Langcombe Brook 5 Cist

Database entries

PDW coverage: Dartmoor Site: Guide to the Langcombe Brook & Deadman's Bottom Cists
OS Map: SX 60878 66421
OS Source: HER
Butler OS: SX60876641
HER: MDV5129
HER 2026 URL: MDV5129
Megalithic Portal: 45767
PMD: Langcombe Brook 5
Alternate name: Langcombe Brook 5
Short Name: CT:Langcombe 5
Butler map: 50.3.5
Dixon Cist #: 110
Grinsell: SHAUGH PRIOR 17
DPD page: 46
Exist: Yes
Record: Unique
Record Source: Butler
Hut Class: No
Cist Class: Yes
Cairn Class: Yes
Dimensions (m): 1.4 x 0.6 C
Lidar: SX 60878 66421
Guide Map: 50
Nearest Bus Stop: Lee Moor Clearview (7.5 km) [Route: 59]
Nearby sites: SX 60878 66421

Notes

HER: (1950) Two end stones and two side stones are in position but the coverstone is missing. The tops of the stones are at ground level Length of N side stone 1.4m, S side stone 1m, W end stone 0.6m, and E end stone 0.5m. Present depth of cist is 0.3m.. This cist is hard to find. Try precise NGR for this record and walk 30 metres on a trajectory 220 true (roughly SSW) to check alternative reported locations.

The author has looked for this cist on a few occasions and has been unable to locate it. The HER notes suggest it was found in 1950. The HER reports that the OS Archaeological Division stated in 1978 There is no reason to doubt that this cist is still in position and as planned in 1950 but it was not located during investigation.

The Grinsell report 1978 says it was located by JRT (Joe Turner) on 14/10/1976 at SX 6086 6640 (N.B. 1976 was a dry summer).

Butler Langcombe Brook 5 (Cairn 5) - Vol. 3. Map 50.3 (pp.148-54 general plan of Langcombe Brook cairns p.151, diagram of Langcombe cists p.153). Butler gives location as SX 6087 6641.

Butler (1994): Cairn 5, some 50 m south of the stream, is not easy to locate. Very little remains of the covering mound and though the four sides of the cist are present, the end slabs tipping inwards but in place, it lies concealed in long grass. The fate of the missing cover slab and cairn stones is a mystery in this remote spot far from any newtakes.

Bill Radcliffe's entry for this feature says: All four side stones present, but difficult to find..

On Megalithic Portal Bladup found a hole (see photos on MP) at the grid reference that originated from these listings (passed on to Megalithic portal) but he states: There was a hole there, but i could only feel one stone in the hole and couldn't feel any other cist stones at all, So i've no idea what the hole was/is? Only that I was at the correct map reference.

The feature clearly exists as there are two good photos to be found in Lethbridges' Discover Prehistoric Dartmoor on p.46 (diagram p.43). Unfortunately no accurate grid reference is given. Lethbridge states:

Cist I is another that could well disappear from our view within a few years if care is not afforded to it, it is sometimes difficult to locate where it is situated among a large acreage of tussocky ground. When I first photographed it, three of its stones could be seen showing well above ground level, now only one end stone is clear of the turf..

This could make the find by Bladup consistent with this cist.

This record has for years used a grid reference that originated with the HER record. The author is reviewing (Oct 2026) the grid references for Butler originating records not found especially where the grid reference used is different to that stated by Butler. Repeatedly looking for a feature at an inaccurate location could explain failure to find it.

We have 3 grid references for this record. The HER 10 digit and two old 8 digit grid references as follows.



The HER NGR will be retained on this record but the author recommends starting the search at that location (should be a pit there) and walking 30 metres on a trajectory 220 true (roughly SSW).

References

These are selected references with an emphasis on out of copyright sources linked as PDFs. For more detailed references try any linked HER or PMD record above.

• Butler, Jeremy, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, vol.3: The South-West, (1994)
• Grinsell, L.V., Dartmoor Barrows, Devon Archaeological Society Proceedings No.36 (1978)
• Lethbridge, William D., Discover Preshistoric Dartmoor, (2015)