Tom’s Hill

Tom’s Hill stone row. View from south.

A wide double stone row (or avenue) measuring 17.5m long, including 6 medium-sized stones situated on a gentle west facing slope. The row is orientated north to south and stands in the vicinity of several cairns, stone settings and two stone rows.

Location

England	Somerset	Exmoor	SS 80197 43285
Lat 51.17617416   Long -3.71529149

Map showing the location of Tom’s Hill stone row.

Plan of the Tom’s Hill stone row. (From Chanter & Worth, 1906, Plate IV).

Plan of the Tom’s Hill stone row. (After Chanter & Worth, 1906, Plate IV).

Map showing the position of Tom’s Hill, other stone rows and other sites (Source: Exmoor National Park HER). 

Characteristics

Type: Double	Length: 17.5m
No. of stones: 6	Size of stones: Only medium
Orientation: 179°	Altitude: 371m
Upper end: –	Lower end: –
Straight (Yes or No)  : No	Sea View: No
Context:  Cairn
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.

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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 northern four stones highlighted by arrows.  Dense vegetation makes it difficult to appreciate this row. View from south.

Individual Stones

Plan of Tom’s Hill stone row showing the position of the numbered stones shown below.

Stone 1

Stone 1 stands up to 0.43m high. View from south west (Scale 1m).

Stone 1. View from south east (Scale 1m).

Stone 2

Stone 2 stands up to 0.42m high. View from west (Scale 1m).

Stone 2 with Stone 1 in the background. View from east (Scale 1m).

Stone 3

Stone 3 stands up to 0.51m high. View from west (Scale 1m).

Stone 3. View from north west (Scale 1m).

Stone 4

Stone 4 stands up to 0.58m high. View from south west (Scale 1m).

Stone 4. View from north west (Scale 1m).

Stone 5

Stone 5 is recumbent. View from north east (Scale 1m).

Stone 6

Stone 6 stands up to 0.43m high. View from north west (Scale 1m).

Stone 6. View from south east (Scale 1m).

Stone 6. View from south (Scale 1m).

Access Information

This is not an easy row to reach. Car parking is available at SS 83523 42234. From here follow the footpath west past the Madacombe stone row and then head west to SS 80073 43241. The row is a short distance to the east. Having made the effort it is worth having look at the nearby rows at East Pinford and Trout Hill

Online Resources 

Megalithic Portal     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., 1906, ‘The rude stone monuments of Exmoor and its Borders Part II’, Trans. Devonshire Association, 38, 542-3.

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Timeline

VISITED:-23rd April 2018

FIRST PUBLISHED:- 12th February 2016

LAST UPDATED:- 21st November 2020