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Summary

Deserted Medieval site consisting of five buildings on Gutter Tor. This site is included in the local list of Nationally Important Dartmoor sites.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Medieval landscape at Gutter Tor and Eastern Tor comprising Ditsworthy Warren with numerous pillow mounds, a field system and deserted settlement site and sub-circular enclosure containing ridge and furrow, Bronze Age hut circle sites and a cairn

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/93
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• DESERTED SETTLEMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (Between))

Full description

Gover, J. E. B. + Mawer, A. + Stenton, F. M., 1931, The Place-Names of Devon: Part One, 239-240 (Monograph). SDV1312.

Gutter Tor was mentioned as 'Gotetorre' in 1281 and 'Gotterknap' in 1539.

Royal Air Force, 1953, 58/1110, 0029 (Aerial Photograph). SDV157241.

Cook, R. M. L., 1964, Old vermin traps on south-west Dartmoor, 198 (Article in Serial). SDV230549.

Group of five ruined buildings; medieval.

Linehan, C. D., 1966, Deserted Sites and Rabbit-Warrens on Dartmoor, Devon, 124-5 (Article in Serial). SDV307246.

A deserted medieval site possibly known as Gutter Tor.

Haynes, R. G., 1966-1969, Ruined Sites on Dartmoor, 41 (Un-published). SDV150434.

Site visited 25th August 1966. A group of two longhouses with three outbuildings. Possibly associated with an extensive field system running to the south-west. A discarded millstone is visible.

Ordnance Survey, 1975, OS 75 369, 219-20, 28 (Aerial Photograph). SDV254607.

National Monuments Record, 1976, NMR SX5766, 2/428 (Aerial Photograph). SDV232536.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1977, SX56NE119 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV232531.

One building of longhouse type, 19.0 meters by 4.0 meters, with a sub-division and an out-shot, and three subsidiary buildings. A fifth minor building lies to the north-west. There are two or three small plots near the buildings, and four or five square fields with drystone walls and evidence of ridge and furrow.

Price, D. G., 1980, The Moorland Plym, 86 (Article in Serial). SDV254604.

Dwelling with outbuildings. Strip fields in the vicinity. Other details: Figure 2a.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

One building only visible attached or incorporated into boundary of field system SX56NE/442.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, Map 49 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Six small rectangular buildings depicted on map.

Whitbourn, A., 2001, An Archaeological Investigation into features comprising, and associated with, Ditsworthy Warren, 80 (Report - Assessment). SDV360381.

Medieval buildings including two long houses, three outbuildings and a millstone. A field system to the south includes 2-3 small plots and 4-5 fields including evidence of ridge and furrow. In 1985 only one structure was visible.

Gerrard, S., 2004, List of Sites Remaining to be Considered for Designation on Dartmoor (Un-published). SDV345444.

This site was considered for designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument during the Monument Protection Programme. The programme ended before the entire list of sites was successfully scheduled so this is included on a local list of Nationally Important Sites.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Medieval Survey Information (Report - Survey). SDV345602.

The remains of a small medieval farmstead lie on the lower south-eastern slope of Gutter Tor. Five rectangular buildings and several attached enclosures lie within the remains of a large field system.
Map object partly based on this source.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Medieval Survey Information (Report - Survey). SDV345602.

Five rectangular stuctures visible on survey. Another rectangular feature to the south-west has a central division.

Ordnance Survey, 2011, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV346129.

White, P., 2013, Previously Unsurveyed Dartmoor Historic Farmsteads (Un-published). SDV352501.

Gutter Tor included in list. No further information provided.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, UPRM-23 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

(29/01/2020) Condition of the settlement assessed by volunteer recorders as ?good, although vegetation encroachment is causing serious issues to the damage (heavy bracken). Suggested as stable, although monitoring advised.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording photographs (Photograph). SDV363073.

Feature photographed during January 2020 visit.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7443 - Condition survey of archaeological sites in Ringmoor Training Area
• EDV7551 - Ditsworthy Warren: An archaeological investigation
• EDV7569 - Condition survey of Ringmoor Down training area
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey
• EDV8227 - Ringmoor Training Area: Monument Baseline Condition Survey

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.