View from the north (Scale 1m).
A wide double stone row (or avenue) measuring up to 18.55m long, including 3 small and medium-sized stones and three hollows situated on a gentle north west facing slope. The row is orientated north east to south west and has a restricted view of the sea and Hartland Point. Several skyline barrows are visible to the north.
Location
| England | Somerset | Exmoor | SS 70357 39444 |
| Lat 51.13949036 Long -3.85457917 | |||
Map showing location of Shoulsbury Common stone row
Plan of Shoulsbury Common stone row (Source: Survey by Sandy Gerrard at 1:200).
Characteristics
| Type: Double | Length: 18.55m |
| No. of stones: 6 | Size of stones: Small and medium |
| Orientation: 50° | Altitude: 445m |
| Upper end: – | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: | |
| Notes: | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: National Park |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: No |
Interpretation
Category: Plausible. No doubts have been expressed regarding the prehistoric interpretation of this stone row.
Typology
This stone row is of Type D1. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Individual Stones
Plan showing the position of the numbered stones.
Stone 1 measures 0.40m long by 0.38m wide, stands up to 0.22m high and is orientated at 20°. View from north east (Scale 1m).
View of Stone 1 from the south west (Scale 1m).
Stone 2 measures 0.36m long by 0.16m wide, is level with the ground surface and is orientated at 115°. View from north east (Scale 1m).
Hollow 3. A 2m long by 1.6m wide and 0.2m deep hollow denotes the position of a stone which has either been removed or survives as a buried feature. View from north east (Scale 1m).
Stone 4 measures 0.95m long by 0.48m wide, stands up to 0.09m high and is orientated at 25°. View from west (Scale 1m).
Stone 4. View from east (Scale 1m).
Hollow 5. A 1.5m long by 1m wide and 0.1m deep hollow denotes the position of a stone which has either been removed or survives as a buried feature. View from north east (Scale 1m).
Hollow 6. A 1m long by 0.7m wide and 0.1m deep hollow denotes the position of a stone which has either been removed or survives as a buried feature. View from north (Scale 1m).
Landscape Comment
Barrows on the prominent ridge to the north appear on the skyline. It must surely be possible that this visual inter-relationship was at least a consideration when the site for the row was being selected.
Chains Barrow at SS 73456 41904 is also at the limit of visibility. View to the south and east are restricted by rising ground.
Sea View
Despite poor visibility at the time of the visit a restricted sea view and Hartland Point could be seen. A visual relationship between the sea, promontories and rows is a frequent characteristic.
Access Information
Parking for one vehicle is available at SS 71737 39352. Care should be taken not to impede the farm track or highway. From here take the footpath north to SS 71755 39688. Head westward from this point across the common to the row. There is no footpath and the going is uneven and inevitably slow.
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal PastScape Historic Environment Record
Timeline
VISITED: 14th April 2019
FIRST PUBLISHED: 8th May 2019
LAST UPDATED: 8th May 2019
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 