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Summary

Hut circle of 8.8 metres diameter with walls 1.2 metres wide by 1.2 metres high within the Kes Tor reave system. One of the most visually impressive huts on the moor. The wall has been considerably thickened producing a wall up to 4 metres thick. The door faces roughly south, is 1.4 metres wide and defined on the east-north-east by an edge set stone and on the west-south-west by two orthostats. A gap between them may represent the site of an original edge set stone.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016691: Coaxial field system and prehistoric settlements at Kestor

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68NE/72/13
• Old SAM Ref: 28714

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Hut circle shown on 19th century map.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 149123, 1/4/1997 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Stone hut circle forming part of a prehistoric settlement within the Kestor coaxial field system. Hut measures 8.8 metres in diameter. Double orthostat wall 4 metres wide, 1.2 metres high. Internal area 60.79 metres. This is one of the most visually impressive huts on the moor. The original wall measures 1.2 metres wide, but has been considerably thickened producing a wall up to 4 metres thick. The door faces 164 degrees, is 1.4 metres wide and defined on the east-north-east by an edge set stone and on the west-south-west by two orthostats. A gap between them may represent the site of an original edge set stone.

Probert, S. A. J., 1991, Castor Parallel System (Plan - measured). SDV229808.

Depicted on plan.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 170-174, Map 36, Figure 36.1 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Hut cirlce '13' of 8.4 metres diameter is in a splendid state of preservation at 'Kes Tor settlement'. The 3.5 metres thick walls have a complete inner facing of massive granite slabs opening into a small rectilinear paddock on the south-east side.

Probert, S. A. J., 1991, Shovel Down Survey (Report - Survey). SDV359365.

Centred SX 66718690. A settlement containing seven hut circles and three other features on the north-east slope of Chagford Common 200 metres south of Kestor Gate. The huts are all terraced into the slope and vary in diameter from 4.2 metres to 9.5 metres. The four largest huts, 1-4, consist of double rings of massive upright slabs up to 1.2 metres high. Entrances are visible in the south-east margins of huts 2, 3 and 6.

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

Hut circle shown on survey.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 2015-2017, 2015-2017 Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV361462.

Visible on aerial photograph.

Ordnance Survey, 2016, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359352.

Depicted on the modern mapping.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, SD-KT 13 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

(15/01/2019) Condition of hut assessed by volunteer recorders as good, although some vegetation encrochment (mostly rushes) noted inside the circle, also small amount of gorse on wall. Centre is wet, possibly fed by spring – thus environmental score (1).

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

Photographs taken during January 2019 visit.

Ordnance Survey, 2023, Mastermap 2023 (Cartographic). SDV365227.

Hut circle shown on modern mapping.

Historic England, 2023, National Heritage List for England, 1016691 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365228.

Within Scheduled area.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6198 - Geophysical Survey on Shovel Down and Kes Tor

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