A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
April 15, 2025
Gutter (Goater) Tor Longhouse and Medieval Farmstead plus environs
On the south slope of Gutter Tor is a Medieval Farmstead which consists of five buildings and a couple of enclosures, which are represented on modern OS maps as square black rectangles. Some Dartmoor recorders (in the Heritage Environment Record) suggest the buildings comprise two Longhouses with three Outbuildings, whereas others state one Longhouse and four Outbuildings. For the purposes of this post, the author has gone with the most recent records and has subsequently annotated the map one Longhouse and four Outbuildings. This Medieval settlement is one of around a dozen, which lie within extensive field systems either side of the River Plym. It is likely that it failed to thrive and certainly was abandoned by the time the warren here were established.
The area is rich in other artefacts and antiquities including a Bronze Age Settlement comprising four hut circles and a cist. Around the southern slopes of Gutter Tor are artefacts relating to Ditsworthy Warren, namely; five pillow mounds and the remains of three vermin traps. There is also a Medieval Cross, a Millstone and incised marks recorded by Worth on Gutter Tor. Whilst visiting and recording these artefacts and antiquities in the area, the author found a mystery oval structure near Gutter Mire and a possible small pound on the north end of Gutter Tor which are also recorded in this post.
Bibliography
M. Fletcher, P. Newman and S. Probert– (1999) – Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor areas in the Plym Valley, West Devon (Report – Survey). SDV346268.
Sketch map of all the key features covered in this post. Note that Gutter Tor is also known as Goater TorThe principal structure in the Medieval Farmstead is a Longhouse-type building, located just to the west of a Pillow Mound (PM(4) on the annotated sketch map).Higher (west) end of the LonghouseThe west end of the Longhouse where the living accommodation would have been Looking eastwards down the full length of the Longhouse towards Gutter Mire. The centre of the Longhouse is at SX57909 66791Measuring the length of the Longhouse. Two records in the HER indicate the measured length as being 21.5m and 19m.The author measured the length of the Longhouse at around 22m, albeit by measuring it alone the tape measure couldn’t be kept taughtFletcher, Newman and Probert in 1999 recorded a small rubble pile which may mark the former site of an internal wall cutting off the west third of the building. The author measured this as being 12m from the top end of the Longhouse. That said, there also appears to be a possible (very faint) indications of a second internal wall at 7mMeasuring the width of the Longhouse. Two records in the HER indicate the measured width as being 3.2m (average) and 4m.The width as measured by the author at the centre of the walls was 5mThere are traces of rubble-filled outshots which lie adjacent to the south-east cornerLonghouse Outshot and Longhouse with Gutter Tor beyondSouth East corner of the Longhouse (outshot) the dome of Eylesbarrow Hill in the distanceThis Pillow Mound within Ditsworthy Warren is around 700 meters north-north-west of Ditsworthy Warren House. It lies to the east of the Longhouse at SX57931 66796. This Pillow Mound partially encroaches the Longhouse which may have been partially stripped to provide constructional materialTo the south west of the Longhouse and a few metres from a green path which ascends the hill to the tor, there are two further artefacts, namely; a Millstone and a recumbent CrossThe length of the Cross, above ground, is around 1.75 m and the width of the shaft is just under 0.5 m.In the dartmoor-crosses.org.uk website it is stated that it was recorded by the Archaeology Unit of Plymouth University, led by Win Scutt and Ross Dean, in December 2009.The Cross is thought to have possibly been a monastic waymarker or even a boundary marker. Certainly it is thought to be medieval in originThe Cross is located at SX57883 66769A few metres south of the Cross is a possible abandoned Millstone. It is located at SX57882 66763The artefact might also conceivably been the start of a small round trough or even a small Apple CrusherRecorded by Robinson in 1983, the artefact is shaped from a large boulder and is around 1.2m diameter. A rim 0.5m high and 0.18m wide has been formed and is partly brokenNext to the green path leading up the hill to Gutter Tor, a less obvious building from the Medieval Farmstead can be located. It is annotated as Building (1) on the sketch map in this post. Building (1) adjoins a massive boulder and measures 5m by 2.1m. It is shown on the modern OS Map Building (1) is located at SX57868 66765To the south east of Building (1) are the remains of a much more obvious Building, annotated number 4 on the sketch mapBuilding (4) measures 10m by 3.5m internally and has a possible entrance near the south-east corner.Another view of Building (4). Note the green path ascending the hill in the top left hand corner of the photographThe centre of Building (4) was measured at SX57885 66741Building (4) is adjoined nearby by to the north-west by two well-constructed, partially terraced enclosures which lie across a narrow hollow way.As with other buildings in the Medieval Farmstead complex, Building (4) walls are of tumbled drystone rubble and are up to 0.6m high. As with the other buildings in the complex, Building (4) is still identifiable on modern OS mapsThere is a Holloway between the Building (4) and the enclosures leading to the green path which has been blocked by a fine example of a Vermin Trap – annotated 3 on the sketch mapThe Vermin Trap has been constructed so as to create two ‘funnels’ for the vermin (stoat / weasel) to be lured into the trap. The funnel-shaped walls on average 0.5m high, although one large upright slab is 1.0m high.Looking north down the Holloway to the Vermin Trap, the two Medieval Enclosures lie above, to the westThe centre of the Vermin Trap is located at SX57885 66753The author has created a YouTube video which demonstrates how the trap shutters here would have worked. You can see the block fly out of the trip mechanism. https://youtu.be/CvZOv5EwEIcThe author also created a video to demonstrate this particular trap working (even if only partially). It is probably the first time this trap has been operational since the 18th Century. Watch YouTube video to the end….. https://youtu.be/yD0nzigne7s PLEASE NOTE: I would just like to point out that the original trap was not damaged, altered, moved or changed in any way whatsoever when making the video (just in case anyone was wondering!)The Vermin Trap cover stone measures 1.0m by 0.5m and 0.2m thick:The probable date of use of the Vermin Trap was 1700-1800 (ref: Cook) This construction close to the Vermin Trap is located next to the green path and is likely to be the northern boundary of two enclosures hereThe two Medieval Enclosures next to the Holloway are still annotated (as black rectangles) on modern OS MapsBoth enclosures are approx square and of equal sizeEnclosure (2) in relation to the Vermin Trap (3)Enclosure (2) is located at SX57876 66752Enclosure (1) is located at SX57875 66757The two Medieval Enclosures in relation to the Vermin Trap in the HollowayAround 15m to the south of the Longhouse are the remains of another Building. Like all the other buildings, this is also annotated on modern OS MapsBuilding (2) measures 10.5m by 4.0m Building (2) – west endBuilding (2) has a porch on the south side. Apart from that there are no discernible internal features. It is located at SX57898 66774Building (3) measures 7m by 3.5m internally and lies 50m downhill (to the east) from Building (2)Building (3) is located at SX57949 66776. There is a large upright boulder here, which clearly identifies the locationNear the track to Ditsworthy Warren is another Pillow Mound. This is Pillow Mound (5) as shown on the sketch mapPillow Mound (5) looking east looking towards Gutter Mire. It is located around 600m from Ditsworthy Warren House at SX58008 66681. There is another close by at SX58003 66720This upright boulder caught the authors eye. It may well be natural, but gives the impression as having been set upright. It is located next to the track to Ditsworthy Warren House. The upright boulder is located at SX58022 66755This unusual structure also caught the authors eye. It is oval in shape and approx (estimate) 3m by 2m. The author speculates this is of military originTroops training in Gutter Mire – they were wading !Another Pillow Mound near the Ditsworthy Warren trackPillow Mound (3) is located at SX58024 66876Birdlife on the eastern slopes of Gutter TorClimbing the hill towards the tor. Pillow Mound (2) adjacent to the clitterPillow Mound (2) is located at SX57911 66861Pillow Mound (2) looking east. Hen Tor can be seen in the far distance just below the horizonNear the tor on its east side is another Pillow MoundPillow Mound (1) is located at SX57833 66847Sweeping views from Pillow Mound (1)Near Pillow Mound (1) at the corner of Gutter Tor are the remains (Cover Slab) of another Vermin TrapClose up of Vermin Trap (2) Cover Slab, which has two side-by-side holes This Vermin Trap is located at SX57821 66839. It can be found amongst a group of reedsIn ‘Worth’s Dartmoor‘ there is a photo (Plate 13; B) titled ‘Parting in rocks. Gutter, Ringmoor Down, Plym Valley, Photo: D. P. Wilson, 1952.)’. The above collage shows the same blocks over 80 years later. On page 26, Worth provides a diagram and discusses the possible causes of such gaps which includes: frost, slippage due to gravity, earthquake, lightning and ice. Worth chooses lightning as the most likely cause for the Gutter Tor example (ref: Worth’s Incised Marks on Gutter Tor’s Parted Block (343 m) | Dartefacts). Dartefacts provides more information on this locationView from the tor. Gutter Tor has been recorded as ‘Gotetorre’ in 1281 and ‘Gotterknap’ in 1539 (ref: J.Gover, A.Mawer & F.Stenton)View from the tor towards Eylesbarrow Hill and Cuckoo RockGutter Tor Rock Basin is recorded in Worth’s Dartmoor on page 31, where he recorded it as being 34 inches (86cm) long, 22 inches (56cm) wide, and 10 inches (25cm) deep. Gutter Tor Rock Basin is located atop the outcrop at SX57776 66881Near to Gutter Tor is a Bronze Age settlement, with four Hut Circles. The above Hut Circle according to the National Monument Record is 6.2 metres internal diameter with a double-faced boulder and slab wall on average 0.5 metres high.Hut Circle (1) is located at SX57720 66821Hut Circle (2) is located at SX57707 66786 Hut Circle (2) is 6.5 metres internal diameter, also with a double-faced boulder slab wallHut Circle (2) blocks are on average 0.6 metres highHut Circle (3) is partially buried and is 6.5 metres acrossHut Circle (3) is located at SX57664 66792Hut Circle (4) is shown on an early 20th century map as ‘Tumulus (Site of)’. Subsequent surveys have confirmed identification as Hut CircleHut Circle (4) is described by Dr P. Newman as being a subtle earthwork of 5.5m diameter and up to 0.3m highHut Circle (4) is located at SX57656 66756Near the track approaching the Trig Point is a Cist (or Kistvaen)In the 19th Report of the Barrow Committee, 48-9, this cist is recorded thus : ‘Three sides only have been left standing. No result from excavation. Length 0.83 metres, width 0.5 metres, depth 0.55 metres’.This cist is located at SX57598 66813Gutter Tor / Ringmoor Down Triangulation Point was first levelled in June 1948. It was maintained in May 1974Flush Bracket : OS BSM 3409There are two plaques here commemorating members of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team.Vermin Trap (1) which can be found near the north end of Gutter TorNote the mechanism slot carved into the side stone of the trap.Vermin Trap (1) comprises a roofless tunnel 1.9m long with stunning views to Sheepstor. It can be found at SX57775 66916Close to Vermin Trap (1), there appears to be a possible small pound built into the northern face of the tor. This may well be natural rocks but from certain angles looks partly man made. It is located at SX57780 66913
