1) Natsworthy Holed Gatepost - (SX7212/8011)

Near the Natsworthy Gate, there's a holed gatepost lying horizontally in the roadside wall.  The hole is round and is sunk into the granite towards one end, but it doesn't go right the way through the stone.  This would have been one of a pair of posts.  One post would have been laid at the base of a wall, with the holed-end facing upwards and protruding slightly beyond the end of the wall.  A second similar stone would be laid on top of the wall, this time with the holed-end facing downwards and again protruding slightly beyond the end of the wall.  A gate would have been made with the upright pole, on the hinged side, extending above and below the bars of the gate.  Whilst hanging the gate, the lower end of the upright pole would be slotted into the hole of the bottom gatepost, and the top gatepost would then have been lifted in order for the top of the upright pole to fit into it's hole.  The gate would then have been held in place with the freedom to be swung open and shut as required by pivoting in the holes.  (Source: Maurice).

2) Kitty Jay's Grave - (SX7324/7990)

There seems to be any number of different versions about what might have happened to Kitty Jay, who was buried here, probably in the late 18th century.  Most seem to agree that she was a young orphan girl who was confined to the workhouse at Newton Abbot.  It seems the workhouse was accustomed to taking in orphans and worked their way through the alphabet when naming them.  At the time they had reached the letter 'J' and she was allocated the name of 'Jay'.  It is not really known where the 'Kitty' came from - probably a nickname.  When she was old enough, she was apprenticed to Canna Farm outside the village of Manaton.  Here she would have had to work as a domestic servant in the house, as well as helping in the fields when required.

Whilst at the farm she started to attract the attention of the Farmer's son and, in due course, the inevitable happened and she became pregnant by him.  As were the ethics of the day, she was cast out from the farm and disowned by everyone who knew her.  Eventually, she could stand no more and committed suicide by hanging herself in the barn at Canna Farm, although other versions say that she drowned herself in the river.  Whichever, the custom at the time dictated that suicides could not have a religious burial, in fact they were normally buried at a point where a number of parishes meet, or at a crossroads.  The reason for this was that when the soul rose from the body it would get confused about which route to take and wouldn't then return to bring bad luck back to the place where the suicide occurred.

At some time during the 19th century, Mr James Bryant, of Hedge Barton Farm, was doing some work in the area and came across this unmarked grave.  He had the grave opened and the contents examined, which confirmed that it was the body of a young woman.  After examination, the body was re-interred and an earth mound set up around it reinforced by rocks around the edge.  It is said that since the body has been re-interred it has never been without a fresh supply of flowers, although no-one seems to know who is responsible for placing them at the grave.  Nowadays, the grave also attracts a number of offerings, such as coins, pebbles, shells and candles, from the innumerable people who visit the site.  (Source: Eric Hemery's 'High Dartmoor', pages 725/6 & Legendary Dartmoor Website).   

1) East Vitifer Tin Mine - (SX708/823)

Worked from 1845-1887 and again between 1912-1913. In the woods near Coombe, on the steep north-east slopes of Shapley Tor, will be found the overgrown remnants of stone walls and dressing floors, and the portals of two adits. On the downs above are the remains of shafts, a wheel pit and a flooded reservoir.  (Source: Butler, Crossing, Harris, Hemery & Newman).

2) Fishes Stone No.3 - (SX7143/8086)

Information on this stone has been added to the entry for the other two Fishes Stones which we visited in December 2014.  Please click for the Link to this webpage.

3) RAF Memorial - Hameldown - (SX7128/8070)

A Handley Page Hampden Mk1 bomber (X3054/EA-S) of 49 Squadron RAF crashed on 21 March 1941 whilst returning from a mine laying mission off Lorient in France. It was the only aircraft of six that failed to reach home.  Whilst heading at night towards its base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, with radio problems plus being unable to fix its position, it is believed the aircraft descended below cloud and flew into the hillside subsequently catching fire.

With the exception of the pilot, who died the following day of his injuries, the crew were killed outright - P/O The Hon R. D. Wilson (pilot), Sgts R. L. A. Ellis (co-pilot/navigator), C. J. Lyon (wireless operator) and R. Brames (rear gunner).  A lot of the wreckage was towed from the crash site by tractor driven by local girl Dorothy Miners, who was in her late teens at the time.

In the years following the accident, the pilot's mother arranged for a large inscribed standing stone to be erected approximately 50 metres NNW of the crash site: no wreckage is visible. The current plaque was affixed when the stone was cleaned in 1991.  (Source: Graham Lewis - 'Wings Over Dartmoor').  

4) Challacombe Down Stone Row - (SX6897/8084)

A bulky, transverse, triangular-shaped stone, standing over 2 metres in height and visible across the valley from Grimspound, marks the southern end of a rare example of a triple stone row that descends through the heather on the northern ridge of Challacombe Down for approximately 156 metres towards Birch Tor. This row, one of the loftiest on the moor, was first recorded by John Prideaux in 1828 when, according to Butler, most of its stones were found to be standing in their current positions although Crossing remarks that they were fallen at this date. A few were re-erected by Burnard and Baring-Gould in 1893, one being probably set incorrectly across the middle row near its downhill end. The restorers also re-erected, in a haphazard position alongside this, some fourteen stones which make for a very strange arrangement. These 'finally' positioned stones were probably the original members of the rows' northern ends, dragged to where they were found by the 'Old Men' (who were always respectful of antiquities in the vicinity of their workings) when excavating Chaw Gully. Unlike most Dartmoor stone rows no trace of barrow or cairn has been uncovered, so it is most likely that it was destroyed when the workings were being dug.  (Source: Butler, Crossing, Hemery, Pettit, Rowe & Worth).  

1) Whealam Bottom Cross (SX6132/6949)

Information about the Whealam Bottom incised cross can be found on our Dartmoor Crosses website.  (Source: Dartmoor Crosses website).

2) Northmore's Cross - Hand Hill (Grid reference witheld)

Information about Northmore's Cross can be found on our Dartmoor Crosses website.  However, at some time between March 2012 and October 2016 the cross was destroyed, leaving only a very short length of the shaft protruding from the top of the rock.  As of December 2019, a replacement cross has been made and now sits proudly on top of the rock again. (Source: Maurice).

3) Phillpott's Cave (SX6303/6728)

It is suggested that Philpott's Cave, just a short way above the eastern bank of the Blacklane Brook, is large enough to shelter 3 people.  The cave is set amongst some large boulders and covered by a large slab which measures 35 feet by 13 feet.  The natural gaps around the cave have been blocked up with a number of smaller stones to leave just the north-facing entrance.  The earliest known use of the cave was by a John Spencer, moorman, who used to maintain the culverts and causeways in the area and would cook and eat his meals here and sleep in the cave during the summer months, rather than making the long trek home each day.  It was Eden Phillpotts, the Author, who adopted the cave at the beginning of the 20th Century.  He cleaned it out, blocked up the gaps with stones and turf and equipped it with emergency rations of preserved food and whisky - of which sadly none remains today. (Source: Eric Hemery's 'High Dartmoor', page 275).

4) Grant's Pot (SX6297/6706)

Grant's Pot was found in 1953 by Scoutmaster, John Grant, and the Senior Scouts of the 4th Teignmouth Group.  The popular belief that it is a miner's adit is incorrect, as the pot is just a small underground cavern.  John Grant had a lot of experience in pot-holing and caving gained in the Pennines and he put this to good use in exploring this underground cave.  On discovery, he thought it would make a good site for a letterbox but it wasn't until another 19 years had elapsed that he and a group of pupils of the Dawlish Secondary School, where he was employed as a senior teacher, arranged for the letterbox to be sited within the cave.  This letterbox became the 14th entry of the original 15 letterboxes put out on the moor.  (Source: Legendary Dartmoor Website).

5) Wollake Mill (SX6291/6693)

Well Lake Mill/Wallack Mill, indentified by William Crossing, c. 1889, is mentioned in the Forester’s Accounts for Henry VIII when in 1532 the king’s representative collected rent of 3 pence from Cornwood men, Richard Cole and Richard & William Hele, and again in 1538-9 from Richard Coole and Thomas Hele, for a mill and two acres adjoining in the Forest of Dartmoor, which would equate to the curved enclosure in which the ruin is sited. Worth questioned Crossing’s claims that it was a tin mill or place for crushing ore because of its size and apparent lack of a leat or water course, and instead placed the mill further upstream on the right bank of Ducks’ Pool Stream at its confluence with the Wollake, but Hemery agrees with Crossing in that there is evidence of a traceable leat lower down.  Jeremy Butler has identified this ruined tinner’s building, in Vol 4 of his Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, as TB8 in the text associated with his Map 55, but the absence of such numbering on the relevant map creates a considerable amount of confusion.  (Source: Butler, Crossing, Hemery & Hansford Worth).

6) 'A' Head Rock (SX6205/6727)

This substantial rock, which is not that easy to find for the first time, is inscribed 'A Head'.  The 'A' represents 'Arme' which is the traditional spelling, and old-time phonetic sounding, of the river 'Erme'.  As the name suggests the rock is to be found near the head of the river and the inscription, which has now become faint and difficult to decipher, is to be found at the southern end of the top of the rock.  Near the site of this rock, there was once a grove of trees that went under the name of Gryms Grove.  However, this proved to be a very useful and handy source of timber for the local tin miners and they not only cleared all the trees, but prevented any chance of regeneration by digging over the ground and destroying the roots in their search for their precious metal.  (Source: Thurlow's 'Dartmoor Companion', pages 372/3 & Eric Hemery's 'High Dartmoor', page 277).

7) Broad Rock (SX6185/6724)

This large, but low rock, is used as a marker on the Abbot's Way.  It is inscribed with 'B B' (Blachford Bounds) and 'Broad Rock'.  As well as being on the Abbot's way, it marks the boundary between the Blachford Manor, in the parish of Cornwood, and the Forest of Dartmoor.  Blachford Manor was once owned by Sir Frederic Rogers, 1st Baron Blachford, who was a prominent Civil Servant raised to the peerage on his retirement in 1871.  Sir Frederic died in 1889, at which time his barony became extinct, and there is a commemoration plaque to him on an inside wall of the church at Ivybridge.  (Source: Thurlow's 'Dartmoor Companion', pages 372/3 & Maurice).

1) Three Barrows Cross (SX6516/6268) - (Update on October 2014 Notes)

Further to our previous visit to Three Barrows, in October 2014, a tip-off has pointed us to the site of what is thought to be the portion of cross that is all that remains of the original Hobajohn's Cross, in clitter near the north western cairn of Three Barrows.  This stone represents the head and one arm of the cross.  It seems this cross was taken from the spot where the current Hobajohn's Cross is sited (SX/6551/6047) and re-erected at Three Barrows.  This cross was erected, along with three others in the mid-16th Century, on behalf of Sir William Petre to mark the boundary of his Manor of Brent.  The three other crosses were sited at Lower Huntingdon Corner, Western Whittaburrow and Buckland Ford, although the latter is now missing.  Sir William was one of the signatories to the dissolution of the Buckfast Abbey in 1539, when it was valued at the sum of £464 11s 2d.  He then promptly went out and bought the land belonging to the former Abbey and incorporated it into his estate.  (Source: William Crossing's 'The Ancient Stone Crosses of Dartmoor', page 12 & Dartmoor Crosses website).

2) Uncle Ab's House (SX6565/6394)

Near the head of the Middle Brook, stands the remains of Uncle Ab's House.  All that remains standing now is one moss and fern covered corner of the house, but the remaining stones on the ground give a good idea of the original size and outline of the house. The house was originally used as stabling for Peat Cutters' packhorses, but more recently was taken over for the horses used to draw the carriages along the Zeal Tor Tramway, firstly for peat and then China Clay from the works at Petre's Pits and Redlake.  In 1954, the shell of the house was still standing but has since deteriorated to the state we see it in today.  According to Eric Hemery, the door lintel was engraved with 'GB 1809'. It must have been a portion of that door lintel that we saw on the bank above the house, but the lettering looks as though it is 'CB', rather than 'GB'.  Although there is normally very little water in the Middle Brook at this point, a constant supply was brought to the house along a leat from the Bala Brook for use by Uncle Ab and his horses.  There is a well-trodden track from the Zeal Tor Tramway, past Uncle Ab's House and down to Corringdon Ball Gate that was used by the Peat Cutters to carry their turves off the Moor. (We travelled along much of that track on our walk). (Source: Eric Hemery's 'High Dartmoor', page 298).

3) Zeal Tor Tramway (SX6492/6603 to SX6802/6291)

History

After acquiring rights from the Duchy of Cornwall in 1846 - to cut, manufacture and vend peat and peat charcoal - Captain Leyson Hopkin Davy and William Wilkins of Totnes established the South Brent peat and peat charcoal works (Shipley Bridge Naptha Co) at Shipley Bridge. In order to transport the raw peat extracted from turf ties situated at Red Lake Head mires (aka the Blackwood Ties - a particularly peat rich area) a three miles† long horse drawn tramway of five foot gauge was constructed in 1847 comprised of wooden rails fastened to granite ‘sleepers’.

Horses would tow empty wagons to the top terminus (Red Lake mires), where earthwork remains of a loading bay and peat press can be found, whilst wagons loaded with compressed material would go back to the works. The return, starting from Western White Barrow (a location from the turf ties to which initial horse haulage would surely be required), occurred under the influence of gravity and was controlled by a brakeman. From an acquaintance of William Crossing came stories of brakes failing to function in frosty weather resulting in the occasional loaded wagon precipitating through the roof of the works buildings at the south-eastern foot of Zeal Hill.

The men, mostly from Brent, who worked the Red Lake turf ties, stayed on the moor during the week in a dwelling they had constructed across the centre of Western White Barrow. These fellows were responsible for destroying Petre’s Cross when utilising it as a chimney lintel. Their weekly diet would be supplemented by rabbits poached from nearby Huntingdon Warren which was possibly reason enough for the warreners to build a small watchman’s shelter into the western side of the hill overlooking the River Avon below Broad Falls.

Uncle Ab’s House (aka Petre’s Pits House), at the upper end of Petre’s Pits Bottom on the Middle Brook, was where tramway horses were stabled. In 1954 the entire shell of the building, with inscribed door lintel “GB 1809” (CB 1809?), still stood†. It is interesting to note that this door lintel predated the tramway by thirty-eight years, begging an explanation as to what purpose the building was originally erected. It is known that tin steaming had taken place at an earlier time along the Bala Brook and its tributaries. An old 1 inch OS map of the area for the 1900’s shows the track from Corringdon Ball gate extending beyond Uncle Ab’s House and Knattabarrow to reach Bala Brook Head.

However, with the advent of the rapidly developing gas industry, the 1846 peat venture was soon killed off and the partnership dissolved in Aug 1850. In the latter part of the decade, following the company’s failure, the slate roof of the White Barrow dwelling was removed and the walls largely demolished with only the west end, containing the chimney, standing to any height; the cross, minus its arms, being replaced, but upside down on the cairn.

In Walking the Dartmoor Railways Eric Hemery disputes what other writers have to say about two separate and subsequent enterprises working the Bala Brook Head clay pits in 1855 and 1872, he considers that only one was involved; yet Crossing, writing in Amid Devonia’s Alps of a walk across the area in 1872, described the tram-road as in a ruinous condition, but that the works buildings at Shipley were part renovated by the Brent Moor Clay Company and that a Clay Company had started some time previously on Brent Moor also making use of the works.  

So we have a situation where clay was being obtained by the China Clay Co Ltd from Bala Brook Head (Petre’s Pits) about 1855-1858 with the tramway not utilised. The clay was washed down in the first instance in open channels to the old Knattabarrow dries near Glazebrook viaduct‡ (the GWR bridging span at SX 688591). It is recorded that an unsuccessful venture was undertaken around 1836 when an insignificant quantity of clay was extracted from what was called Knattabarrow Works (now Knattabarrow Pool - aka Petre’s Pits Pool - SX656644), but no further details of this have been found at the time of writing.

Initially, the (two) aforementioned open channels left the Bala Brook on its right bank descending steeply down the hillside to presumably cross both the Middle and Red Brook tributaries on launders before disappearing underground on Treeland Down. Soon afterwards the China Clay Co Ltd adopted an improved process using the buildings of the former naptha company, and channels were cut on the eastern side of the valley to feed new settling pits at Shipley. Also, a leat 2¾ miles long was cut from Heng Lake (River Avon) via the slopes of Eastern Whittabarrow and through Broad Rushes to assist the process. Clay production would continue intermittently from this area until cessation during the first third of the twentieth century.

Nearly twenty-five years would pass before the decaying tramway was given a reprieved lease of life when, in 1872, the Brent Moor Clay Co was formed by Messrs Hill & Hall. They sought to produce clay on land leased from Lord Petre of Brent, again at Bala Brook Head and to which a connection was laid from the old tramway near the existing ¾ mile post into what would be referred to as Hall’s and Hill’s Pits (aka Petre’s Pits); the section to Red Lake being abandoned.

The tramway only handled materials; the clay being conveyed through stoneware pipes to Shipley Works as slurry. The quality of the clay was poor in colour, even after extensive refining, and only fit for pottery use. Also, because of its abrasive nature it quickly wore away the pipes that conveyed it. The later part of the 1870’s saw a marked depression in the china clay industry and the venture was abandoned by 1880.

A third and final attempt was made to work the clay deposits in Petre’s Pits in 1923, possibly in association with the Red Lake and Left Lake workings. A new pipeline was run to the Shipley works and iron rails to a gauge of 2 feet were laid in the pits on which clay tip wagons built by Hudson of Leeds ran. With the dissolution of the Red Lake/Left Lake venture in 1933 the clay industry died on this part of Dartmoor. In 1953 the rusting remains of three wagons together with some iron rail could still be found†. A brief attempt to discover whether any of these remains might still be in situ was made in September 2016, but the area was extremely difficult to negotiate and the idea abandoned through shortage of time.

There are obvious gaps in the tramway’s history that would be worthy of research: even Dr Phil Newman has commented on the need for a detailed investigation of the Brent Moor/Shipley Bridge peat works to compliment work of a similar nature conducted for North Dartmoor. One can only hope it will happen at some stage.  

Observations

An intriguing aspect of this tramway is the existence of two distance marker stones: few references have been made of them by those who have written with regards to the old route.

Although there is no clear evidence either way, Eric Hemery asserts that stones were erected beside the tramway at each ¼ mile to indicate the distance from the Red Lake mires loading platform to the former works at Shipley. He mentions a ½ mile stone lying on its back southeast of the water divide (though where exactly he does not make clear) and a ¾ mile stone. However, when walking the abandoned route, certain aspects of what Hemery alluded to do not add up; particularly his reference to the ½ mile stone.

The ¾ marker is readily found at SX 6641 6469, but as for the ½ marker there isn’t one. Instead, a stone engraved 2 miles is located at SX 6602 6490. This stone was commented on by George Thurlow in his Dartmoor Companion when he found it difficult to locate in 1983 because it had collapsed into the track-bed. Fifteen years later he said it was easier to find having been cleaned and re-erected.

Both stones are of different geological origin with the 2 miles stone exhibiting greater signs of weathering compared to the ¾ stone on which the characters seem more etched than carved. What is difficult to understand is why Hemery should consider datum being measured from the turf ties rather than the works!

Herein is a problem as it is not known: a) who was responsible for placing the marker stones, b) whether they were actually located at ¼ mile intervals and, c) how accurately it would have been done. No matter which way it is worked the distances indicated by these stones are at odds with measurement. The line of the old track can be readily followed from just north of Crossways (where it is bisected by the track-bed of the Red Lake Railway), and with the exception of a three-tenths of a mile section southeast of Broad Rushes, to a point alongside the enclosure walls above Avon Filtration Station. Here, after rising from that facility, a tarmac road descends to the Hunters’ Stone and connects with the reservoir’s service road. It is believed this new road cuts across the line of the original tramway, but the lack of both knowledge and ground evidence for the alignment of this final stretch to the Shipley works does not help.

Considering the comment previously referenced to William Crossing, the tramway might have taken a direct line from the enclosure walls or conversely followed the enclosures before swinging north-east towards the lower terminus. The route becomes slightly steeper at a point half a mile from the works, necessitating adequate braking to prevent loaded wagons running out of control towards the buildings at Shipley.

Measuring distance back from Crossways does not work as the 2 miles stone is about 1 mile (in fact closer to 1⅛  miles) away whilst the ¾ stone is at 1⅜ miles. However, taking their distances as from Shipley then placement is closer, but in both cases about ⅛ mile short of where they should be. The question arises as to whether these two stone are found where they were originally set. Also, what are the chances of discovering any others? The lack of similarity between the two known stones tends to suggest that any suitably shaped piece of granite would have sufficed for the task thereby making it more challenging to discover ‘missing’ markers.  

If these distance markers ever existed, as Hemery implied (and where would you find the evidence to prove so?), then they have either fallen to be engulfed by peat or become the spoils of souvenir hunters. Therefore, speculating on the possibility of quarter mile placement other stones might be found near the following OS Grid references: ¼ mile - SX 6759 6309, ½ mile - SX 6727 6325, ¾ mile - SX 6714 6364, 1 mile - SX 6711 6405, 1¼ miles - SX 6690 6437, 1½ miles - SX 6659 6459, 2¼ miles - SX 6549 6509, 2½ miles - SX 6530 6544, 2¾ miles - SX 6509 6577, 3 miles - SX 6487 6612 (this one less likely). It needs to be born in mind that an error of as much as ⅛ mile might have to be allowed for.  (Sources: ‡J Butler, Wm Crossing, H Harris, †E Hemery, Dr P Newman, G Thurlow & E A Wade).  

Information about this Fitz's Cross can be found on our Dartmoor Crosses website.

2) East Mill Tor Target Railway (SX6040/9079)

Please see research notes from November 2014 for information on East Mill Tor Target Railway.

3) New Bridge (SX5961/9031)

Please see research notes from July 2014 for information on the New Bridge over the Black-a-ven Brook 

4) Row Tor Target Railway (SX5927/9109)

Please see research notes from July 2014 for information on Row Tor Target Railway.

5) Ten Tors Cross (5878/9285)

Information about Ten Tors Cross can be found on our Dartmoor Crosses website.

1) Spurrell's Cross (SX6591/5997)

Information about Spurrell's Cross can be found on our Dartmoor Crosses website.

2) Hobajohn's Cross (SX6551/6047)

Please see research notes from October 2014 for information on Hobajohn's Cross.

3) Aircrash Site - Three Barrows (SX6536/6266)

Please see updated research notes from October 2014 for information on the Wellington Bomber crash site.

4) Cuckoo Ball - Chambered Tomb (SX6596/5819)

It is considered that the Cuckoo Ball burial chamber (circa 3000 to 2000 BC) pre-dates the Bronze Age and was once the finest Dolmen on the moor.  The two remaining erect slabs are 6½ feet long and 5⅔  feet high, respectively.  It is thought that the chamber was once covered in stones, to form a cairn some 120 feet long with a north/south orientation.  This must have been an impressive sight outlined against the sky, when approached from below.  In all probability the stones from the cairn were robbed during the building of three hut circles in the vicinity and, much later, the stone wall that now runs past this relic.  (Source: Jeremy Butler's 'Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities - Volume 4', pages 36/7 Eric Hemery's 'High Dartmoor', page 256).

1) Ian Mercer Boundary Stone (SX6782/6865)

See Item 4 from the Research notes for September 2015 walk.

2) Nine Stones Boundary Stone (SX6613/6917)

This is one of a number of boundary stones on the border of the parishes of Holne and Buckfastleigh.  The stone, inscribed with an 'H' for Holne, is set amongst a number of smaller stones beside an old tinner's reservoir.  I've not been able to find how it came to acquire the name of 'Nine Stones' and can only assume that it was so named due to there being eight other reasonably sized stones around it.  (Source: Maurice).

3) Wellabrook Boundary Stone (SX6645/6857)

This tall and slim boundary stone, standing at the head of the Wellabrook Gert, is visible from quite some distance away, weather permitting.  It is inscribed with a 'B' for Buckfastleigh and stands on the border of that parish with Dean Prior. (Source: Maurice).

4) Puper's Incised Cross (SX6728/6737)

Information about the Puper's Cross can be found on our Dartmoor Crosses website.

5) Crad Hole Ring - Hickaton Hill Settlement (SX6722/6651)

This single enclosure is somewhat isolated from the other settlements in the Avon valley and sits at the head of an east facing combe overlooking Brockhill Mires. The outer wall consists of large slabs and boulders.  A further line of boulders separates off part of the upper area of the settlement.  There would appear to be several entrances to the ring, but the most prominent is on the south-east side, as here the walls curve in slightly towards it.  Originally, there were four hut circles within the settlement, of which three appear to have an annexe attached to them.  Unfortunately, sometime after the settlement was abandoned quite a lot of the stone has been reused by granite cutters, with the good stone being taken away for re-use and the faulty stones abandoned. (Source: Jeremy Butler's 'Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities - Volume 4', page 164).

6) Abandoned Apple Crusher Stone - Pupers (SX6752/6694)

I've not been able to find anything recorded about the stone we found lying beside the track, from Hickaton Hill to Lud Gate, to the south of Pupers.  However, it does have a similar appearance to other abandoned stones on the moor which have been identified as Apple Crushing Stones.  The Legendary Dartmoor website mentions abandoned Apple Crusher Runner and Base Stones about 300 yards to the north east of this stone.  It may well be that the granite in this area is in some way flawed and several attempts were made before the perfect stone was found. (Source: Maurice).

7) Little Man / Kit's Stone (SX6778/6714)

Little Man, also referred to as Kit's Stone, is the smaller of a number of menhirs to be found on Dartmoor.  Being placed at the intersection of two moorland tracks, it's purpose was to serve as a Guidestone.  One of the tracks ran from Ryder's Hill, through Snowdon, Pupers and Water Oak Corner to Cross Furzes or Dockwell.  The other track ran from Lud Gate, Huntingdon Cross and out to the open moor on the Abbot's Way.  (Source: Eric Hemery's 'High Dartmoor', page 307).

1) Rattlebrook Railway & Peat Works (SX559/871)

The Rattlebrook and Amicombe area was the scene of the largest peat cutting operation on the moor.  The peat was cut by the men of Lydford, Sourton and Bridestowe and taken to the peat works on the east side of the Rattlebrook where it was stored for drying.  Within the peat works the remains of a large boiler, and an oven door frame, that would have been used to create some heat in the drying process can still be seen.  After drying, the peat was loaded onto wagons and taken along the peat railway to Bridestowe.  The railway was composed of iron rails which ran for 5 miles, during which it climbed 1,000 feet, and included bridges, cuttings, embankments and the points (SX545/887), which were used to manoeuvre the train around a very tight bend below Corn Ridge.  Initially, the trucks were pulled by a team of horses along a gravel track, but these were later replaced by a petrol-driven light locomotive when the rails were in place. The railway was completed in 1879 and ran until 1924.  By 1961, the buildings had become unstable and were blown up by the Army at the Duchy's request.  

In addition to the main railway, where the dried peat was conveyed from the works at Rattlebrook Head down to Bridestowe, there is evidence of some local  tramways/railways, which brought the peat down from the ties to the peat works at Rattlebrook Head for drying/processing.  The first of which was established by the Dartmoor Peat Company in 1874, whose sale schedule later in the same year included six wagons and iron rails, though the precise location of this system is not recorded. By 1884, two tramroads are known to have existed, with one being led from the ‘Black Peat’ and the other from the ‘Grey Peat’.

Tramway 1 (SX 5601/8710 – SX 5663/8678) The most easily recognised of the tramways is probably that described in 1884 as leading from the ‘Black Peat’, although what remains today may be the result of alterations and extensions over the life of the works. However, it was depicted on the 1889 OS 6-inch map having approximately the same course and extent as the evidence today. It survives for most of its course, consisting of an upstanding linear earthwork of on average 7. 5m wide at base and up to approximately 1m high. Its final extent was 850m, and its course ran for 316m ENE from the eastern side of the works up the slopes of Amicombe Hill before heading SE, extending down through the turf ties. Timbers, which supported the iron tram rails, survive in place running along the top of the embankment. These are likely to be survivors of the 20th-century re-use of the tramway. The course of the tramway transects pre-existing turf ties whose evidence clearly runs beneath the embankment. It would appear therefore that the tramway would be extended gradually over recently cut ground as work progressed south, rather than pre-installing the tramway to serve a large area from the start. Had work progressed further south then the tramway certainly would have extended further south. Near the works, the tramway terminated just to the west of the ovens where a large drying shed once stood on the raised ground.

Tramway 2 (SX 5614/8715 – SX 5631/8697) A second section of raised linear earthwork which runs parallel with part of tramway 1 and joins at a Y junction, almost certainly supported a tramway. 

Tramway 3 (SX 5597/8706 – SX 5646/8679) Earthwork fragments of a tramway, which ran from the large building at the works in a south-easterly direction clearly post-dates them all. The course of a tramway is marked in the vicinity of the building following this approximate course on a map of 1884 and described as coming from 'Grey Peat’. Although not present on the 1889 OS 6-inch map, it is clear on that of 1906, where it extends as far to the east as the remains today suggest. The course of a another, shorter tramway, depicted on the 1906 map running between the two existing tramway earthworks, has not survived.  (Source: Eric Hemery's 'High Dartmoor', pages 909-910 & Phil Newman: 'Domestic and Industrial Peat Cutting on North-Western Dartmoor').

2) Ring Rock (Amicombe) (SX5733/8591)

Ring Rock is a large squarish rock with two metal rings fixed into the top of the stone.  This would have been used by moormen in the olden days to tether their horses whilst working out on the moor.  There are several examples of these rocks on the moor which were generally used by tinners but, in this case, might well have been used by the peat cutters working on Amicombe Hill. (Source: Maurice). 

1) Devonport Leat - Southern End (SX5501/6838)

At this point of the leat on Yennadon Down, the Devonport Leat comes to a dead-end.  Here, in the centre of the leat, is a rotary screening device which captures dead leaves and other floating debris before allowing the water to flow down into a vertical pipe which carries it underground to the Dousland Water Treatment Works.  After being treated it is piped on to numerous supply points.  When full, the screening basket can be lifted by an on-site hoist, swivelled around and emptied of its contents.  Any excess water flows through a grille in the base of a building, which resembles a pumping station.  Here another screening device draws off any dead leaves and other debris, which flow out of the building into a basket trolley.  This trolley can be wheeled away and emptied as and when required.  The water then flows through a pipe down the hill towards the reservoir.  About halfway down, the pipe ends and gravity forces the water out of the pipe into a spectacular waterfall and it then runs on down the rest of the hillside. This waterfall once worked an electricity generator at the Lodge but since being connected to the mains supply, in 1981, the water now runs under the road and into the reservoir. The leat supplies in the region of 2.9 million gallons of water each day.  (Source: Eric Hemery's 'Walking the Dartmoor Waterways', page 19).

2) Burrator Halt Railway Station (SX5499/6794)

Burrator Halt railway station was located on the 10.5 mile long single track branch railway line running from Yelverton to Princetown with, eventually, four intermediate stations. This station was opened on Monday 4 February 1924 as Burrator Platform and became Burrator Halt when it was opened to the public.  The name was changed again in 1929 to Burrator and Sheepstor Halt.  The station at first catered only for workmen employed on the raising of the Burrator and Sheepstor Dams. This service consisted of a morning train that left Princetown at 6.27am for Dousland and Yelverton and then, after collecting workmen off the 6.20am from Millbay Station, left Yelverton Station at 6.58am, stopping at the Burrator and Sheepstor Platform at 7.05am to set them down. On Mondays to Fridays, the 4.05pm from Princetown called at Burrator at 4.30pm to pick up workmen for the homeward journey. On Saturday mornings the 12.25pm from Princetown called at 12.50pm to collect workers and the later train would then not stop.  Its later traffic was almost entirely walkers and like the Ingra Tor Halt it was retained in an attempt to counter competition from local bus services and encourage tourist traffic.  

The branch line was authorised in 1878 and opened on 11 August 1883, with the general gradient of the line being 1:40 to 1:41.  Yelverton was the junction for the line when the halt opened, three other stations had been added to the line in the 1920s, plus Ingra Tor Halt in 1936.  King Tor Halt was opened almost on the site of the old Royal Oak Sidings.  The freight traffic on the branch line included granite from the rail-served quarries of Swelltor and Foggintor which were closed in 1906.  Owned by the Princetown Railway until 1 January 1922, the company then merged with the Great Western Railway (GWR). The line passed to British Railways (Western Region) in 1948 and closed on 3 March 1956. The track was lifted in December 1956.  Only the foundations of the station remain, together with the old steps up from the lane and a swing gate.  (Source: Wikipedia Internet Site).

3) Longstone Manor (SX5569/6847)

Longstone Manor House was once the ancestral home of the Elford family, who were Lords of the Manor and Free Hamlet of Sheepstor, and who lived here until the middle of the eighteenth century.  It has been suggested that much of the present building was rebuilt for Walter Elford (circa 1633) and came into the Elford family when John Scudamore's daughter, Johanne, married John Elford.  Longstone ceased to be a Manor House in 1748 and passed out of the Elford family.  It is recorded as being in the ownership of William Smith in 1750, by which time the property had been downgraded to a farmhouse.  It continued to serve this purpose for almost 150 years and subsequently became much reduced in size.

As a consequence of the construction of Burrator Reservoir, which had begun in 1893, the farm was abandoned in 1898, having been in the possession of Manesseh Masseh Lopes, Maristow Estate, from 1811.  The last tenant who lived at Longstone Farm was Mr George Creber.  Following the construction of the reservoir several granite artefacts were recovered from Longstone Manor for safekeeping.  These include the date-stones of the house (1633) and windstrew, some doorways and a stone lectern, all of which were re-sited in Wembley Walk, situated near the Burrator Discovery Centre.  Other items that have been recorded at Longstone Manor, but which have now disappeared, include two mould stones, a mortar stone, a granite feeding chute and a holed gate hanger stone.

Beside the fence around the Manor is an apple mill (apple crusher), surviving evidence that cider was once made at the site.  Also nearby is the Windstrew (Threshing Platform), a rare example of a raised stone platform where corn was threshed by hand.  There are also a number of granite troughs scattered around the site.  Behind the farmhouse and by the water's edge is a cross base, which is believed to have once supported the Lowery Cross, which has now disappeared.  The cross base was probably moved to Longstone Manor for safekeeping.  (Source: Longstone Manor Signboard & additional website information).

1) Wooston Castle (SX7648/8964)

The extended Wooston Castle site has been granted the status of a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM). The open area we saw today was just the top of the castle - the whole site extends to about 15 acres in total.  The Woodlands Trust, together with the National Trust, have now secured grant funding to restore and research the castle site.  As well as these two organisations allotting money themselves, further funds have been secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The first part of the restoration is the clearance of trees from the top of the castle, of which we saw ample evidence on the walk today.  Further clearance will take place shortly, especially to the south of the main castle which will open up a number of deep ditches which are currently screened from sight by large conifers.  A certain amount of work has already been undertaken to survey the open area, but it is hoped that further funding can be secured to undertake a comprehensive archaeological survey of the whole site over the next five years. This will include some archaeological digs and some research to see how this castle might be linked to the other castles (Prestonbury & Cranbrook) in the Teign Valley.  This is a long-term project which is expected to take five years or more to complete.  (Source: Adrian Colston's website).

One day, in November 1913, William Donaghy, a science master at the Warrington Technical School, left his post at midday and just disappeared. It wasn't until February 1914 that his body was found beside this stone on Dartmoor. It seems that he had died of exposure due to his being exposed to a spate of rain and cold for several days leading up to his death.  On being found by two local Farmers, his possessions included a guide book, a page of notes suggesting a cross-moorland route from Exeter to Plymouth, £20 in gold coins and a cloakroom ticket from an Exeter Train Station, dated 4th February.  When the Police investigated his 'left luggage', they found a bag, deposited under the false name of 'Jones', which contained some personal belongings in addition to a revolver and ammunition. The mystery of why he left his home and school on Merseyside, only to perish 3 months later on Dartmoor has never been explained.  In a bizarre coincidence a second body, that of Walton Howard, was found in similar circumstances near Rowter Marsh (less than 2 miles away) in 1935.  He was also a teacher at the same school as William Donaghy and was even wearing the same watch and school tie as Donaghy. (Source: John Hayward's 'Dartmoor 365', page 172 & data provided by Bob W).

2) Scotch Sheepfold - Stannon (SX644/808)

The general consensus is that the Scotch Sheepfold was built in the late 18th Century by brothers John and Thomas Hullett.  It was built as a factory in which potatoes would be processed in order to produce starch.  However, there is no evidence of potatoes ever being grown in any quantity on the moor, nor would the moorland soil and its climate be conducive to growing crops of this nature.  It might have been their intention to purchase the potatoes from around the Moretonhampstead area and to bring them here for processing.  It is doubtful that any starch was ever produced from this site before it was abandoned.  Upon the failure of this venture, the structure was taken over by a Scotsman, possibly by the name of 'Crawford', who then turned the building into a sheepfold.  The two rows of standing stones inside the longest walls of the building were used to support a roof against the walls to give the sheep some shelter during periods of bad weather.  Again, it is not known whether the 'Scotch' part of the name refers to the Scotsman who took over the building or the Scottish Blackfaced sheep that were introduced onto the moor around that time.  (Source: Legendary Dartmoor website).

3) Postbridge (Maggie) Cross (SX6516/7922)

Information about the Postbridge Cross can be found on our Dartmoor Crosses website.

1) Krapp's Ring (SX644/781)

Krapp's Ring is a large settlement pound at the northern end of the wide tract of unforested ground that runs downhill from Bellever Tor.  The raised bank, containing mostly buried stones, that forms the perimeter wall can be seen virtually all the way around.  The pound encloses an area covering 120 metres by 113 metres, which is approximately 2/3rds the size of Grimspound.  Although the pound originally contained about 15 hut circles, the remains of only a few these are still visible today.  Several of the huts were excavated by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee in 1895 and all but one were found to have previously been 'dug over' and anything of any archaeological value has been lost forever.  However, they were able to excavate one hut that had not previously been disturbed and found a cooking hole and a hearth within it, but no other artefacts that might have been of value.  (Source: Jeremy Butler's 'Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, Volume Two', pages43/44).  

2) Bellever Cist & Stone Row (SX6449/7761)

To the west of the gravel track that runs southward up the hill from Postbridge, there is a very fine example of a Cist, Retaining Circle and Stone Row. The cist consists of 5 slabs arranged on their edge and topped by a massive capstone.  The cist is surrounded by a retaining circle and accompanied by a short stone row, which runs down the hill.  After it had fallen into a state of disrepair, the site was restored by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee in 1895. There are now 11 stones in the retaining circle and a further two sockets were discovered during the restoration, but the stones for these sockets were never found and the sockets have now disappeared over the years.  It is thought that there were some inaccuracies in the restoration as one of the stones of the retaining circle was re-sited outside of the circle perimeter, giving the appearance of the stone row starting from within the circle.  In addition, the stone row now alters course to the north after the 5th stone, but the row would originally have been erected in a perfectly straight line.  (Source: Jeremy Butler's 'Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, Volume Two', page 51).