Copyright: Tom Bullock. From “Stone Circles… and stone rows – Photographic Tours”. Published on CD
A single stone row measuring 508m long, including at least 99 mainly small and medium-sized together with a few large stones situated on a north facing slope with two separate sea view reveals. The row is orientated north to south and there is a kerbed cairn at the upper southern end. The row stands in the vicinity of a stone row, several cairns and prehistoric settlements.
Location
| England Devon Dartmoor SX 6369 6016 Lat 50.42541185 Long -3.920332943 |
Map showing the location of Burford Down stone row.
Simplified plan of the Burford Down stone alignment (Source: Butler, J.,1993).
Map showing the position of Burford Down, other stone rows and sites.
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 508m |
| No. of stones: 99 | Size of stones: Small, medium and large |
| Orientation: 178° | Altitude: 267m |
| Upper end: Cairn | Lower end: Pillar |
| Straight (Yes or No) : No | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: Prehistoric settlement, stone row and cairns | |
| Notes | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: National Park |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: Yes |
Identification
Category: Plausible. No doubts have been expressed regarding the prehistoric interpretation of this row.
Typology
This stone row is of Type S12. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Photographs
The photographs below are in a north to south sequence with the first ones being from the northern end and the final ones from the south. The grid reference for the postion of the 1m high ranging rod are cited to provide further locational information.
The northern end of the row at SX 63708 60631. View from east.
Looking southward along the row.
Plymouth Sound is visible from the northern end of the row and disappears from view at SX 63706 60592.
Stone at SX 63705 60621. View from the south.
View of Plymouth Sound from SX 63705 60611. As you proceed south along the row Plymouth Sound becomes increasingly visible to start with before slowly shrinking and disappearing from view at SX 63706 60592.
Stones in the vicinity of SX 63705 60611. View from the south.
At SX 63705 60611 four large cairns are visible on the skyline on Butterdon Hill.
Small stone at SX 63706 60575. View from south.
As you proceed south up the hill Plymouth Sound slowly disappears behind rising ground. View from SX 63707 60553.
A pair of stones at SX 63707 60553. View from south east.
A large stone at SX63705 60521 measures 0.85m high. View from south east.
Stone at SX 63708 60502. View from south.
The four cairns on the Butterdon Hill skyline viewed from SX 63708 60502.
Small stone at SX 63706 60470. View from south.
A pair of tiny stones at SX 63707 60448. View from south.
Stone at SX 63707 60443. View from south.
Stone at SX 63707 60435 barely protruding through the turf. View from south.
Stones at SX 63705 60409. View from the south.
A pair of upright stones at SX 63705 60409. View from the north west.
Tiny stone at SX 63706 60393. View from south.
Small stone at SX 63707 60386. View from south.
Upright stone at SX 63705 60372. View from west.
Stone nearly hidden by gorse growth at SX 63706 60355. View from south.
Stone at SX 63706 60341. View from south.
Stone at SX 63706 60327. View from south.
Stones at SX 63704 60321. View from west.
Stones at SX 63704 60299. View from south west.
A length of the row at SX 63704 60299. View from south.
A length of the row at SX 63704 60299. View from south.
A length of the row at SX 63704 60299. View from north.
A length of the row at SX 63704 60285. View from south.
A length of the row at SX 63703 60278. View from south.
A length of the row at SX 63703 60278. View from south.
A length of the row at SX 63703 60268. View from south.
A length of the row to the north of SX 63703 60268. View from south.
Stone at SX 63705 60259 stands 0.9m high. In the middle distance is Tristis Rock with Butterdon Hill beyond. View from west.
View from SX 63705 60259 looking towards Tristis Rock with Butterdon Hill cairns beyond. View from west.
Stone row at SX 63703 60243. View from north.
Stone row at SX 63703 60243. View from south.
The sinuous form of the stone row at SX 63702 60244 is clearly discernible in this photograph. View from north.
Stone row at SX 63705 60238. A sea view towards the south appears at this point. View from south.
Stone row at SX 63705 60225. View from south.
The sinuous form of the row at SX 63705 60225 is obvious. View from south.
The row at SX 63703 60216 approaching the kerbed cairn at the top (southern) end. The landscape and sea view previously hidden by raising ground is now apparent. View from north.
The sea is much more obvious with a low sun shining on it and is transformed into a dazzling sliver of light. It seems very likely that this occasional “visual treat” was of significance to the row builders who often incorporated these types of sea view. Photograph kindly provided by CatrinM.
View from the top of the row highlighting the sea view ( ©CatrinM ).
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Sea view reveal at Burford Down. The dramatic slither of light appears above the terminal cairn as you approach the southern end of the row. It is hard to believe that this was not deliberate and therefore strongly supports the existence of a link between the row and the sea ( ©CatrinM ).
Two large recumbent orthostats denote the southern end of the row. The largest measures 1.5m long by 0.55m wide and protrudes 0.2m above the ground surface. The largest stones in a row are often found at the upper end. View from north east.
Part of the kerb of the cairn at the top of the row. The row can be seen leading into the far distance. View from south.
Best preserved length of the row viewed from the kerbed cairn at the southern end of the row.
Nearby cairn with cist at SX 63780 60163 forms part of the prehistoric context for this row. View from west with Tristis Rock in the background.
Nearby cairn with cist at SX 63780 60163 forms part of the prehistoric context for this row. View from west with Tristis Rock in the background.
Access Information
Very limited car parking is available at SX 62102 60910. Care should be taken to ensure that the highway is not restricted and access to the adjacent field is not obstructed. From here walk eastward up the lane and follow the footpath to the Erme Valley to SX 63582 61142. From here head south to the row passing the Stalldown SE stone row on the way.
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal Modern Antiquarian PastScape Historic Environment Record
Prehistoric Monuments of Dartmoor Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks Sea Views
Other References
Burl, A., 1993, From Carnac to Callanish – The prehistoric rows and avenues of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Yale University Press, New York and London, pg. 214.
Butler, J., 1993, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities – Vol. 4 – The South-East, Devon Books Exeter, pgs. 58-60.
Timeline
VISITED:- 2nd May 2018
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 15th January 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 24th November 2022
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 