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Summary

An isolated hut circle 145m north-west of the large hut settlement on the slopes of Legis Tor (MDV3979). Constructed from large boulders, the hut has an internal diameter of approximately 5.2m, with collapsed walls now spread to 2m thick. The entrance opening survives on the SSE arc where one door post remains in situ to 1m high. This hut was excavated by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee in 1895.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019876: Prehistoric settlement, three round cairns and a post-medieval rabbit warren at Legis Tor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56NE69
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/4/2
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/400
• Old SAM County Ref: 274
• Old SAM Ref Revised: 22289
• Old SAM Ref: 10696
• Pastscape: 438698

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HUT CIRCLE (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Baring Gould, S., 1896, Third Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, 184 (Article in Serial). SDV260468.

National Monuments Record, 1976, SX5765, 4/17 (Aerial Photograph). SDV155850.

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

Hut circle on west slope of Legistor Warren visible on the aerial photograph.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 130878 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

22/02/1993 Hut circle forming part of an extensive prehistoric settlement. Terraced into the hillslope, and of the simple plan and double orthostat walling type. Interior measures 4.7m in diameter and is defined by a 1.7m wide wall standing up to 0.9m high.
A slit trench, measuring 0.3m wide and 0.15m deep, dug into the centre of the hut probably represents modern military activity and is less likely to be the result of a partial excavation by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee during 1895. This work recovered a flint flake but no other signs of human occupancy. This hut is attached to a rubble wall [AI: 130879].

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 111-4, Map 49, Figure 49.1 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Hut Circle '1' of 5.0 metres diameter is an isolated building closer to the Legis Lake enclosure to the west of the four 'Legis Tor enclosures'. The vertical walling slabs show above the surrounding surface stone but only a small flint flake was noticed during excavation by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee in 1895-6.

Probert, S., 2005, Ringmoor Training Area: Monument Baseline Condition Survey (Report - Survey). SDV363484.

(15/02/2005) One of 13 hut circles within a field system on the lower south and south-west flanks of Legis Tor. All but one of the huts are contained within five irregular, adjoining enclosures to the south of the settlement. The hut circles are largely integral with the enclosure banks though several are free-standing. All the huts have level interiors unless otherwise stated. Few display obvious entrances. All diameters are internal. Described separately; see related records.
The solitary hut associated with the western portion of the field system lies at SX 5686 6542. This feature has been excavated and partially infilled with clearance stone. It measures 4.6m in diameter with walls 1.5m wide and 1.0m high. Two upright slabs in the south-west side may indicate the site of a former entrance.

Newman, P., 2018, Archaeological Sites within Ringmoor Training Area, Dartmoor National Park, Devon: A condition survey on behalf of Defence Infrastructure Organisation (Report - Survey). SDV361636.

Depicted on GIS survey layer.

Ordnance Survey, 2021, MasterMap 2021 (Cartographic). SDV364015.

Hut circle shown as 'Enclosure' on modern mapping.

Newman, P., 2022, Ringmoor Down Premier Archaeological Landscape Dartmoor National Park, Devon. A new survey, Table 1 (Report - Survey). SDV365490.

An isolated hut circle on the SW slopes of Legis Tor SX 56864 65420. An isolated hut circle 145m NW of the large hut settlement on the slopes of Legis Tor (3979). Constructed from large boulders, the hut has an internal diameter of approximately 5.2m, with collapsed walls now spread to 2m thick. The entrance opening survives on the SSE arc where one door post remains in situ to 1m high. This hut was excavated by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee in 1895.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7443 - Condition survey of archaeological sites in Ringmoor Training Area
• EDV7569 - Condition survey of Ringmoor Down training area
• EDV8227 - Ringmoor Training Area: Monument Baseline Condition Survey
• EDV8917 - Survey of the archaeological features on Ringmoor Down

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