A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
November 1, 2024
Holwell Lane Commons Farmstead
A walk along the paths in the Holwell Lawn area is popular in Spring and early Summer as it is festooned with Bluebells – a real Dartmoor Gem. The area is also used by horse and pony riders as there are a large number of jumps (gymkhana course) which criss-cross the hillside run by the South Devon Moorland and Pony Club (SDMPC). Others who visit the area use the paths to descend into the Becka Brook Valley and onto Emsworthy Mires or alternatively as a waypoint en-route towards Hound Tor and Grea Tor.
In addition to the above, in a quieter corner of Holwell Lawn is a (perhaps less well known) small (probable) farmstead, which is shown on the 19th century (Manaton Parish) Tithe Map and Apportionments from 1842. The farmstead comprises two main buildings, one with two outshuts, an irregular shaped yard, an enclosure and lots of drystone walls. There is also an old field Barn a few hundred metres to the east of the main farmstead buildings. The Tithe Apportionment annotates the estate as ‘Holwell Lane Commons’, which comprised a ‘House and Garden’, a ‘Common’ and a ‘Field’.
This post covers a visit to the ‘Holwell Lane Commons’ Farmstead showing the ruins and remains which are at least 200 years old and in remarkable condition. It is interesting to note the Tithe called this estate Holwell Lane Common not Holwell Lawn. The name Holwell appears to have been first mentioned as ‘Halghewill’ in 1333.
Bibliography
Linehan, C. D., 1965, Deserted Sites on Dartmoor, Devon
Haynes, R. G., 1966-1969, Ruined Sites on Dartmoor
Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848
Gazetteer of Dartmoor Names, 1993 – Mike Brown
The two annotated maps shown the location of the farmstead covered in this post. Of note, is that the name Holwell Lawn only appears around 1888. The area prior to 1888 (and on the Manaton Tithe from 1842) was known as Higher Holwell Lane Common. The author is unaware as to why the name changed.The Manaton Tithe, dated 1842, shows the area (plot 1233) which today is known as Holwell Lawn was named ‘Higher Holwell Lane Common’ On the day when the author visited ‘Holwell Lane Commons’ Farmstead (October 2024), there was plenty of equine activity on Holwell Lawn. Without doubt this activity in conjunction with walkers is helping been the bracken down across the hillside.Descending the hillside en-route to the farmstead, a conspicuous rock, named as Holwell Lawn Rock (assigned by Tors Of Dartmoor Group) is passed. On the Rock, is a rather large and deeply cut inscription, commemorating her late Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022.The inscription is a very professional piece of work, complete with the approved Government logo.The inscription on the rock is located at SX74332 78053Annotated 19th Century map showing the key features of the House, Garden and Field (as per Tithe), which were identified and explored and which are covered in this post.Tithe Map (1842) showing Plots 1234 and 1235 of the ‘Holwell Lane Commons’ Estate. The map clearly shows the buildings which are still extant in the 21st centuryThe Tithe Apportionment shows the Occupier in 1842 was a William Amery, who was also the landowner. The total area was just under 50 acres and was divided into 4 plots.The former Gateway entrance at the farmstead is to the west of the main ruins and is around 100-150m to the south of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 inscribed rockGatepost at the farmstead still retaining its iron hangers. Located at SX74334 77940If approached directly from the north, this is the view of the main cottage at Holwell Lane Commons Estate. In Mike Brown’s Dartmoor Gazetteer from 1993, the building is recorded as being Holwell Lawn Cot, a name repeated in Legendary Dartmoor GazetteerThe side of the Main Cottage, showing the walls surviving to roof levelThe west end of the Main Cottage, where on 19th century maps shows where the lane passes through a gateway and leads to the GardenLooking north from the south west corner of the Main Cottage and the gateway. Also in the photograph (top left) are the walls of a one-roomed dwellingA slightly different angle of the south west corner of the Main Cottage. Under the tree, is where the front door would have been Inside the Main Cottage. The walls are remarkably preserved being at least 200 years old. This is looking at the west wall. There doesn’t appear to be any trace of stairs or room division. The centre of the Main Cottage is at SX74361 77938Window at south west corner of the Main Cottage. The wooden lintel is still in placeThe south east corner window no longer has a lintel. On his visit on 5th July 1969, RG Haynes recorded that both windows and the doorway still have their wooden lintelsEast wall with rather magnificent fireplaceFireplace close upThe chimney is still intact albeit now choked with vegetationIn the fireplace, there is a mossy green streak down the centre and clean(ish) walling either sideAttached to the east end of the Main Cottage (behind the fireplace) is a rather substantial outshutThe walling behind the fireplace in the outshutThe outshut was recorded at SX74368 77946The Garden to the south of the Main Cottage, now being used as a route connecting horse jumpsThe north side of the Main Cottage has evidence (foundations) of there once being an outshut here. This is clearly shown on 19th century mapsTo the north of the Main Cottage is a one roomed dwelling. Linehan, in 1965 suggested that this was ‘….perhaps a shepherd’s cottage but on older foundations with enclosures’. Location SX74344 77938The one roomed dwelling described by RG Haynes from his visit on 31st July 1968: ‘A small one-room of mortared stone. Lintel stones still in place over the two doors, one of which has six rectangular recesses cut in the outside face. Could have held a porch. Building was not a dwelling house; could have been a cattle shelter’. The gap in the photograph is where the two doors would have beenInside the one roomed dwelling – south west corner. The original lane is located beyond this wallTree next to the one roomed dwelling, which when first viewed looks like it is within the dwelling, whereas it is just outside the east wallThe walling here is a little difficult to interpret. That said, the tree is likely to be within a former small enclosureProbable small enclosure. The walling in the foreground is believed to be the east wall of the one roomed dwellingMore walling beyond the one roomed dwellingPart of the enclosure to the north of the Main Cottage and east of the one roomed dwellingOvergrown enclosureOvergrown enclosureWalling near (or even part of) the field barn a few hundred metres to the east of the main farmsteadSmall outcrop near the field barn, which appears to have been split by the quarrymen. The photograph was taken at SX74522 77967 a few metres from the outcrop
