TORS OF DARTMOOR
a database of both lesser- & well-known rocks and outcrops
Kent's TorKent Tor, Kents' Tor, Kenter Tor  It is entirely possible that the name of this valley side tor is associated with Captain Francis Kent (1804-1880) who lived in the village of Mary Tavy all his life and became a well-known Mine Agent at the nearby Wheal Friendship. This fact is recorded by Meg Baxter in 1990 where she writes: "Captain Kent was also a popular leader and lay preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist Church and often preached at open air meetings at Kent's Tor." He lived at the now Grade II Listed Kent House in the village. In support of Baxter's claim, the Listing description for the house by Historic England from 1987 includes this: "Kent House was named after the mine captain, Kent, of Kent's Tor to north west, where open-air Methodist meetings were held."  More information about the mining operations at Wheal Friendship is supplied courtesy of Steve Grigg (2026) with acknowledgement to P.H.G. Richardson: "Wheal Friendship Mine in Mary Tavy from the late 18th century up until around 1870 was synonymous with copper mining and had been very profitable. By 1865 it was estimated that the mine had produced 145,805 tons of copper, 1170 tons of lead, 120 tons of tin and 4,343 tons of arsenic. P.H.G. Richardson in 'Mines of Dartmoor and the Tamar Valley after 1913' (Chapter 4) states that the mine was second only in magnitude to Devon Great Consols (in the Tamar Valley). However, copper mining and production diminished in the 1870s and the mine owners and management began to turn their attention to arsenic (with a small amount of tin production)."  Despite being named on Ordnance Survey maps throughout their publication, William Crossing, when describing the scene upstream of the Tavy from the Power Station, has placed Kent's Tor in the wrong location: "Between this clam and Horndon Bridge are some fine crags. One of these we may see as we look up the stream. This is High Tor, the others being Fox Tor and Brimhill Tor." He goes on to say: "Further up, above the bridge named [Horndon], is another range of crags, the principle pile being known as Kenter Tor." This statement is odd because Kenter, or 'Kent's' as it is also known, is between Fox and Brimhill Tors, not beyond them. What is above Horndon Bridge is a crag that Eric Hemery refers to as 'Big Rock'. So that account is a bit muddled.  Ken Ringwood (2013) gives a different version of Kents' Tor, shifting the apostrophe to the end of the name and goes on to describe it as: "One small non-granite outcrop within woodland on the side of the hill. There is a steep slope with the River Tavy and additional woodland below." Presumably Captain Kent stood atop or beside the main outcrop here to deliver his sermons. With the passage of time and general neglect of the area, the trees have dwarfed the crags and the only way to see them is to enter the woods. Therein lies a problem; there is no public access, as Kent's Tor and its neighbours are all on private land.
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