NDAS Hartland XArch Project

Newsletter No 1	Hartland Swannery	Monoliths or Rubbing Posts?
Newsletter No 2	Hedge Survey	So Where is the Castle?
Newsletter No 3	Hartland Abbey Coach Drive	Water Mills

Excavation Training Week:
5th - 10th May 2008
A week long excavation on the Hartland site will be held to investigate the long ovaloid feature on the east side of the site. It has been suggested that this could be one of a pair of Long Barrows or may be Warren features. Members of NDAS and from the general community are invited to take part in the excavation. Volunteers can work either for a single day or the week. A small team from Exeter University XArch Project will lead the excavation and provide the training. An open day on the 10th May will be held to display the results. For details contact Steve Hobbs [see above] or Penny Cunningham. Download a Poster.

Newsletter No 1 June 2007

As many of you will know we have been involved in various aspects of research into Hartland’s past for a number of years and the present project is an extension on the work of the previous years. The Hartland Society has a strong membership and has run a series of winter season meetings for the last thirty years bringing to the community talks on many aspects of local history and nature. It is with the support of the Hartland Society membership that the initial projects started; the digitisation of the archive materials, the involvement with Exeter University on its first Community Landscapes Project and now again with the University on the XArch Project.

Overall the aim is to involve as wide a range of people as is possible in discovering elements of the past times of the area. To allow inclusion of many lines of thought and methods as is possible to enable anyone to advance their skills. To bring to the local and wider community the opportunity to become involved or to simply observe; allow the study to be used as an educational tool at all levels. This can involve the local schools on site visits or school talks and Exeter University are allowing their students to incorporate aspects of the project as work placements in furtherance of higher educational needs.

The outcome would be that we can advance the knowledge of the area and allow the project to encourage and support individuals in their own aspects of an understanding of their locality: That this can be accomplished in such a way as to be easily presentable to the community in the form of presentations, publication or individual studies.

For those who are unaware of the earlier Community Landscapes Project, The moorland regions of Hartland were chosen to investigate the development of farming and habitations through field work, document research and palaeo-environmental study. The project was headed by Sean Hawken of Exeter University and two PhD students Lucy Franklin and Charlotte Hawkins. Lucy investigated Deptford and Bursdon Farms, within Hartland, and identified and recorded the extent of the settlement at a date pre 16th Century when it was in multiple occupancies. Charlotte complemented the work by taking core samples from the localised wet-lands surrounding Bursdon, Kennerland and Clifford and was able to show how the types of plant species had varied or declined in association with changes in the farming and lifestyles of the inhabitants. The project ended with a series of presentations at participating community venues and the work was incorporated into PhD thesis for doctorates (shortly available at Exeter University Library or via the thesis service of the British Library: May 2007).

The present XArch project is an adaptation of the previous Landscapes Project again for community involvement and similarly in receipt of Lottery Heritage funding.

The intervening period has seen continued investigations by Brian Warmington and Stephen Hobbs into many aspects of the local history. Brian has been actively looking at the early establishment of the religious community at Hartland whilst Stephen has used a number of subjects within his studies at Oxford & Plymouth Universities. Rob Wilson has conducted a study of the changes at Stoke Barton associated with agricultural improvements in particular the removal of many monoliths from the landscape. As with much research this always raises as many questions as answers!

The opportunity to participate in the XArch Project has allowed selection of initially one area for investigation. The choice of which area and why has been the subject of a collaboration between Stephen Hobbs and Brian Hummerstone who were recording different aspects of the archaeology/development at Berry Farmhouse, Hartland during preparation for its redevelopment. The normal tea and sandwiches break, whilst also admiring the extensive views from Berry, lead into an informative discussion on a variety of aspects of ‘What was happening at The Warren’? In turn Brian and Stephen combined the most modern of technologies Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) with possibly one of the eldest Dowsing. By comparing the results of scans of the immediate area surrounding the ruin on the Warren and the dowsing it suggested that the building may have been extensively larger than is at present indicated. In the surrounding area existed a large number of landscape features that suggested extensive use and adaptation of the landscape for human need. The initial results were presented to Sean Hawken at Exeter as a suggestion for inclusion within XArch and were in turn accepted subject to some trial verification.

An initial field visit by Sean was to establish if by use of Magnetometery confirmation of our predictions could be established. Obviously that was partially the case and as further features also were seen on the results the area was accepted as a XArch project.

In the loosest definition the area under investigation is contained within the bounds of Stoke Barton Farm, part of the greater Hartland Abbey Estate and co-located with the earlier monastic house. Our thanks are expressed to Sir Hugh Stucley and Colin Davey for permission to access the land for non-invasive recording.

To date three areas have been commenced each being linked to the greater project area. The principal area is that surrounding and on the east of the ruin on the Warren. Over a number of days the ground has been scanned, almost as a 260 x 100 metre block . It is intended to cover the whole field from this block as far south as the road leading to Hartland Quay, this will establish the context of the features recorded in that area. On the completion of that initial block, if it proves of interest, then similarly the area northwards will be covered to its reasonable extent (gorse permitting).

The more recent work has been undertaken in two areas south of the Hartland Quay road; firstly the most westerly field adjacent to the Toll Road and secondly the northern slope of the field known as Big Sheeplace. Each has in turn revealed interesting detail and confirms the need to extend the area into the fields on both sides of the road east towards Stoke hamlet. The use of satellite and aerial images has also indicated that further features such as enclosures, habitation units and burials are possibly present in some quantity. The whole is of particular interest due to its close proximity with the centre of the cult of St. Nectan and the early modification of landscape for a Christianised society.

Initial interpretation: The ruin of the ‘Pleasure House’(HER 37676 NGR: SS2264225082) and the mound, often referred to as the Warren (HER 43119 NGR: SS226-251-), are the only obviously visible features within the field. Field walking and observation has brought out additional aspects of the immediate landscape and the use of Resistivity and Magnetometery has started to reveal the underlying land usage. The visible ruin sits on an extensive area of what is a man-made mound the full extent of which is as yet not revealed. The three new (unknown) and one existing (known) barrows (B) are probably on top of or within the depth of the mound. The visually obvious mound (HER 43120 NGR: SS22702507). The substantial bank and ditch running north/south (E) is at present unplaced in relation to the mound but is a feature of approximately five metres in width, similarly the double bank and ditch system (D) on the east is running parallel with the extant field hedge and terminates in a stone semi-circular feature, further work will reveal the direction and extent of both these systems. The enclosure features (A) originally indicated an eliptical shape with a complex southern entry point, the extension of the scan has shown that a second entry point exists on the north, the possibility has to be that these are two features rather than one complex layout. Feature (C) has initially been interpreted as a modern herring-bone drainage system, although at present it is in reverse to the natural flow of water for such a system. There are extensive springs within the whole study area and many drains were installed since the 1950s drive for food, many of these drain into the resevoir south of scan area 2. Similarly an alkathene water supply system exists which feeds the various water troughs present in the fields also the cottage at Blackpool Mill and the hotel complex at Hartland Quay. the position of these pipe runs are known and in the main run tight against the hedge system on the south side of the main access road. There are other features evident within the scans that have as yet been undefined. Some of the underlying features are indicative of the Bronze Age, possibly of a ritualistic nature and agricultural usage.

The scan area in Figure 2 is 100m x 260m east/west.
Datum location: 3m parallel line run north/south on east of the extant ruin, the first block of 20m x 20m east/west off centre line of ruin (almost true east). Weather over the two days of working this area, windy but dry with incoming rain on the second day. Dates are autumn 19/10/2006;2/3/2007and 22/5/2007 dry and hot.

Initial interpretation: This field has a double convex incline dropping away towards a small stream on the south (now has a reservoir on the stream c.1900 built to supply the hotel), the slope faces south. The substantial double bank and ditch system (E) clearly shows on both satellite and aerial images, it is also shown as a hedge boundary on the 1886 O/S maps. The hedge was reduced in the 1950s possibly as part of the post war drive for food. Intriguingly the hedge does not show on the 1846 Tithe Map or an estate map of c.1700 (the provenance of this map is open to discussion). The interpretation is that the system is reminiscent of such as a delineating boundary system or substantial enclosure. If this eventually connects with the system identified in Area 1 will be a point of some interest. The two parallel field enclosure stone walls (A) and its associated ploughing marks (B) pass under the bank and ditch system, thus are earlier. Combined with the one certain and a second possible hut circle (C) this is indicative of a Bronze Age settlement and will possibly continue into the adjacent field on the east. The unidentified line (D) does not at present give any indication of its use either by shape or direction and will be monitored again into the adjacent field. The scan area in Figure 3 is 80 x 140m east/west. Datum location: 10m south of north gate/fence and 3m west of hedge line, grid running parallel with extant hedge north/south. Weather hot and dry, date 3/5/2007.

It may be advantageous to undertake a hedge/bank survey on the Stoke Barton land to reveal if there is any sequencing of the present enclosures. In particular the extensive systems against the cliff wastes and along the southern road boundaries are of interest. The earth and stone bank that surrounds an area known as The Swannery and its associated hedges are similarly of interest as would a core sample/Total Station study to establish if indeed the area of the Swannery was at anytime under water?

Initial interpretation: This area has shown certain landscape features when viewed form the opposite valley side, such as a possible enclosure mark and a plateau. The area scanned has proven difficult to interpret. Area ‘A’ gave a completely neutral reading which may be due to the presence of a substantial water basin at what is the head of the small stream. The remaining land area is similar to made-up ground possibly spoil from some form of sub-surface workings. The numerous and unformatted scatter (C) could be slag from an early metal working site. The two linear features (B) are not conclusive at present and may well be geology or from the general background noise of the scan. An early photo c.1920 would seem to indicate that the plateau area contained an aspect of human involvement. It has been decided that further work on this area will be suspended in favour of working on Area 1. Brian Hummerstone will do a number of GPR scans on certain parts of Area 3 to try and define the content of the scatter. Scan area in Figure 4 is 60m x 140m east/west. Datum location: Taken from existing electricity pole, its location is 83m west of east hedge in line with church tower from a point 16m south of gateway. Pole is 4m off north fence and grid point is 20m due south of pole in true north/south orientation. Weather hot and dry, date 4/5/2007.

These interpretations are provisional and will change as more of the features of the greater study area are disclosed. The next scheduled period for working on site is 6th of June, weather dependent. All are welcome. To receive further newsletters please ensure that Stephen has your Email address!

Participating parties: Hartland Society; Hartland Study Group; North Devon Archaeology Society; and Exeter University.