Guide to the Monuments on Butterdon Hill

Table of Ritual and Burial Monuments on Butterdon Hill

Butterdon Hill Guide Map

Guidance for walkers: The monuments featured in this database are archaeological treasures and need to be protected and preserved - please do not disturb any sites. Please check access and firing times before visiting sites, not all sites listed are on open access land. Firing ranges and boundaries of open access areas are marked on the OL28 OS Dartmoor Explorer map. Please stick to the country code and consider giving support to the numerous agencies that help to keep Dartmoor a fabulous natural and historic environment!

List of Ritual and Burial Monuments on Butterdon Hill

Addicombe 1 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 64970 58110
NMR: No record found
HER: No record found
ShortName: CN Addicombe1
Butler map: 53.1.1
Notes: Butler cairn 53.1.1. This is not listed on the NMR or HER records. There is clearly a mound at this location. Whether it is prehistoric or from the historic period is not clear.
Nearby sites: SX64975811

Addicombe 2 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 64970 58460
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV128275
ShortName: CN:Addicombe2
Butler map: 53.1.2
Notes: Butler quoted on HER: 'Cairn 2' 50 metres to the north-east of Enclosures 'C' and 'D' with a dimeter of 5 metres by 0.3 metres high with the interior thrown out to the east.
Nearby sites: SX64975846

Addicombe 3 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 64754 58424
NMR record: SX 65 NW 46
HER record: MDV13093
ShortName: CN Addicombe3
Butler map: 53.1.3
Notes: "A hollow centred cairn, small stones showing in the wall like perimeter which spreads out on the outer side. The west side has almost disappeared. The walls are covered with turf and bracken. May be a doubtful site; result of land clearance?"
Nearby sites: SX64755842

Addicombe 4 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 64950 58550
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV25322
ShortName: CN:Addicombe4
Notes: HER: Possible cairn visible on aerial image at SX 6495 5855. Not shown on Ordnance Survey 1954 10,560 maps. Visible on 1946 RAF photograph.
Nearby sites: SX64955855

Addicombe 5 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 64943 58109
NMR: No record found
HER: No record found
ShortName: CN Addicombe5
Notes: The author was looking for Addicombe 1 and encountered this which looks like a very dilapidated cairn that is much larger. There are no records of it. There are a number of mounds in the vicinity which are the result of the construction of the Red Lake tramway but this is quite a bit downhill from there and seems unlikely to be one of those. The Addicombe 1 cairn is around 3 metres across. This is considerably larger,more like 12 metres (estimate from memory - not a measurement). The area is covered in Butler Map 53.1
Nearby sites: SX64945811

Butter Brook homestead Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 65146 59125
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV128295
ShortName: CN-ButterHome
Butler map: 53.4
Notes: Butler: Possibly associated with the homestead is a small cairn dug into from the north-east side, sited almost on the skyline 200 m to the south. Butler gives location as SX 6515 5913. The item in the photo might be the cairn referred to but the author is uncertain. It is at SX 65146 59125.
Nearby sites: SX65155913

Beacon Plain A Standing Stone

OS Map: SX 65838 59189
NMR record: SX 65 NE 19
HER record: MDV2888
Megalithic Portal: 44532
The Stone Rows of GB: Butterdon East
PMD: Beacon Plain
ShortName: SS Beacon Pl A
Butler map: 53.8
Butler Vol 5: p.216 & Fig.150
DPD page: 79
Notes: "One of two large granite blocks situated some 500 meters east of Hangershell Rocks. May be fallen standing stones or stones brought to the site but never erected. This western stone lies 55 meters from the other and tapers towards its northern end. Between the two are traces of two other stones, and the fact that they form a straight line lends weight to the argument that they are fallen menhirs. This western stone was excavated in august 1968, and groups of small stones were found at the broad end and along the w side as if to receive the stone when it was erected." For more on that see coverage on the SRGB and on PMD. See also HER record MDV2883.
Nearby sites: SX65845919

Beacon Plain B Standing Stone

OS Map: SX 65886 59210
NMR record: SX 65 NE 19
HER record: MDV2883
Megalithic Portal: 44532
The Stone Rows of GB: Butterdon East
PMD: Beacon Plain
ShortName: SS Beacon Pl B
Butler map: 53.8
Butler Vol 5: p.216 & Fig.150
DPD page: 79
Notes: "There are two possible menhirs, on Beacon Plain, 500 yards east of Hangershell Rock. The more easterly stone measures 18 feet 4 inches in length. The other stone lies 57 yards away on a bearing 26 degrees south of west. It is 18 feet in length, 5 feet 6 inches wide at one end, and tapers to a blunt point. The stones are completely isolated on a grass moor, and have none of the characteristics of surface boulders. If they were menhirs they are the largest known on Dartmoor." There are suggestions these two stones are ends of a short stone row with a smaller stone in between. For more on that see coverage on the SRGB and on PMD. See also HER record MDV2888.
Nearby sites: SX65895921

Butterdon East Stone Row

OS Map: SX 65870 59203
NMR record: SX 65 NE 19
HER record: MDV2888
The Stone Rows of GB: Butterdon East
PMD: Butterdon E. Stone Row
Alternate name: Butterdon E. Stone Row
ShortName: SR ButterdonE
Butler map: 53.8
Butler Vol 5: p.218 & Fig.150
Notes: There are two massive slabs with one small slab forming an alignment. It is unclear whether these were originally standing but it is thought they could have been placed in their current locations. This would make for a very spectacular stone row and one that would be quite unique on Dartmoor. However, there are stone rows consisting of two huge slabs and a small central slab in other parts of the country. The grid reference given here and the photo is of the central stone. The following interesting account comes from Hemery's High Dartmoor:

"On the Plain, about four hundred yards east of Hangershiel Rock, two great monoliths lie on the ground within sixty yards of each other. Worth was surely right in regarding them, each over eighteen feet in length, as fallen menhirs. The naturalist H. G. Hurrell wrote to tell me that he recently found, at the base end of the longer stone, "numerous stones, averaging perhaps the Size of the human head, just below ground level". I quote further from his letter: It is very difficult, I think, to explain the presence of these stones unless one assumes that they were used as packing-stones to support an erected menhir." The element of doubt undeniably present, however, should deter the over-eager restorer of monuments from arriving on the spot with tractor, sheer-legs, pulley-block and tackle. " (High Dartmoor p.258)
Nearby sites: SX65875920

Butterdon Hill Stone Row

OS Map: SX 65629 58814
NMR record: SX 65 NE 17
HER record: MDV2988
Megalithic Portal: 556
The Stone Rows of GB: Butterdon Hill
PMD: Butterdon Stone Row
Alternate name: Butterdon Hill Row Stone Row
ShortName: SR Butterdon
Butler map: 53.8
DPD page: 77
Notes: "The northern part of the Butterdon stone row has been surveyed from Hangershell Rocks cairn at SX 65645941 to Hobajons Cross at SX 65506045." and "For the 1050m of this part the majority of the several hundred stones are from 0.1m to 0.4m high and form an irregular line. There is a gap of 70.0m on the north side of Hangershell but otherwise the row is fairly continuous. The area is not entirely free of natural surface stones and while some can be immediately discounted occasionally there is a short double or triple row where all the stones are alike and these which formed the original row cannot now be determined. Barely two dozen stones are 0.5m high or higher, Hobajons Cross at 1.2m being the highest. It is possible that this was at some stage a terminal stone since it appears to have cup marks on the south face and the extension onwards, to the Longstone, is on an entirely different alignment." Lethbridge Row 1 diagram p.77.
Nearby sites: SX65635881

Butterdon Hill Encircled Cairn

OS Map: SX 65634 58816
NMR record: SX 65 NE 66
HER record: MDV2897
Megalithic Portal: 722
PMD: Butterdon Row
Alternate name: Butterdon Hill stone row Encircled Cairn
ShortName: EC Butterdon 1
Butler map: 53.8.1
DPD page: 78
Grinsell: HAR 16
Turner: F8
Notes: A low cairn within a retaining circle of stones is situated at SX65635881, at the south end of the Butterdon stone row (SX 65 NE 17), with which it is associated. The circle is 11 metres in diameter, and consists of twelve stones, all now recumbent, although when Worth wrote in 1941, one was erect and three were leaning. Some of the stones are unusually large. The cairn is 9 metres in diameter by 0.3 metre high, with a hollow in the centre. Radcliffe reports: Mike Brown says the row "terminates in a small kistvaen" at its southern end. Hemery says the cist "has been removed". Lethbridge p.78 Row 1 diagram p.77.
Nearby sites: SX65635882

Hangershell Rock (East of) Cairn

OS Map: SX 65662 59404
NMR record: SX 65 NE 20
HER record: MDV3124
Megalithic Portal: 4615
Alternate name: Butterdon Ridge N. Cairn
ShortName: CN Butterdon 2
Butler map: 53.8.2
Grinsell: UGB 15
Barrow Report: 61
Notes: East of hangershell rock large cairn with hollow centre. Diameter 17m, height 1.2m.
Nearby sites: SX65665940

Butterdon Hill Cist

OS Map: SX 65781 59341
NMR record: SX 65 NE 21
HER record: MDV2887
Megalithic Portal: 45752
PMD: Butterdon Hill
Alternate name: Butterdon Ridge N.E. Cist
ShortName: CT Butterdon 3
Butler map: 53.8.3
Butler Vol 5: p.59 & Fig.38
DPD page: 79
Grinsell: UGB 16
Barrow Report: 61
Notes: "The western side stone and the two end stones are still standing, but the other side stone and the cover stone are missing. The cist measures 23 inches by 15 inches"... "no sign whatever of a mound, and the cist may have been freestanding". Lethbridge p.79 East of Hangershell Rock diagram p.77. Butler Butterdon Ridge N.E. - Vol. 4. Map 53.8.3 (p.25 general plan of Butterdon rows and cairns p.24).
Nearby sites: SX65785934

Butterdon Hill Cairn

OS Map: SX 65601 58766
NMR record: SX 65 NE 26
HER record: MDV2895
Megalithic Portal: 10002
Alternate name: Butterdon Hill Summit 5 Cairn
ShortName: CN Butterdon 5
Butler map: 53.9.5
Butler Vol 5: p.160
Grinsell: HAR 17
Notes: "The northernmost of several cairns near the summit of Butterdon Hill lies approximately 200 feet south-south-east (sic) from the retaining circle at the end of the stone row (SX 65 NE 17). There are clear remains of a marginal wall on the eastern circumference of this cairn; whether it is an original feature is not known but there is no apparent reason why it should have been added later. A large cairn, 27 metres in diameter, 3.3 metres high. The barrow has an apparent berm, but this may not have been an original characteristic."
Nearby sites: SX65605877

Butterdon Hill Summit 6 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65533 58671
NMR record: SX 65 NE 27
HER record: MDV2915
ShortName: CN Butterdon 6
Butler map: 53.9.6
Grinsell: HAR 18
Notes: Large cairn. "One of a group of four cairns on Butterdon Hill. Badly damaged, especially around the perimeter. Cairn consists of a mound of stone, earth and turf base, possibly with a berm and ditch. Diameter 25 metres, height approximately 2.5 metres"
Nearby sites: SX65535867

Butterdon Hill Summit 7-9 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 65540 58653
NMR: No record found
HER: No record found
ShortName: CN-Butter 7-9
Butler map: 53.9.7-9
Notes: Butler: "Two tiny cairns ... are sited close to [Butterdon Hill Summit 6] and the triangulation pyramid stands on a particularly stony patch which maybe the remains of a third".
Nearby sites: SX65545865

Butterdon Hill S.E.10 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65629 58529
NMR record: SX 65 NE 30
HER record: MDV2896
ShortName: CN Butterdon10
Butler map: 53.9.10
Grinsell: UGB 21
Notes: "Cairn consisting of a mound of stones upon a stone, earth and turf base, possibly with a berm and ditch. Diameter 15m, height approx 1.8m"
Nearby sites: SX65635853

Butterdon Hill S.W.11 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65449 58602
NMR record: SX 65 NE 28
HER record: MDV3137
ShortName: CN Butterdon11
Butler map: 53.9.11
Grinsell: HAR 19
Notes: "Round cairn on butterdon hill ... situated on slope, in poor condition. Diameter 14.5m. Height varies 1.7m - 0.1m. ... Cairn covered by modern circular enclosure of granite boulders (included in height). Diameter 16m, height 1.8m."
Nearby sites: SX65455860

Butterdon Hill N.W.12 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65401 58822
NMR record: SX 65 NE 25
HER record: MDV3134
ShortName: CN Butterdon12
Butler map: 53.9.12
Grinsell: HAR 15
Notes: "Mutilated cairn. Diameter 17m, height 1.5m. Siting hillspur ... On the western slope of butterdon hill. A scattered pile of stones, of medium size. Probably many have been removed. The east side of the cairn is quite flattened, this being the higher side of the slope, but the western side, on lower ground, gives the impression of a cairn some 0.6m - 0.9m high. The edge is too scattered to permit the accurate measurement of the diameter. Approx diameter 15m, height 0.6m - 0.9m."
Nearby sites: SX65405882

Butterdon Hill W.13-17 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 65116 58671
NMR record: SX 65 NE 80
HER record: MDV13164
ShortName: CN Butter13-17
Butler map: 53.9.13-17
Notes: This record currently relates to a group of five small cairns listed by Butler Map 9.13-17 (SX65155865). The HER/NMR lists one cairn at SX65125869 "A group of granite stones on a low oval mound of earth and stone, 7m x 4m, direction of length ene-wsw (c.50deg. E. Of true n. ). The lower sw part is a group of stones, max. Ht.1.0m, which have the appearance of being man-placed. The remainder of the site is a low mound standing less than 0.5m high, which merges into the hillside at the higher ne end." This might be the cairn in the photograph - but this requires confirmation. The NGR given by this record relates to the item in the photo.
Nearby sites: SX65125867

Wetherdon Hill 18 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65052 58863
NMR record: SX 65 NE 24
HER record: MDV3135
ShortName: CN Wetherdon18
Butler map: 53.9.18
Grinsell: HAR 13
Notes: "Large cairn consisting of a mound of loosely packed stones on a base of stone and earth, the circumference of which projects beyond the stones. It is 20m in diameter, 1.6m high and has an outer ditch"
Nearby sites: SX65055886

Wetherdon Hill 19 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65165 58922
NMR record: SX 65 NE 23
HER record: MDV3136
ShortName: CN Wetherdon19
Butler map: 53.9.19
Grinsell: HAR 14
Notes: "Cairn consisting of a mound of stones built upon a base of stone and earth, the circumference of which projects beyond the stones. Diameter 20m, height 1.5m"
Nearby sites: SX65175892

Weatherdon Hill Stone Ring Cairn Circle

OS Map: SX 65160 58890
NMR record: SX 65 NE 63
HER record: MDV13165
Megalithic Portal: 45835
Alternate name: Wetherdon Hill 20 Stone Ring Cairn Circle
ShortName: RC:Wetherdon20
Butler map: 53.9.20
Grinsell: HAR 14a
Turner: A28
Notes: "Weatherdon hill (4): diameter approx.5.6m ht. Approx 0.15m. Alt. C.335-340m." "Mr. L. V. Grinsell noted a small cairn-circle or ring-cairn a short distance south of cairn 2 on weatherdon hill."
Nearby sites: SX65165889

Weatherdon Hill Ancient Pool

OS Map: SX 65619 58948
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV127227
Alternate name: Wetherdon Hill Ancient Pool
ShortName: PO:Wetherdon
Notes: "A pool, one of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies adjacent to the Butterdon Hill stone row. Sub-rectangular shallow pit of 11 metres by 15 metres and 0.5 metres deep. Part of disused peat cutting in the area to the south end of the stone row."
Nearby sites: SX65625895

Spurrell's Cross Stone Row

OS Map: SX 65846 59856
NMR record: SX 65 NE 16
HER record: MDV2890
Megalithic Portal: 2137
The Stone Rows of GB: Spurrells Cross
PMD: Spurrells Cross Stone Row
ShortName: SR Spurrells X
Butler map: 53.10
DPD page: 78
Notes: "The row has apparently been double, but since only seven stones still stand, which together with six sunken stones form the fixed points now determinable, it is difficult to ascertain the original spacing. The lines were probably about 3 feet 6 inches apart and the spacing between the stones about 3 feet. The length of the row is 370 feet as measured from the centre of the cairn and the direction of length is N 20o W. The largest standing stone is 2 feet in height. The cairn, at the south end of the row is 50 feet in diameter with only two stones remaining of the retaining circle". Lethbridge p.78, diagram p.77 Row 3. The photo here is most probably not of the row. The row runs parallel to Butterdon row and does not orientate on Spurrel's Cross.
Nearby sites: SX65855986

Spurrells Cross Encircled Cairn

OS Map: SX 65858 59864
NMR record: SX 65 NE 16
HER record: MDV2891
Megalithic Portal: 1273
PMD: Spurrell's Cross Stone Row
Alternate name: Spurrell's cross stone row Encircled Cairn
ShortName: EC:Spurrells X
Butler map: 53.10
Grinsell: UGB 12
Turner: F9
Barrow Report: 56
Notes: Cairn at SX 65855985, 12 metres in diameter by 0.4 metres high, with two stones of retaining circle, from which double stone row descends to north north west. This cairn is located about 125 metres from Spurrells Cross.
Nearby sites: SX65865986

Butterdon Hill N.1 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65824 59761
NMR record: SX 65 NE 18
HER record: MDV2902
ShortName: CN:ButterdonN1
Butler map: 53.10.1
Grinsell: UGB 13
Nearby sites: SX65825976

Butterdon Hill N.2 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65996 59834
NMR record: SX 65 NE 12
HER record: MDV2901
ShortName: CN ButterdonN2
Butler map: 53.10.2
Grinsell: UGB 14
Nearby sites: SX66005983

Butterdon Hill N.3 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65726 59701
NMR record: SX 65 NE 51
HER record: MDV2904
ShortName: CN:ButterdonN3
Butler map: 53.10.3
Grinsell: UGB 13a
Nearby sites: SX65735970

Butterdon Hill N.4 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 65726 59701
NMR record: SX 65 NE 51
HER record: MDV2903
ShortName: CN?ButterdonN4
Grinsell: B:UGB 13b
Notes: Small cairn. Grinsell describes as perhaps a recent stone heap.
Nearby sites: SX65735970

Butterdon South Cist

OS Map: SX 65576 58524
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV125710
PMD: Butterdon South
ShortName: CT Butterdon S
Notes: Found by Dave Parks (author of Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks) on 30/03/2019 and confirmed as a probable cist by Nigel Stainer a few days later. HER states:

Parks, D. + Stainer, N., 2019, Small cairn with cist on Butterdon Hill, 08/04/2019

Previously unrecorded cairn identified by the authors (not mentioned by Butler or other key Dartmoor experts).

The feature comprises a small cairn with probable cist and capstone. There is evidence for historical and modern disturbance to the main cairn body. The cairn is positioned on the southern slope of Butterdon Hill, on top of steep slope overlooking Black Pool. Moor stone and clitter cover the surrounding moorland and this has hindered identification. A large cairn (MDV2896) is located 50 metres due east.

The cairn measures 3.2 metres north-south and 2.9 metres east-west and has a maximum height of 0.35 metres. Constructed from medium to large granite boulders, the upper course of which have all been disturbed.

There is slight evidence, in the form of partially exposed granite orthostats of a circular retaining kerb forming the external edge of the cairn but this could not be verified. Later disturbance has remodelled some of the large stones.

Probable remains of a central cist lined with four stone slabs, aligned north-west by south-east. Measures 0.68 metres north-west by south-east and 0.54 metres north-east by south-west internally. The north-east slab is composed of a very distinct dark stone that does not appear to be granite. This stone appears to have been placed on the side of the cist closest to the larger cairn to the east.

A large capstone that had been removed and propped up to the north at the time of recording is also present. Recent disturbance has loosened and dislodged the slabs on the south-west and north-west sides of the cist.

The cist appears to be filled with a fine, silty dark grey material. This was not investigated during the recording. Grass was growing on this fill in small patches indicating that the capstone had been removed for a period of time.

The capstone was replaced under the supervision of the Dartmoor National Park Archaeologist.
Nearby sites: SX65585852

Butter Brook Standing Stone

OS Map: SX 64747 59301
NMR record: SX 65 NW 37
HER record: MDV13095
Megalithic Portal: 45565
PMD: Butterbrook Standing Stone
ShortName: SS ButterBrook
Notes: The stone is easy to approach from the dry ground to the south but just beyond the stone to the north is marshland. A standing-stone, possibly prehistoric, near Butter Brook (near Harford) is 2.03m long and has a standing height of 1.77m. The stone is located towards the north of the eastern side of the plantation around Butterbrook reservoir. [Entry no. 70 in An archaeological check-list for Harford, Devon Archaeological Society/DCRA publications no. 11 (1982)]
Nearby sites: SX64755930

Harford Moor Settlement

OS Map: SX 64450 59310
NMR record: SX 65 NW 2
HER record: MDV2849
Megalithic Portal: 23440
ShortName: ST HarfordMoor
Notes: On the western side of Harford Moor reservoir.
Nearby sites: SX64455931

Harford Moor Gate (north of) Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 64350 59850
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV16515
ShortName: CN?Harford M2
Notes: A previously unrecorded doubtful small cairn. A partly turf-covered heap of small stones, 3m diameter, 0.3m high
Nearby sites: SX64355985

Butter Brook N Stone Row

OS Map: SX 65200 59900
NMR record: SX 65 NE 71
HER record: MDV13166
Megalithic Portal: 1970
The Stone Rows of GB: Butterbrook 2
PMD: Butter Brook 2 Stone Row
Alternate name: Butter Brook 1 Stone Row
ShortName: SR:Butter Br N
Butler map: 53.11
DPD page: 78
Notes: Continued notes from Butter Brook S. "At 73 metres from the terminal there is a single orthostat 0.5 metre high, standing 3.25 metres off centre south from the projection of the rows, at the edge of a small clitter of broken stones. A third row, irregularly spaced and not showing much above ground, meets the double section of the rows at an angle of about 10o on the north-west side, extending westward to about level with the terminal. Visual projection east-ward along the third row appears to be in line with the orthostat". Lethbridge 78 Rows 4/5 diagram p.77. Formerly listed as Butter Brook 2.
Nearby sites: SX65205990

Butter Brook S Stone Row

OS Map: SX 65100 59900
NMR record: SX 65 NE 71
HER record: MDV13166
Megalithic Portal: 1971
The Stone Rows of GB: Butterbrook 1
PMD: Butter Brook 1 Stone Row
Alternate name: Butter Brook 2 Stone Row
ShortName: SR Butter Br S
Butler map: 53.11
DPD page: 78
Notes: "A stone row about 42 metres long is situated on south sloping ground at SX 65145995, just north of the marshy Butterbrook valley. It is aligned south south west/north north east, and terminates at the south end in a hollow-centred ring of turf and stones of 2.5 metres diameter east/west, 3.2 metres north/south. The first stone in the row is 10.35 metres from the centre of the terminal, thereafter the spacing becomes about 3 metres. The maximum height of the stones is 0.67 metre. The row becomes double for about 12.5 metres (four to five pairs of stones), with a distance of 0.4 to 0.5 metre between rows, after which only the second row appears to continue." Lethbridge p.78 Rows 4/5 diagram p.77. Formerly listed as Butter Brook 1
Nearby sites: SX65105990

Butter Brook 1 stone row Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 65157 59942
NMR record: SX 65 NE 71
HER record: MDV130037
ShortName: CN Butter Br1
Butler map: 53.11.1
Notes: HER: Cairn '1' (Butler) at the south end of the stone row on Lower Piles. Small cairn in Butterdon Hill to Piles Hill stone row. Turf-covered stony mound of 4 metres by 0.4 metres high marks a change of orientation of north end of row
Nearby sites: SX65165994

Piles Hill S.W.2 Reported Cist

OS Map: SX 64812 59675
NMR record: SX 65 NW 31
HER record: MDV13091
PMD: Butter Brook
ShortName: CN:PilesSW 2
Butler map: 53.11.2
Grinsell: HAR 25
Notes: This cairn may also have headed a stone row but only one slab remains. At the centre of the cairn there is a flat slab which was probably the cover of a cist [Butler]. This area has very many patches of gorse that look like they could conceal a mound but could just be vegetation. This makes identifying claimed cairns very difficult. A mound could be identified on Lidar at SX 64810 59670 - this fits closely with both Butler's location and with the Garmin location of the object in the photo.
Nearby sites: SX64815968

Piles Hill S.W.3 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 64800 59500
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV13094
ShortName: CN:PilesSW 3
Butler map: 53.11.3
Notes: We have the following which might refer to the same cairn but it is hard to tell. 1)Butler 53.11.3 Piles Hill SW (SX64785963) size 10.0 x 0.4 2) HER MDV13094 (SX64805950) size 7 x 0.25. NOTE. Butler also listed this as being Grinsell Harford 25 (SX64885966) size 12 x 0.3 but that we have listed as another site. This area has very many patches of gorse that look like they could conceal a mound but could just be vegetation. This makes identifying claimed cairns very difficult. The author looked for this cairn on 20/04/2019 and was unable to find it.
Nearby sites: SX64805950

Piles Hill S.W.4 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 64697 59781
NMR record: SX 65 NW 33
HER record: MDV130031
ShortName: CN-PilesSW 4
Butler map: 53.11.4
Notes: Butler describes as cairn. However, possibly a clearance cairn associated with the Bulllaven Reave. This area has very many patches of gorse that look like they could conceal a mound but could just be vegetation. This makes identifying claimed cairns very difficult. The Butler cairns 53.11.4 and 53.11.5 have NGRs given by Butler as SX 6468 5975 and SX 6465 5974 respectively. Possible matches to these sites on Lidar data are mounds a few metres away to the north-east at SX 64679 59766 and SX 64692 59773. These two mounds could be found and have the locations of SX 64684 59771 and SX 64697 59781 as taken on a Garmin on 20/04/2019. The sites in the photos correspond to this.
Nearby sites: SX64705978

Piles Hill S.W.5 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 64684 59771
NMR record: SX 65 NW 33
HER record: MDV130032
ShortName: CN-PilesSW 5
Butler map: 53.11.5
Notes: Butler describes as cairn. However, possibly a clearance cairn associated with the Bulllaven Reave. This area has very many patches of gorse that look like they could conceal a mound but could just be vegetation. This makes identifying claimed cairns very difficult. The Butler cairns 53.11.4 and 53.11.5 have NGRs given by Butler as SX 6468 5975 and SX 6465 5974 respectively. Possible matches to these sites on Lidar data are mounds a few metres away to the north-east at SX 64679 59766 and SX 64692 59773. These two mounds could be found and have the locations of SX 64684 59771 and SX 64697 59781 as taken on a Garmin on 20/04/2019. The sites in the photos correspond to this.
Nearby sites: SX64685977

Piles Hill S.W.6 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 64590 59690
NMR record: SX 65 NW 33
HER record: MDV130033
ShortName: CN?PilesSW 6
Butler map: 53.11.6
Notes: Butler describes as cairn. However, possibly a clearance cairn associated withthe `Bulllaven Reave'. This area has very many patches of gorse that look like they could conceal a mound but could just be vegetation. This makes identifying claimed cairns very difficult. The author looked for this cairn on 20/04/2019 and was unable to find it. Lidar data points to a possible mound at SX 64614 59684 which is close to Butler's location of SX 6459 5969 but this could not be found.
Nearby sites: SX64595969

Piles Hill S.W.7 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 64610 59570
NMR record: SX 65 NW 33
HER record: MDV130034
ShortName: CN?PilesSW 7
Butler map: 53.11.7
Notes: Butler describes as cairn. However, possibly a clearance cairn associated withthe 'Bulllaven Reave'. This area has very many patches of gorse that look like they could conceal a mound but could just be vegetation. This makes identifying claimed cairns very difficult. The author looked for this cairn on 20/04/2019 and was unable to find it. However, Lidar data indicates the possibility of a mound at SX 64615 59588 which is very close to this grid reference - but this could not be found.
Nearby sites: SX64615957

Piles Hill S.W.8 Cairn

OS Map: SX 64568 59769
NMR record: SX 65 NW 38
HER record: MDV42373
ShortName: CN PilesSW 8
Butler map: 53.11.8
Notes: This area has very many patches of gorse that look like they could conceal a mound but could just be vegetation. This makes identifying claimed cairns very difficult. The photo maybe of this cairn. It is very close to what appears to be a mound on Lidar data at SX 64564 59766. Garmin location is SX 64568 59769 which matches well. The HER location is given as SX 64570 59758.
Nearby sites: SX64575977

Harford Gate Encircled Cairn

OS Map: SX 64494 59677
NMR record: SX 65 NW 32
HER record: MDV13092
Megalithic Portal: 3281
Alternate name: Piles Hill S.W.9 Encircled Cairn
ShortName: EC HarfordGate
Butler map: 53.11.9
Grinsell: HAR 26
Turner: F3
Notes: "This cairn occupies a prominent position on the brow of a hill and is one of two north-west of Harford Moor Gate. Measures 13 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres in height, it is turf-covered and has a retaining kerb." Visited by the author 20/04/19. Garmin gives location as SX 64495 59682 but a Lidar source gives location as SX 64494 59677 - which matches closely the HER NGR.
Nearby sites: SX64495968

Piles Hill S.W.13 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 64560 59910
NMR record: SX 65 NW 33
HER record: MDV130028
ShortName: CN:PilesSW13
Butler map: 53.11.13
Notes: Butler describes as cairn. However, possibly a clearance cairn associated withthe `Bulllaven Reave'.
Nearby sites: SX64565991

Piles Hill S.W.14 (c.7) Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 64700 59900
NMR record: SX 65 NW 33
HER record: MDV130027
ShortName: CNxPilesSW14
Butler map: 53.11.14
Notes: Possibly post medieval - associaed with reave like structure.
Nearby sites: SX64705990

Cantrell Stone Row

OS Map: SX 65688 57135
NMR record: SX 65 NE 44
HER record: MDV2889
Megalithic Portal: 1798
The Stone Rows of GB: Cantrell
PMD: Cantrell Stone Row
ShortName: SR Cantrell
Butler map: 53.12
DPD page: 80
Notes: "A double stone row, with a cairn at the north-east end, lies near the moor gate at Cantrell, Ugborough Moor. The southern row consists of nine stones, one of which is almost buried and one has fallen. The length of the row from the centre of the cairn is 153 feet and the alignment is N44o 20' E. The rows are from 7 to 12 feet apart and the stones are about 5 feet 6 inches apart, centre to centre. The cairn has a diameter of 22 feet and encloses what may be the remains of a cist".
Nearby sites: SX65695714

Cantrell stone rows Cairn

OS Map: SX 65722 57176
NMR record: SX 65 NE 44
HER record: MDV33471
PMD: Cantrell
ShortName: CN Cantrell
Butler map: 53.12
Grinsell: UGB 24
Notes: cairn at ne end of row worth no 62. Cairn 7m diameter: 0.6m high (am7). Vis=22/6/1973 (grinsell). Cairn with possible end-slab of cist in central hollow, giving orientation sse/nnw.
Nearby sites: SX65725718

Butterdon (ENE) Ancient Pool

OS Map: SX 65733 58969
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV127203
ShortName: PO:Butterdon
Notes: "A pool east-north-east of Butterdon. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near group of features including a stone row and cairns. Sub-rectangular shallow pit 15 metres by 19 metres and 0.4 metres deep. The edges show the remains of peat cutting"
Nearby sites: SX65735897

Black Pool (Western Beacon) Ancient Pool

OS Map: SX 65501 58131
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV127193
ShortName: PO:Black Pool
Notes: "One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Livestock watering pond, 30 metres by 20 metres and 0.6 metres deep. Pool has been modified by peat cutting."
Nearby sites: SX65505813

Hangershell Ancient Pool

OS Map: SX 65824 59588
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV127209
ShortName: PO:Hangershell
Notes: "A pool, one of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near a prehistoric cairn. Sub-rectangular shallow pit of 12 metres by 16 metres and 0. 5 metres deep. Drained to west and east edges which show the remains of peat cutting"
Nearby sites: SX65825959

Western Beacon 1 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 65428 57699
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV129913
ShortName: CN?WesternB 1
Butler map: 53.13.1
Notes: Butler "six cairns of large size surround a small cairn 6.0 x 0.3 on the highest point".
Nearby sites: SX65435770

Western Beacon 2 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65449 57732
NMR record: SX 65 NE 35
HER record: MDV3126
ShortName: CN WesternB 2
Butler map: 53.13.2
Grinsell: UGB 22
Notes: "Cairn is hollow in centre, otherwise in fair condition. Diameter 16.0m, height 1.7m."
Nearby sites: SX65455773

Western Beacon 3 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65470 57664
NMR record: SX 65 NE 36
HER record: MDV25001
ShortName: CN WesternB 3
Butler map: 53.13.3
Notes: "One of a group of three closely spaced cairns on the south-western brow of Western Beacon. Small cairn close to other cairns."
Nearby sites: SX65475766

Western Beacon 4 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65454 57646
NMR record: SX 65 NE 36
HER record: MDV25000
ShortName: CN WesternB 4
Butler map: 53.13.4
Notes: "Group of three closely spaced cairns on the south-western brow of Western Beacon."
Nearby sites: SX65455765

Western Beacon 5 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65407 57632
NMR record: SX 65 NE 37
HER record: MDV3123
ShortName: CN WesternB 5
Butler map: 53.13.5
Grinsell: HAR 23
Notes: "Cairn consisting of stone and earth base surmounted by a mound of stones measuring 25m in diameter and 1.8m high. Visitors have moved stones around to form shelters "
Nearby sites: SX65415763

Western Beacon 6 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65443 57624
NMR record: SX 65 NE 36
HER record: MDV3125
ShortName: CN WesternB 6
Butler map: 53.13.6
Grinsell: UGB 23
Notes: "Group of three closely spaced cairns on the south-western brow of Western Beacon. Cairn is in good condition. Diam 17.0m, 1.7m high."
Nearby sites: SX65445762

Western Beacon 7 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 65402 57570
NMR record: SX 65 NE 64
HER record: MDV28485
ShortName: CN-WesternB 7
Butler map: 53.13.7
Grinsell: UGB 23a
Notes: Cairn, or stoneheap from industrial workings measuring 24m in diameter x 3m high.
Nearby sites: SX65405757

Western Beacon 8 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 65121 58192
NMR record: SX 65 NE 31
HER record: MDV3133
ShortName: CN WesternB 8
Butler map: 53.14.8
Grinsell: HAR 20
Notes: "Turf covered cairn, practically round, badly mutilated with small hummocks in centre. Diameter 14.0m, height 1.0m. Lies south of enclosed hut circle settlement."
Nearby sites: SX65125819

Western Beacon 9 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65384 58124
NMR record: SX 65 NE 32
HER record: MDV3130
ShortName: CN WesternB 9
Butler map: 53.14.9
Grinsell: HAR 21
Notes: "Between western beacon and butterdon hill about 105m west of black pool. On flat, grassy ground that has been almost completely cleared of stones. A grass covered mound of stones, with hollow centre. Oval shape with longer diameter. Diameter e-w 16.50m, n-s 12.2m. Height 0.6m."
Nearby sites: SX65385812

Western Beacon 10 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65487 58105
NMR record: SX 65 NE 33
HER record: MDV3129
ShortName: CN WesternB10
Butler map: 53.14.10
Grinsell: HAR 22
Nearby sites: SX65495811

Western Beacon 11 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 65530 58050
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV129931
ShortName: CN?WesternB11
Butler map: 53.14.11
Notes: No matching entry on NMR or HER
Nearby sites: SX65535805

Western Beacon 12 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65584 58062
NMR record: SX 65 NE 62
HER record: MDV2894
ShortName: CN WesternB12
Butler map: 53.14.12
Grinsell: UGB 21a
Nearby sites: SX65585806

Western Beacon 13 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65713 58036
NMR record: SX 65 NE 50
HER record: MDV2905
ShortName: CN WesternB13
Butler map: 53.14.13
Grinsell: UGB 21b
Notes: NMR refers to Grinsell "216" - typo for 21b?
Nearby sites: SX65715804

Western Beacon 14 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65719 58027
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV24997
ShortName: CN WesternB14
Butler map: 53.14.14
Notes: No matching entry on NMR or HER
Nearby sites: SX65725803

Western Beacon 15 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65727 58032
NMR record: SX 65 NE 78
HER record: MDV24997
ShortName: CN WesternB15
Butler map: 53.14.15
Notes: ?
Nearby sites: SX65735803

Western Beacon 16 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65732 58041
NMR record: SX 65 NE 79
HER record: MDV24997
ShortName: CN WesternB16
Butler map: 53.14.16
Notes: Possible hut circle near 2 cairns
Nearby sites: SX65735804

Western Beacon 17 Cairn

OS Map: SX 65757 58028
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV129932
ShortName: CN WesternB17
Butler map: 53.14.17
Notes: No matching entry on NMR or HER
Nearby sites: SX65765803

Western Beacon 18 Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 65830 58020
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV129933
ShortName: CN?WesternB18
Butler map: 53.14.18
Notes: No matching entry on NMR or HER
Nearby sites: SX65835802

Western Beacon 19 Cist

OS Map: SX 65446 58597
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV132347
ShortName: CT:WesternB19
Notes: HER: Small stony mound west of cairn MDV3137, 1.7 metres diameter, 0.3 metres high, with upright stones in centre, 0.6 metres by 0.4 metress by 0.1 metres high, may be remains of a cist and low mound.
Nearby sites: SX65455860

Western Beacon (East of) Cairn

OS Map: SX 65594 57673
NMR: No record found
HER: No record found
Alternate name: Western Beacon 20 Cairn
ShortName: CN WesternB20
Turner: A30
Notes: Ring Cairn east of Western Beacon. UPDATE 01/01/2023: there is no HER entry for this ring cairn. It has been renamed in this listing to include "East of" since listing as Western Beacon (as it appears in Turner's list) is confusing. Alt-Name set to cairn 20. Turner gives SX 6556 5769 as the grid reference.
Nearby sites: SX65595767

Western Beacon (S of) Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 65400 57600
NMR record: SX 65 NE 64
HER record: MDV3099
Alternate name: Western Beacon 21 Clearance Cairn
ShortName: CN?WesternB21
Grinsell: B:UGB 23b-d
Notes: SX654576 Large oval stoneheaps, probably tin miners' spoil heaps (T. Greeves). Grid reference is approximate - the heaps are in this area. HER entry MDV28485 mentions the heaps in passing but is about Cairn 7. MDV3099 mentions quarying in the area. Alt-Name set to cairn 21
Nearby sites: SX65405760

Lud Brook Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 66014 58548
NMR: No record found
HER: No record found
ShortName: CN Lud Brook
Butler map: 53.15
Notes: A small cairn just in front of the Butterdon Hill neolithic long cairn which can be seen behind it. Butler: "Five metres from and in line with the lower end of the latter is a conventional round cairn, also dug into".
Nearby sites: SX66015855

Cuckoo Ball Chambered Tomb

OS Map: SX 65963 58195
NMR record: SX 65 NE 34
HER record: MDV2885
Megalithic Portal: 31700
PMD: Cuckoo Ball Chambered Cairn
Alternate name: Cuckoo Ball chambered cairn Chambered Tomb
ShortName: NT Cuckoo Ball
Butler map: 53.15
Butler Vol 5: p.155
DPD page: 80
Grinsell: A:UGB 1
Barrow Report: 30 56
Notes: "The remains of a long cairn and burial chamber on a hill-slope at Cuckoo Ball. The cairn, which was probably robbed for newtake walls to the west and north, is 23 metres long by 12 metres wide, aligned north/south, and is 0.7 metre high at the north. The burial chamber is at the north end."


Nearby sites: SX65965820

Butterdon Hill Chambered Tomb

OS Map: SX 66012 58573
NMR record: SX 65 NE 4
HER record: MDV2886
Megalithic Portal: 31698
PMD: Butterdon Long Cairn
Alternate name: Butterdon Hill chambered cairn Chambered Tomb
ShortName: NT Butterdon
Butler map: 53.15
Butler Vol 5: p.155
Grinsell: A:UGB 2
Notes: "The mound is situated on a slight south-east slope at 1050 ft O.D. It is 25 metres long, orientated north-south, is 16.0 metres wide and 0.9 metre high at the north end and 10.0 metres wide and 0.7 metre high at the south end. There are no visible side ditches. The construction is of earth and small stones but extensive pillaging and/or excavation has exposed a number of large upright and some displaced stones. The mound is certainly a long barrow."
Nearby sites: SX66015857

Beacon Plains 1 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66310 59477
NMR record: SX 65 NE 60
HER record: MDV2893
ShortName: CN BeaconPl 1
Butler map: 53.16.1
Grinsell: UGB 17a
Notes: ? Butler has incorrect NGR: 66225945 cf. 66375947 (Grinsell UGB 17a) NGR corrected
Nearby sites: SX66315948

Beacon Plains 2 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66389 59465
NMR record: SX 65 NE 10
HER record: MDV2892
ShortName: CN BeaconPl 2
Butler map: 53.16.2
Grinsell: UGB 17b
Notes: This should be approx. 50m distant from Beacon Plains 1. The slight mound with a change of vegetation in the photo might be this cairn (visited by author 30/03/2019). The co-ords given here are from this object. The HER co-ords are SX 66374 59469, the object in the photo is at SX 66389 59465. NB. The author revisited this on 22/04/2019. A more thorough search was done to try to pinpoint this cairn and nothing was found. This included looking up to 50 metres both west and east of the cairn (Beacon Plains 1) that can be easily located (the two are according to Butler separated by about 50 metres on an east to west line). The patch with a change of vegetation is an unconvincing site but it can't be ruled out!
Nearby sites: SX66395947

Ugborough Beacon 1 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66756 59113
NMR record: SX 65 NE 8
HER record: MDV3121
ShortName: CN Ugborough 1
Butler map: 53.16.3
Grinsell: UGB 17
Nearby sites: SX66765911

Ugborough Beacon 2 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66741 58926
NMR record: SX 65 NE 7
HER record: MDV2900
ShortName: CN Ugborough 2
Butler map: 53.16.4
Grinsell: UGB 18
Nearby sites: SX66745893

Ugborough Beacon 3 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66716 58789
NMR record: SX 65 NE 6
HER record: MDV3105
ShortName: CN Ugborough 3
Butler map: 53.16.5
Grinsell: UGB 19
Nearby sites: SX66725879

Eastern beacon (S) Platform Cairn Circle

OS Map: SX 66755 58770
NMR record: SX 65 NE 5
HER record: MDV3106
Megalithic Portal: 17583
Alternate name: Ugborough Beacon 4 Platform Cairn Circle
ShortName: PC Ugborough 4
Butler map: 53.16.6
Grinsell: UGB 20
Turner: E52
Barrow Report: 62
Notes: Flat top turf-covered cairn. 20.5m. diameter, 1.7m. high. Possible remains of retaining circle. Large hollow in centre
Nearby sites: SX66765877

Ugborough Beacon 5 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66731 58689
NMR: No record found
HER: No record found
ShortName: CN Ugborough 5
Butler map: 53.16.7
Notes: Butler: "Yet another cairn lies 75 m downhill on the edge of one of the numerous stone pits spread over this part of the hillside. Several large slabs lie within the central hollow where the structured interior distinguishes it from the surounding waste heaps". Not listed on NMR or HER.
Nearby sites: SX66735869

Ugborough Beacon 6 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66700 58600
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV132364
ShortName: CN:Ugborough 6
Notes: HER record only publicly includes a 6-digit NGR - so only accurate to 100 metres! HER: Visited on 10th April 2021, surveyed and photographed. Cairn on south side of Eastern Beacon: flat-topped circular stony mound, 10 metres diameter, 0.9 metres high, with extraction pits nearby, is likely to be a prehistoric cairn.
Nearby sites: SX66705860

Scad Brook Enclosed Settlement

OS Map: SX 66681 59973
NMR record: SX 65 NE 14
HER record: MDV2913
Megalithic Portal: 45573
ShortName: ES Scad Brook
DPD page: 81
Notes: Sub-circular enclosure approximately 1.25 hectares in area containing eleven hut circles ranging from 3.5 metres to 10 metres in diameter, with entrances facing south-east and many of the walls standing up to a metre high. The most complete hut has been excavated and re-instated with walls faced with orthostats and an entrance with jambs. Lethbridge p.81
Nearby sites: SX66685997