A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
March 11, 2025
Military Artefacts around West Mill Tor
West Mill Tor is a magnificent mass of granite, located in the north west corner of Dartmoor between Rowtor and Yes Tor and to the south east of Okehampton Camp. It lies within the Okehampton range, which spans approximately 1,500 hectares, extending as far south as Cut Hill providing a wilderness integral to military exercises. Within the range are the remains of many military artefacts dating from the two World Wars, such as Target Tramways, Firing Ranges, Observation Posts and old trackways. Around West Mill Tor, like many hills and tors in the area there some old historic military artefacts, which are interesting to explore and visit.
Historically, Dartmoor has been used for Military training since the early 19th century. Okehampton camp itself has been used since about 1875 and originally comprised a temporary tented area. By 1892 the foundations had been laid for the first permanent buildings which were for the main camp which was completed by 1894. There were a series of leases were issued from 1885 but an important one for a 999 year lease was issued in 1892.
Bibliography
Simon Probert and Dr Phil Newman– (2003-2004) – Measured survey North Dartmoor Military Range Okehampton Range: Monument Baseline Condition Survey (Report – Survey). SDV350801.
Murray Oates – (2002), Ruined building on West Mill Tor (Worksheet). SDV232364.
Sketch map showing the relative positions of the military artefacts around West Mill Tor covered in this post. Note that the Splinterproof Hut is no longer extant and there appears to be no physical evidence of it nowWest Mill Tor from near Moor BrookWest Mill Tor – 541m West Mill Tor – aka West Mil Tor, Miltor, Mill Tor or Middle TorDouble Row of Stones (and slabs) which follow a sinuous ‘S’ shaped course across the southern summit area of West Mill Tor and then down the south west facing slope. The double row of stones is most likely military rather than a prehistoric origin because as it would be the most unusual stone row on the moor. It is similar to a military road lined by small upright slabs by the track to Hangingstone Hill. Simon Probert and Dr Phil Newman in their survey recorded in 2004 a total of 73 stones between SX5878 9078 and SX5903 9073Where the double row of stones curve around an ‘S’ shape there are a couple of sets of stones which look like building foundations and are most likely military originThis clustered set of stones is located at SX58914 90721. Could these be natural or were they placed ?The second set of clustered stones, a few metres down the hill from the first setThese stones are located at SX58924 90725. Were these or the first set the foundations for a building – even a temporary one ?Various views of the Double Row of StonesFurther north from the Double Row of Stones is the remains of a hut. It is located at SX58934 90809The hut was recorded by Murray Oats in 2002 as having walls 0.6 metres thick standing up to 1.75 metres high. It is almost certainly military origin and likely to have been an observation point or a shelter. The author understands that some Dartmoor observers have stated that this might have been a tinners’ hut or even a peat cutters hut – the author thinks this very unlikely as the tinworking on Moor Brook is too far aware and there is no obvious peat cutting in the area.The dimensions of this granite hut are 5.5 metres by 4 metres – the picture shows its proximity to West Mill TorMurray Oats records: “The east end is built into the hillside and there appears to be an entrance at the southeast corner”.To the north of West Mill Tor, not far from the road which leads to a ford near Moor Brook Head, are two Artillery Firing Positions / Emplacements. Each is crescent shaped and around 6m in diameter. Okehampton Camp is in the distanceThis Artillery Firing Position is located at SX58649 91623. The picture shows Row Tor in the backgroundThe second Artillery Firing Position at SX58633 91628. There is a Target Tramway nearbyThe two Emplacements have banks up to 0.9 metres high. The picture shows the two Emplacements with Row Tor beyondJust down hill from the two crescent shaped Artillery Firing Positions / Emplacements is a short Target Tramway, which can be seen as a dark line in the photograph crossing left (west) to right (east). Of interest is a a line of stones approx. 20m-30m to the south running parallel to the Tramway – were these stones part of the installation?Closer look at the row of stones to the south of the Target Tramway. Some of the stone look to be in a natural position but some look ‘placed’, suggesting they had some kind of purpose, which one assumes relates to the Tramway This target tramway is only about 100m long and there isn’t any evidence of any mechanism, unlike others in the area. The National Monuments Record SDV363416, describes two crescentric hollows in the tramway. They are at SX58505 91722 and SX58562 91716Looking west along the old Target Tramway. At the west end there is a large terminating stone. The author is not sure if this was part of the tramway or just a naturally located rock.East end of the Target Tramway looking towards Row Tor. The east end of the tramway at SX58603 91715
