Reasons for Designation
Dartmoor is the largest expanse of open moorland in southern Britain and,
because of exceptional conditions of preservation, it is also one of the most
complete examples of an upland relict landscape in the whole country. The
great wealth and diversity of archaeological remains provides direct evidence
for human exploitation of the Moor from the early prehistoric period onwards.
The well-preserved and often visible relationship between settlement sites,
major land boundaries, trackways, ceremonial and funerary monuments as well as
later industrial remains, gives significant insights into successive changes
in the pattern of land use through time.
Details
This agglomerated enclosure with hut circles lies on a south-west facing slope
north of Eastern Tor and east of Sheepstor Brook. It covers an area of
approximately 6ha and incorporates at least seven enclosures and forty stone
hut circles, as well as medieval farmstead structures. It is cut on the south
edge by the course of the leat which runs to Sheepstor village.
The enclosure lies in an area of natural outcrops and clitter which obscure
the details of the site. The main enclosure banks average 2m in width and 0.5m
in height made of earth and rubble, but are as much as 3m in width and over a
metre high on the northern side, where large boulders and slabs are
incorporated. The hut circles have walls of earth and stone up to 2m in width
and 0.6m in height, they are up to 12m in diameter, some are conjoined, some
attached to banks and others free-standing. There is evidence for double faced
walling in some huts and entrances, predominantly to the south-west, some with
jambs.
In the south-east quadrant of the enclosure there are the remains of four of
the buildings of a medieval farmstead. These are all rectangular in plan and
orientated with their long axes down the slope. They are from 11m to 35m in
length and approximately 6m in width, the longest being subdivided into three
rooms. Their walls stand over a metre in height and there are traces of
outbuildings abutting two of them.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
10710
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
