58 ANCIENT SETTLEMENT ON TREWORTHA MARSH. 



The name Trewortha means in Cornisli, tlie upper settle- 

 ment, and it may have been given to that cluster of oblong 

 habitations now under consideration. Tresillan, the other settle- 

 ment, is, perhaps, Tre-sulien, that of one named Sulien. 



The cluster of oblong houses lies on the slope facing east, 

 in a tongue of land formed by Smallacombe Down between the 

 Withy-brook from the south, and a stream from Goodaver 

 Downs that flows into Trewortha Marsh from the west. To the 

 east is a dip in the moor, between Trewortha Tor and Eidge, 

 through which the distant chain of Dartmoor Tors from Sourton 

 to Mistor can be seen. The space occupied by the settlement is 

 500 feet by 300 feet, and consists of nine rectangular huts, — 

 ten, if we include one on a mound in the marsh, and there are 

 some two or three hut-circles as well. 



Of thesa oblong huts all point east and west, and have their 

 doors to the south. A peculiar feature is that they have a high 

 bank thrown up to the west, above them, to give shelter against 

 wind and rain, and in some cases there is a passage between this 

 shelter bank and the head of the house. 



Another peculiar feature is the approach to this colony from 

 the north by Eushleford-gate. It is along a broad road, sixty 

 feet across, enclosed within track lines of upright stones, but 

 on approaching the settlement the road is partly blocked by a 

 line of upright large stones drawn across it, having in the midst 

 a gateway ten feet wide. At the south end of the village, the 

 road again contracts to 30 ft., and there are some large stones in 

 the middle that may have belonged to a cross-wall. They are 

 not earth-fast, and have at one time been upright. 



We will now take each hut by itself ; and begin with one 

 that lies apart from the rest, it is marked A on the plan. This 

 has not as yet been completely excavated. It consists of two 

 chambers that never communicated with each other. That to the 

 east is lined throughout with upright slabs of stones, and 

 measures 7-ft. 6-in. by 6-ft. 3-in. The doorway, exceptionally, 

 faces the east. One of the jambs alone is in situ\ the other lies 

 outside, as does also the lintel. The western-most chamber, 9-f t. 

 by 7-ft. 6-in., has the walls built for \\^q most part in rude courses, 

 but two upright slabs have been utilised. The door is to the 



