Whiteworks to Leathertor Farm

DARTMOOR

WALK

Whiteworks to Leathertor Farm

Saturday 11 June 2005

Another sunny day as I drove across the moor so I decided to stop for a little adventure.

I parked at the small car park before Whiteworks and made my way across to the track that leads down to Norsworthy Bridge.

My plan was to take a look at the ruins of Leathertor Farm which was abandoned in 1924 when the then tenant, John Lillicrap, was given notice to leave by the Plymouth Corporation, owners of Burrator Reservoir, because they believed the farm, and several others, were polluting the water supply.

The first record of there being a settlement on the site of the farm dates to 1317 when it was referred to as Lodertorre, but the current ruin was built in 1870

I am not sure where the name Lodertorre comes from, today, ‘Lodestone’ often refers to the naturally occurring magnetic mineral magnetite which was definitely common on Dartmoor and mined extensively, but I wonder if this knowledge was available prior to the 1400s

I did find the following reference in the Edward II Patent Rolls

1317

John de Horshate, Walter de Horsyate, Robert Attar of Adelak, Richard de Crepetorre, John de Lodertorre, John Denysh Denecombe, John de Rekenham, William de Crepetorre, and William son of Agnes Atte Hoik, and Richard his brother, entered his free chace of Dertemore, co. Devon, hunted therein without licence, carried away his deer and assaulted his men and servants. The like to the same justices on complaint by Serlo Seliman that Thomas, abbot of Bokland, with brother John de Brixton, &c. assaulted him at Lydeford, co. Devon, took him to Bokland, and detained him for a long time in prison there.

From this, I take that Dertemore is Dartmoor, Bokland is Buckland, Lodertorre is Leathertor and that Denecombe is Deancombe which is less than a mile from Leathertor Farm and that Crepetorre is probably Crapstone.

Sounds like a few of the local lads poached the Abbots’ deer and got caught!

But, as interesting that this may be, it does not help in understanding where the name Lodetorre comes from or how it came to be called Leathertor.

I continued down the track to Norsworthy. The track is often called Norsworthy Lane but I have also seen reference to it as ‘Uncles Road’ which I find odd. There was a gate called ‘Cockles Gate’ which most likely took its name from the owners of two farms, Roundypark Farm (also Roundy Farm) and Kingsett Farm (also Kingseat or Kingset), which were located on either side of the track and both owned by the Cockle family. Perhaps Uncles was a corruption of ‘Cockle’?

Before you reach Norsworthy Bridge there is a fork to the right that leads to Leather Tor Bridge which is a fantastic packhorse bridge crossing the River Meavy that was built next to the original ford circa 1834.

Walkhampton Parish Council

“resolved by a majority that a bridge should be erected as a place called ‘Riddipitt Steps’”, George Worth and William Mashford built the bridge at a cost of 26 10s,

The name “Riddipitt Steps” implies that, before the bridge was erected, there might have been stepping stones at this location and as the date is known to be circa 1834, it is believed that this was the last clapper bridge to be built on Dartmoor. Certainly, it looks more substantial than any of the other clapper bridges that I have seen on Dartmoor.

Riddipitt (or Riddipit, Riddy Pit) refers to Riddipit Farmstead which was located on the right-hand side of the track as you approach the bridge.

I crossed the bridge and passed the Potato Cave and continued towards the ruins of Leathertor Farm.

I spent some time exploring the ruins of the farm and then discovered a round, fenced in area that seemed only to contain bracken. There was nothing showing on my OS map for this and I quickly discounted the idea of it being a shaft as there seemed to be no hole!

On returning home I was able to check the 1906 25 Inch map and found that it was, in fact, a rain gauge. I didn’t actually get to see the rain gauge, I am not sure if it was hidden by the bracken or just not there anymore but at least, in part, the mystery was solved.

Looking up to the restored cross near CrazyWell Pool (or Clasiwell Pool)

Down Tor with Sheepstor in the background

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