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 provide 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.
Shelters are small rectangular or oval buildings which provided temporary
accommodation for a variety of moorland workers. Some were occupied seasonally
and formed habitation for months at a time, whilst others were only used
during work hours as shelters from inclement weather. Some probably had more
than a single function, with parts of the structure being utilised for
storage. The shelters vary considerably in size, but on average have internal
dimensions of 4.8m long by 2.7m wide, and whilst most were built of drystone
walling, some were also constructed from turf. Most shelters have a visible
doorway, whilst some have fireplaces, cupboards and benches. A single building
tradition appears to have been used by the different groups of workers who
constructed shelters.
Many shelters were constructed on virgin sites, but a significant number were
built within earlier ruined structures such as prehistoric stone hut circles
and medieval long houses. The function of each shelter can generally be
ascertained by its proximity to other archaeological features. Shelters found
within or close to tin works are generally considered to have been built and
occupied by tinners, whilst those close to peat cutting earthworks were
probably used by peat cutters. Shelters are also found close to stone cutting
pits, quarries, and leats. In some circumstances a single building may have
been used at different times by more than one group of workers. Shelters found
on the open moorland, with no other obvious clues as to their function, are
probably huts built for herdsmen tending animals grazing summer pasture on the
uplands. These particular huts reflect a system called transhumance, whereby
stock was moved in spring from lowland pastures to communal upland grazing
during the warmer winter months. Settlement patterns reflecting transhumance
are known from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC) onwards.
At least 400 shelters of various dates survive on the Moor, although it is
expected that this number will increase with future recognition.
Shelters are relatively common on the Moor and together as a group they are
considered to form a major source of archaeological information concerning
historic activity on the open moorland and, as such, a substantial proportion
are considered worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes a tinners' building situated adjacent to a tin
streamwork next to the Black Ridge Brook. The building survives as a
substantial drystone wall standing up to 1.1m high surrounding a rectangular
area measuring 4.9m long by 3.4m wide. A gap midway along the southern wall
represents an entrance. The outer wall of the building is broadly circular in
plan and this has resulted in considerable thickening in places. An extension
of the wall to the west of the entrance was presumably to provide additional
protection against inclement weather.
This building was probably constructed and used as a shelter by tinners
working at the nearby streamwork.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28736
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
