| Summary : The monument includes the remains of a deserted medieval settlement on the north east flank of Smallacoombe Downs on south east Bodmin Moor. The settlement extends along a NNW-SSE broad street; spaced over 120 metres on its west are four rectangular long houses, accompanied by three large and several smaller ancillary buildings. On the east is a corn drying barn, with ovens in opposed walls. The settlement is adjoined by garden plots in an area of larger fields. All of these fields contain ridge and furrow cultivation. North of the settlement, the street narrows to an embanked track curving 150 metres north west through the fields, flaring to meet a north-south boundary along the limit of intensive medieval cultivation. This medieval boundary is a 'corn-ditch', with a sloping ramp facing cultivated land around the settlement but with a walled vertical outer face and outer ditch facing less intensively used land, pasture and moor. South of the settlement, the street again narrows for 60 metres then turns west; beyond the corn-ditch, it ascends the midslope as a hollow way. Scheduled. |
More information : (SX 2271 7608) British Settlement (NR)
Flint Tools, Pottery & Quern found AD 1891 (NAT) (1)
The deserted Medieval village of Trewortha (centred SX 2268 7609)
consists of a cluster of nine, possibly ten, oblong houses on an east
facing slope. The houses lie east-west with their doors to the south
and the settlement occupies an area of some 500 feet by 300 feet. Two
or three hut-circles lie in this area.
Two features of interest are a high, protective bank on the west and
a 60 foot wide approach road from the north enclosed within upright
stones. The road was blocked near the village boundary by a wall of
upright stones with a gateway 10 feet wide.
The nine huts examined had one to four chambers and the largest, 80ft
by 20ft, contained a dwelling hall with stone seats set in the wall.
Beresford describes Baring-Gould's excavation as the first excavation
and archaeological survey of a Medieval site in Britain.
The house-sites and their associated fields and paddocks (centred SX
2290 7557) and well shown up in Dr St Joseph's air photographs.
Documentary evidence and pottery dating suggest occupation from the
late 12th century. One Bronze Age hut had been used as the "hood" of
a Medieval platform house. (For Bronze Age occupation see SX 27 NW 5,
16, 55, 56, 57 and 58). (2,3,4,5)
Fields of the Medieval settlement are clearly visible on air
photographs 3G TUK/UK 137 Pt III April '46. Nos. 5203-5 in the areas
SX 2285 7557 and SX 2322 7551. Numerous hut circles, together with
contemporary fields and enclosures are also visible. See Map diagram. (6)
The deserted Medieval settlement is as described by authorities 3-5
and is in a good state of preservation. Fuller details of the RCHME
survey and observations can be found in the project archive. (7)
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