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Summary

Kes Tor unenclosed hut circle settlement of circa 50 hectares with nearly 40 scattered huts on the northern slopes of Kes Tor to the east of Batworthy Brook within an extensive coaxial parallel reave system

Location

Protected Status

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

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68NE/72
• Old SAM County Ref: 261
• Old SAM Ref: 28714

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map, 89NE (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Fox, A., 1955, Huts at Kes Tor settlement, 87-102 (Article in Serial). SDV274383.

Group of thirteen hut circles. Part of settlement on north slopes of Castor. Group B.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1956-1974, SX68NE14, plan (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV274636.

National Monument Record, 1977, SX6686, 6 (Aerial Photograph). SDV274641.

Griffith, F. M., 1985, DAP/EM, 3a (Aerial Photograph). SDV274678.

Griffith, F. M., 1989, DAP/LS, 15 (Aerial Photograph). SDV267566.

Griffith, F. M., 1989, DAP/LT, 1-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDV346554.

Devon County Council, 1989, DAP/PJ, 14,15 (Aerial Photograph). SDV274652.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 149105-6; 149110-24. (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

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

Kes Tor settlement at SX665868 covering circa of 50 hectares with nearly 40 unenclosed hut circles on the north and west sloped of Kes Tor and to the east of Batworthy Brook. Four huts were excavated by Lady Fox in 1951 and 1952 including the the large hut within the Round Pound.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 1999, Schedule Monument Consent letter (Correspondence). SDV274341.

(19/07/1999) Consent granted, subject to conditions, for works concerning the archaeological research excavation of a hut circle to examine the impact of bracken on sensitive archaeological deposits.

Historic England, 2024, National Heritage List for England, 1016691 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365835.

The monument, which falls into two areas of protection, includes part of the prehistoric coaxial field system known as North Teign, two broadly contemporary settlements, parts of which continued in use into the Iron Age, at least four historic structures, a tor cairn, pillow mound, prospecting pits and trench and a length of the Southill leat. The coaxial field system includes a large number of fields arranged on a single prevailing axis, subdivided by transverse boundaries. Within the area defined by the fields there are two settlements. The largest of these survives as a scatter of at least 41 stone hut circles extending around the northern and eastern slopes below Kestor. The stone hut circles survive as walls surrounding circular or oval areas with internal diameters ranging from 3.5m to 10.4m with the average being 6.87m. Some of the huts in this settlement are amongst the most visually impressive on Dartmoor with over 20 having walls standing above 1 metre high. Twenty one of the huts have visible doorways, one has a porch, one has a partition and another a cupboard. Four of the huts were excavated between 1951 and 1952 by Lady Fox and in the large one within Roundy Pound, evidence of iron smelting was recovered. It is generally accepted that this activity dated to the Iron Age, although the situation is somewhat confused by evidence for reoccupation of the hut during the medieval period. The second settlement lies south of Kestor and survives as a group of four stone hut circles associated with at least five small rectangular fields which themselves form part of the coaxial field system. On the western side of Kestor and just outside the field system is a tor cairn which survives as a 10 metres long and 7 metres wide semi circular band of relatively small stones. The remaining archaeological structures and features are of historic date and include a solitary pillow mound, demonstrating limited interest in rabbit husbandry at some time and four structures which probably represent shelters and animal pounds associated with grazing activities in this area.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6198 - Geophysical Survey on Shovel Down and Kes Tor
• EDV6903 - Excavation at Round Pound (Batworthy Pound), Kestor
• EDV7399 - Condition survey of Teigncombe Plantation
• EDV7420 - Condition survey archaeological features in Frenchbeer Plantation
• EDV7423 - Archaeological survey of woodlands near Teigncombe
• EDV8133 - Excavations along cable trench within field system at Kestor
• EDV8653 - Teigncombe Farm, Duchy Farms Survey

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