TORS OF DARTMOOR
a database of both lesser- & well-known rocks and outcrops
Latchell TorLetchole Tor, Freeland Rocks, Freeland Tor  In the latter part of the 19th Century, Walter Besant wrote about the area around Manaton on East Dartmoor at a time when this tor, that occupies most of the Letchole Plantation above the hamlets of Freeland and Water half a mile from the main village, was still visible from afar. Besant continues: "Standing on Hayne Down, one can see how the ground breaks down, with hill after hill, each lower than the other, until the Ridge itself abruptly falls into the lower Combe at Riddy Rock, where the waters meet. First, there is Ease Down; then, Manaton Tor; next, Latchell; and, lastly, Nympenhole or Oddy Tor, with Gratnor Farm beyond these Tors, its fields and meadows showing among the trees like a clearance in some great primeval forest."  Max Piper (2022) continues: "Part of the tor is called 'Freeland Rocks' on [the 1842] Tithe Maps dating to the 19th Century, and another local name for the rocks is Freeland Tor. In Dartmoor News, a postcard by Chapman & Son shows just how barren the hill used to be." The outcrops sprawl across the south slope of the wooded hill, extending into the private gardens of properties in Freeland. A more accessible section is described by Tim Jenkinson (TJ, 2002); "The largest pile can be seen on the lower eastern side and is about 100 metres above the bridlepath from Water to Manaton. Here giant rocks with interesting caves are intermingled with oaks, firs and holly trees." This lies at NGR SX 7588 8088.  Although not visible from the road below as the tor's giant rocks are totally enshrouded in trees, this is one of the grandest rockpiles to be found in the Manaton locality. From the aforementioned bridlepath, and adjoining public footpath, the tor's rocks rise up from the hamlet to the pinnacle of the hill, where there are two rock basins. There are many more boulders strewn across the slopes of the plantation. Although Besant uses the name of 'Latchell' in his account of 1889, the name of 'Letchole' can be traced back to the Tithe Map of the Parish of Manaton. Adorning the summit of the tor stands Freeland Tower - this was originally built as an astronomical observatory c1900 and was later used as a lookout by the Home Guard in World War II. The top of the tower is just visible above the treeline in winter months from the slopes of Hayne Down to the south-west. We discover from a painting in A Manaton Century (2019) by Simon Butler that the tower was once crested with a flagpole and glass turret.  In his account of the various Lesser Known Tors of Dartmoor from 2002, TJ concludes that Latchell Tor is "secluded" and "unspoilt" and that "whilst Latchell escaped literary attention in the 20th century it has been a privilege to rediscover it at the turn of the 21st." Despite KR advising that Latchell Tor is "readily accessible", visitors should be considerate and obtain permission from the landowners to access the rocks that are set in the private gardens beneath Freeland Tower.
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