A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
September 30, 2024
Kingsett Farm
Kingsett or Kingseat Farm in the Norsworthy Valley has nearly 700 years of history having first been recorded as ‘Kyngessete’ in 1330 and ‘Kynggissete’ in 1337. In the 17th century, there are records of an East and West Kingsett and in the early 19th century, there are records of there being ‘Two Kingsetts’.
The ruins of the farm that are seen today, however, date from mid to late 19th century. The turning point in the history of the farm was the death of tenant Grace Hancock on 20th October 1848, after which the farm was purchased by Sir Ralph Lopes’ Maristow Estate and resulted in a major rebuild.
This post considers the farm history and explores the ruins seen today
Bibliography
Haynes, R. G., 1966-1969, Ruined Sites on Dartmoor, 52 plan, 14/3/1967 (Un-published). SDV150434.
Rendell, P., 2007, Exploring around Burrator, a Dartmoor Reservoir
Gover, J. E. B. + Mawer, A. + Stenton, F. M., 1931, The Place-Names of Devon: Part One, 245. SDV1312.
Wakeham, C., 2003, Maristow Estate Farmhouses 1800-1913: A Chronological Development
Hemery E., 1983, High Dartmoor (p 144)
Newman, P., 1993, A Mortarstone at Keaglesborough (Article in Serial). SDV232466.
Sketch map (based on late 19th century map) showing the location of the original farm (as per tithe map), the rebuilt farm (circa 1868) and an adit in Kingsett Gert which was used as a cooler for cream and butter in by the occupants of the farm. The paths and fields are slightly different today from that shown on the mapThe 1840 tithe map and apportionments shows the location of the former farm before it was moved following construction of the new farm by the Maristow Estate. The newly constructed farm in 1868 and is located around the junction of the two large fields labelled Furze and Sand Field shown on the annotated tithe map here.This table shows a historical summary of the farm(s) between 1333 and 1924. Much of the detail here is recorded in a Paul Rendell book published in 2007, titled ‘Exploring around Burrator, a Dartmoor Reservoir’ Approaching Kingett Farm from the westOne of the tracks to the farm looking westThe original Kingsett (or Kingseat) Farmhouse was located around SX57604 69894 (taken from the 1840 tithe map). The farmstead was moved circa 1868. There is no indication today where the main house was as all remnants appear to have been ploughed into the turf. Near the former southern wall boundary of the original farm, there does appear to be some possible possible ruins of two old outbuiding structuresOld walling between Great Meadow (left of south side) and Barn Park / The original farm (right or north side)Following the walling which is located to the south of the original farm towards the ruins of the 1868 farm, with its large trees, according to the tithe, at the location shown in the photograph (SX57610 69879) was an old outbuilding structureFurther (to the east) along the old wall, according to the tithe map from 1840, there was another outhouse structure built here. The second possible outbuilding structure located at SX57629 69894. Sheepstor can be seen in the backgroundThe 1868 Kingsett Farm. Aside the main buildings, according to late 19th century maps and evidence on the ground there appears to be at least 5 outbuildings (some of which may have been uncovered enclosures). A map dated circa 1873, shows all the structures (in pink) which were roofed at that time. Richard Worth was the recorded tenant in 1849 and John Pearse was tenant between 1881 and 1917. The farm appeared very buoyant when John Pearse was there with his wife Elizabeth and it is recorded that he farmed 100 acres and had two servantsKingsett Farm ruins in 21st century. The huge beech tree in the court yard is said to have been planted by John Pearse in the late 19th century, therefore is around 140 years oldApproaching the farm from the westPlan of Kingsett Farm (built from 1868 by the Maristow Estate). Although now in ruins, most of the features shown in the above plan can be discerned todayWest side of the farmhouseThis structure is labelled as ‘Outbuilding 1’ on a previous sketch map contained in this postOutbuilding 1 is located at around SX57652 69912Outbuilding 1 looking south. Looking at 19th century maps it is possible that only the bottom half (furthest from the camera) was roofed. The author speculates that this may have been an old barnLooking into ‘Outbuilding 1’ from the west sideAccording to the farm plan this was an 1875 extension, which had a dairy downstairs and a bedroom aboveThis view is toward the old backdoor (rubble in centre of the picture) with the ruin of the dairy extension from 1875 beyond (where doorway still exists)Closer view of the old dairy from 1875 (on right). To the left of the moss covered wall is the main house (dating from 1868)Steps between ‘Outbuilding 1’ and the main house. This is marked a ‘Attached Enclosure’ on the Maristow Estate planMain house from 1868, where the front porch once wasFront section of the main houseEngine House dated 1886-1904 on the Maristow Estate plan. The section in the middle was where the generator once stoodEngine House in foreground with Dairy in backgroundWhere generator stood in the Engine HouseOvergrown Engine House Entrance to ShipponInside the Shippon1869 Stable1869 StableThree Pig Houses and Fowles HousePig House (left) and Fowls House (ahead)West Pig HouseCentral Pig HouseEast Pig HouseEast Pig HouseFowls HouseFowls House‘Outbuilding 2’ as marked on sketch map earlier in this postInside ‘Outbuilding 2’. This was roofed in 1873View from the yard looking south to Down TorView from entrance of ‘Outbuilding 2’ towards farmhouse. When Plymouth City Corporation bought the farm from the Maristow Estate, the Pearse’s were not allowed to keep animals. They were given final notice to quit in early 1924, eventually leaving in September 1924. They were given (as tenants), no compensation, nor offered accommodation. Allegedly, the Land Agent when he visited in 1924, would give the Pearse’s a hard time as they had yet to move out. A rather sad end to the history of occupation of the farm(s) in this area.‘Outbuilding 3’. Possibly an old barn, given the gabled endsInside ‘Outbuilding 3’‘Outbuilding 4’ was roofed in 1873‘Outbuilding 5’ is quite small and may have been for the dogsGeneral view of the farm from the eastYellow Hammer seen near the farmFrom the reinforced embankment (see sketch map) looking east to Kingsett FarmGatepost just inside the enclosure (which once was called Long Strap) to the east of Kingsett Gert (Keaglesborough Openworks)Looking north up Kingsett Gert, now very overgrownLocation of adit below the reinforced embankment which bisects the Kingsett Gert (Keaglesborough Openwork)Location of adit taken from above on the reinforced embankment, looking south down Kingsett GertThe adit is located behind a tree. To access a careful climb down is requiredThe adit entrance located at SX57486 69820Looking down into the adit. The Kingsett folk covered the adit entrance with boards and their was a ladder to access the adit floor some 3m below.Plenty of room for butter and cream. Water from the adit drained away through a pipe (underneath the entrance).Eric Hemery recalls in High Dartmoor (page 144) that on an Autumn afternoon in 1977, looking down into the adit they spied a wild (black and cream) mink. He stated that the family dog had unfortunately drawn blood on the creature but after capturing it and an inspection (with gloved hand), the injury seemed superficial and the creature was let goThis mortar stone lies just off the track between Norsworthy Bridge and Cockle’s Gate. It had been built into an enclosure wall near Kingsett Farm and is believed to have been from the probable site of a documented 16th century ‘knocking mill’ called ‘Keigelles borowe mylles’ (Ref: Newman)The double mortar stone is located at SX57507 70025A contextual view of the mortar stone in relation to the Norsworthy to Cockle’s Gate laneOn the track leading up from Norsworthy Bridge towards Kingsett, this splendid rock can be found, which appears to have been attempted to have been split It seems that the quarrymen attempted to split this rock into fourTare and Feather. Two iron ‘feathers’ and an iron ‘tare’ placed between them which when hammered into the hole in the rock, eventually splitting the rock. One wonders, what went wrong here for these to be abandoned?Close up of the tare and one feather. Located at SX56983 69490
