Dartmoor National Park Authority

Part of the first purpose of designation of the National Park is the conservation and enhancement of the cultural heritage. The archaeology service is actively involved in a variety of conservation works in order to ensure the continuing survival of Dartmoor’s archaeological sites, many of which are several thousand years old. With nearly 18,000 archaeological sites recorded on the Historic Environment Record, priority has to be given to emergency repairs and those sites deemed to be most at risk.

These works range from the repair of the erosion around the upstanding stones of prehistoric ceremonial sites caused by stock who have discovered that some stones are the right height to relieve an itch.; to the consolidation of ruined structures, often situated out on the open moor where natural decay caused by both time and harsh weather have taken their toll.

Working in partnership
The Dartmoor National Park Authority and English Heritage (EH) jointly manage three of Dartmoor’s most well known and visited archaeological sites; these are Merrivale, Grimspound and Hound Tor.
These three sites were already Properties In Care having been taken into state guardianship in the 1970s.
In the 1990s it was agreed that the National Park Authority should jointly manage the sites with a Management Agreement being signed in 1993. The Authority now undertakes the day to day management of these sites and is providing interpretive literature.

Monument Management Scheme
The National Park Authority and English Heritage are also joint partners in the above scheme which provides joint funding for conservation work on some of the nationally important sites. Over the past two years the scheme has provided funding to carry out a diverse array of works. These include consolidation works to buildings at Powdermills gunpowder factory, the re-erection of a fallen stone at Yellowmead stone circle and providing granite lining stones on the Merrivale Leat.

Field Monument Warden
Within the National Park Authority there is currently a shared post of Archaeologist and EH Field Monument Warden which has greatly improved the everyday working efficiency of the two bodies, and ensured speedy reaction to any problems.

Working with Volunteers
The Authority often uses the good services of various conservation volunteer bodies such as the Tavistock and District Conservation Volunteers and the Dartmoor Preservation Association (external site, opens new window) in its programme of archaeological works.
The Dartmoor Preservation Association has been involved in the removal of invasive vegetation from overgrown archaeological sites and bracken control. This has then allowed detailed survey to be undertaken.
Members of the Tavistock Conservation Volunteers undertake the clearance of invasive vegetation from sensitive archaeological sites. Many important archaeological sites have been cleared including prehistoric enclosures at Bellever, Second World War aircraft dispersal pens at the former RAF Harrowbeer and a forgotten Edwardian garden hidden within Hawns Wood.