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Summary

Enclosure to the south-west of Arch Tor with four hut circles

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016635: Gunpowder factory at Powder Mills, a partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement and round cairn

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX67NW173
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 882519
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NW/309
• Old SAM Ref: 28718

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1987-1993, Duchy Farms Project Survey Visit, P. Pattison (Report - Survey). SDV350839.

(20/07/1989) SX 63437784 Subcircular enclosure.
A subcircular enclosure with four possibly five hut circles, situated at SX 63437784 towards the foot of a SE slope S of Arch Tor.
This settlement is on gently sloping ground in the lea of a steeper slope, just above marsh which drains W into the Cherry Brook. A shallow defile runs past its NE side.
The enclosure wall, composed of a turf covered bank of small and medium size stones, averages 1.6m wide and 0.3m high although the S side is a shallow, irregular gulley caused by total stripping out. The interior is clear and without visible archaeological features.
Four hut circles and a possible fifth ( or a small annex of the four) are incorporated into the perimeter wall; in those where a relationship is visible they are against the internal face. All have low, turf covered walls of small to medium size stones, generally in poor condition.
This site should be viewed in conjunction with other sites (see SX 67 NW 112,121,171) forming a settlement string along the hillside.
A further table of information on the settlement is held in the archive.

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

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 43, Map 27 (Monograph). SDV219155.

One of a series of at least five small enclosures laid out along the south-east slope of Arch Tor. The Powder Mills leat cuts through several huts and most of the enclosures.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Prehistoric Survey Information (Cartographic). SDV345521.

Enclosure shown on survey.

Historic England, 2022, National Heritage List for England, 1016635 (National Heritage List for England). SDV364675.

A partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement lies adjacent to the leat carrying water from the East Dart and survives as a series of four enclosures associated with at least 13 stone hut circles. The enclosure walls are of rubble bank construction standing up to 0.4m high. The stone hut circles survive as circular or oval walls surrounding an internal area varying between 4 and 50 square metres.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8645 - Powder Mills and Gawler Newtake, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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