Details

The monument, which is known as Staddon Hill Camp, lies in two separate areas
of protection and includes a hill-slope enclosure with associated primary and
secondary outworks. The earthworks are located on a north-facing slope of
Staddon Hill, below Ashcombe Plantation. The site, which is believed to be
Iron Age in date, occupies a spur on the north side of the hill which falls
steeply away from the north and east sides to the valley forged by the
Larcombe Brook below, and from the west side to an unnamed tributary. The
ground rises gradually to the south and south west to form a wide plateau.
The enclosure occupies the lower, north side of the spur and the outworks are
situated broadly east to west across the higher ground of the plateau to the
south. The enclosure is univallate and sub-circular in plan with an area of
about 0.1ha enclosed by an earthen rampart bank with an external ditch. The
bank is 7m wide and survives to a height of between 1.8m and 2.5m above the
ditch which is an average of 6m wide. The ditch along the north section of
the enclosure has a counterscarp bank around 0.4m high. There is one entrance
into the enclosure which is located on the west side. It is a simple causeway
type formed by a 4.4m wide break in the rampart banks which have rounded
terminals; it is believed to be original. A sub-circular platform is located
just to the north east of the entrance, adjoining the rampart terminal: it
may be an original feature contemporary with the enclosure, possibly
representing a hut site. The primary outwork is located about 20m to the
south of the enclosure bank. It is aligned east-west across the spur of the
hill and is formed by a curved bank, about 60m long and between 0.2m and 1.2m
high with a ditch on the upper, south side. A secondary outwork bank and
ditch which follows the same alignment is located a further 110m to the
south. This is 74m long and between 0.2m and 2m high above the ditch which
flanks the south side of the bank. The original profile of the ditch has been
modified in places by the addition of a later field bank and, more recently
by forestry activities. The original purpose of the hill-slope enclosure
remains uncertain. That it had a defensive role, considering its spur-end
position with additional outworks, and that it was used for pastoral
management, are both common suggestions.
All fence posts and fencing are excluded from the scheduling although the
ground beneath these features is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Exmoor is the most easterly of the three main upland areas in the south
western peninsula of England. In contrast to the other two areas, Dartmoor
and Bodmin Moor, there has been no history of antiquarian research and
little excavation of Exmoor monuments. However, detailed survey work by
the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England has confirmed
a comparable richness of archaeological remains, with evidence of human
exploitation and occupation from the Mesolithic period to the present day.
Hillslope enclosures provide the main evidence for the Iron Age on Exmoor.
First categorised by Lady Aileen Fox in 1952, their morphology has been
refined by the Royal Commission survey. Despite their name they do not
occur only on hillslopes, although their usual location is on a sheltered
valley side. They are smaller than hillforts, generally no larger than
between 50m and 80m across, and usually less well defended. The enclosure
itself is defined by a single bank, often with an associated ditch, with a
single entrance. In some cases, where natural slopes form part of the
defences, the bank may not form a complete circuit and may be missing
where the angle of slope acts in its stead. Where it can be recognised,
the settlement evidence within these enclosures comprises platforms
indicating the position of buildings.
Around 50 hillslope enclosures with upstanding earthworks have been
identified on Exmoor. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving examples, particularly those with
a complete or near complete circuit of defences, are considered worthy of
protection.

Despite some disturbance to the secondary outwork from tree planting, the
enclosure and associated earthworks on Staddon Hill survive well and provide
a good example of a hill-slope enclosure with two sets of clearly-defined
outworks. Archaeological remains and environmental evidence are likely to be
preserved within the enclosure's interior which have the potential for
providing important information about the site and the wider landscape in
which it was constructed. It is one of just five similar enclosures on Exmoor
which have additional outworks, and is one of only two which have multiple
outworks.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Riley, H, Wilson-North, R, The Field Archaeology of Exmoor, (2001), 65-70
Riley, H, Wilson-North, R, The Field Archaeology of Exmoor, (2001), 65-70
Other
SS 83 NE 4, National Monuments Record,

Source: Historic England