This site is featured on the Ivybridge 2: West Erme - Burford, Stalldown and Erme Rows and Cairns walk. These photos were taken on Stalldown Barrow (SX63666228 Butler Vol. 4. Map 54: 18). The first sets of photos are from revisiting Stalldown row and the second set are of Stalldown Barrow which includes Hillson's House. For a detailed description of Stalldown Row see Photo Set 1.
There are a number of cairns on Stalldown. Butler lists 11 cairns in the vicinity. The row cuts a line of cairns laid out across the ridge of Stalldown. The most prominent is about 0.5Km to the East of the row on the highest point of the ridge and includes Hillson's House (Butler's Cairn 7). This cairn is around 20m across and constructed within it is a shelter known as Hillson's House. Legend has it that Hillson was an eccentric clock-maker who made eight day clocks. This story is recounted by Crossing but Butler suggests a more prosaic explanation, namely, that the shelter probably belonged to a peat-cutter.
For an in depth description of the Stalldown stone row and for more photos of the row including settlements and Cairn 9 see Stalldown Stone Row [Photo Set 1]
These photos were taken on the 26th April 2011.
See also: Guide to Dartmoor Stone Rows
Butler, J. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Vol. 4. - The South-East (Devon Books, 1993)
Crossing, William Guide to Dartmoor (Peninsula Press, 2001) p.402.
Page last updated 5/8/11