Railway Station is the 'Great Halwill Barrow,' to 



the N. of which other tumuli are situated. 

 Berrynarbor. — Tumuli are on Berry Down, to the W. of the road from Barnstaple to Combe 



Martin ; and one to the SW. of Woolscott Barton. 

 BiSHOPSTEiGNTON. — Three tumuli N. of Humber Down. 

 Bishops Tawton. — A tumulus is at Codden Beacon, on Codden Hill. 

 BiTTADON. — Eight large tumuli are situated to the N. of Narracote, near Centery Lane ; others to 



the S. of Clannaborough Plantation and N. of Frogmore ; and one to the NE. of Gratton 



Plantation. 

 BovEY Tracey. — To the W. of Owlacombe and NE. of Haytor Vale is the tumulus known as 



' Owlacombe Barrow.' 

 Bradworthy. — A tumulus lies to the W. of West Down Village, and W. of the road from 



Bideford to Holsworthy, and another to the NE. of Dural. 

 Branscombe. — Tumuli are to the S. of Berry Barton, and one at the western extremity of Berry 



Down Camp. 

 Bratton Clovelly. — One barrow lies to the SE. of Northcombe Cottage, and another to the 



W. of Broadbury Castle. 

 Bratton Fleming. — Tumuli are found in this parish on Bratton Down to the N. of Little Bray 



Cross and S. of ' Cape of Good Hope ' ; to the S. and SE. of Nightcott Cross. Three are 



situated to the E. and NE. of Stowford Cross, one lies between Kipscombe, and North 



Kipscombe, while others are to the N. of Ridge Gate. 



' Lysons, Mag. Brit, vi, 353. ' Jrci. Jssoc. Journ. xviii, 63, 



I 625 79 



