Dartmoor National Park Authority

Wigford Down

Wigford Down PAL contains a number of prehistoric burial sites, taking the form of low stony, vegetation covered mounds (cairns), some surrounded by a circle of low upright stones.

Surrounded by enclosed fields and woodland, this isolated down also contains a very well preserved prehistoric field system.

Long straight parallel field boundaries (reaves) can clearly be seen crossing the landscape in a NW/SE direction; others run in the opposite direction, subdividing the long narrow fields.  Towards the SE edge of the Down the field boundaries finish up against another NE/SW reave, known as the Eylesbarrow Reave. This marks the upper limit of enclosed land in prehistoric times.  Reaves appear on the ground as low stony, vegetation-covered banks.  The field system is about three and a half thousand years old and contains the remains of stone built round houses (hut circles).  Some of these are associated with curving enclosure walls and may pre-date the creation of the field system.

A later medieval field system developed over much of the reave system, often reusing the earlier boundaries. Traces of medieval cultivation, in the form of ridge and furrow, can be found in places.  On the western slopes of the Down are the remains of two rectangular stone-built houses, probably longhouses.

Industrial activity is represented by areas of tin streaming/openworking along the shallow valley bottom; this is known to have been worked in the 16th century; associated with this are a number of leats and reservoirs.  Several disused 19th century china clay pits, remains of the Wigford Down China Clay Works, are present along the eastern edge of the Down, north of Cadover Bridge.

Only some of the individual hut circles and cairns are at present designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs).

The area contains acid grassland with valley mire habitats. Several UK BAP species are present and all are associated with the valley mires including: Plants- Marsh Clubmoss. Birds- Snipe, Lapwing. Insects- Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly.

What it should look like:  The most appropriate vegetation for this site would be mainly short acid grassland (5 to 15 cm) with discrete small areas of Western Heath managed on an appropriate rotation. Areas of Bracken and Common Gorse require control. The ultimate aim would be their removal across substantial areas of the PAL. The mires are important and should be kept open.

Interactive Mapping (GIS) System

The link below provides access to an interactive map which shows the PAL at Wigford Down.  You can zoom in further on a specific area of interest using the tools provided.  (For additional help using the system please refer to our GIS help page.)

Page updated 16 September 2009