Benjamy

View from the south east.

A wide double stone row (or avenue) measuring up to 16m long, originally including at least 9 small and medium-sized stones situated on a gentle north facing slope with a restricted sea view. The row is orientated north east to south west and stands in the vicinity of several ring cairns and a stone row.

Location

England	Somerset	Exmoor	SS 72806 43448
Lat 51.17603231   Long -3.82101499

Map showing the location of Benjamy stone row.

Plan of the Benjamy double stone row. (From Chanter and Worth, 1905, 392).

Plan of the Benjamy double stone row. Upright stones shown black, recumbent stone shown green and socket holes grey (Source: Chanter and Worth, 1905, 392).

Plan of the Benjamy double stone row. Upright stones shown grey and recumbent stones shown green. The row seems to have changed a great deal in the past 100 years. Only seven stones are currently visible (Source: Survey at 1:100 by Sandy Gerrard).

Map showing the position of Benjamy, other stone rows and other sites around Furzehill Common (Source: Exmoor National Park HER). 

Characteristics

Type: Double	Length: 16m
No. of stones: 9	Size of stones: Small and medium
Orientation: 45°	Altitude: 379m
Upper end: – No	Lower end: –
Straight (Yes or No)  :	Sea View: Yes
Context:  Cairns
Notes: Called Thorn Hill by Burl

Other Information

Public Access:  Yes

Land Status: National Park

Scheduled Ancient Monument: No

Identification

Category: Plausible. No doubts have been expressed regarding the prehistoric interpretation of this row.

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Typology

This stone row is of Type D1. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.

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Photographs

The western line of stones. View from south west (Scale 1m).

 

View from north east (Scale 1m).

View from south (Scale 1m).

Individual Stones

Plan of Benjamy stone row showing the position of the numbered stones shown below.

Stone 1

Stone 1 measures 0.43m long by 0.13m wide and stands up to 0.20m high. The stone is orientated at 121°. View from east (Scale 1m).

Stone 2

Stone 2 measures 0.13m long by 0.12m wide and stands up to 0.45m high. The stone is orientated at 78°. View from south with Stone 3 in the background (Scale 1m).

Stones 3 and 4

Stone 3 beside the ranging rod measures 0.29m long by 0.12m wide and stands up to 0.16m high. The stone is orientated at 15°. Stone 4 is recumbent and measures 0.83m long by 0.24m wide and is up to 0.10m high. The stone is orientated at 30° and lies in a rectangular pit measuring 1.13m long by 0.65m wide and 0.25m deep . View from south (Scale 1m).

Stone 5

Stone 5 which is recumbent measures 0.37m long by 0.14m wide and is up to 0.18m high. The stone is orientated at 120°. View from east (Scale 1m).

Stone 6

Stone 6 measures 0.78m long by 0.30m wide and stands up to 0.37m high. The stone is orientated at 36° and is leaning towards the north west. View from south east with Stones 2 – 4 in the background (Scale 1m).

Stone 7

Stone 7 measures 0.90m long by 0.22m wide and stands up to 0.38m high. The stone is orientated at 55° and is leaning towards the north west. View from south east with Stones 2 – 4 in the background (Scale 1m).

Access Information

Limited car parking is available at SS 71410 44956 at Shallowford. From here head east along the path to SS 71818 44908 at which point turn south and follow the track to SS 72602 43860. Leave the track and head south to the gate at SS 72754 43552. The row is a short distance upslope from here.

Online Resources 

PastScape     Transactions Devonshire Association

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. 216.

Chanter, J.F. and Worth, R.H., 1905, ‘The rude stone monuments of Exmoor and its Borders’, Trans. Devonshire Association, 1905, 392 & 394.

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Timeline

VISITED:-28th April 2018

FIRST PUBLISHED:- 12th February 2016

LAST UPDATED:- 21st November 2020