Tales Of Dartmoor

In 1921 Eden Phillpotts published a book of Dartmoor short stories called ‘Told at the Plume’ by which he referred to the Plume of Feathers inn at Princetown. One of the stories in the book was simply titled – Rugglestone. The events in this tale revolve around the famous logan …

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again,” this could well be a motto of one John Michael Gasken, a prisoner serving time at Dartmoor Prison. In the February of 1931, he along with another prisoner, John Mullens effected an escape from the prison. Both remained at …

There was an old tradition in the Dunsford area that when a dwelling was left unoccupied a ghost would come down the chimney and take up residence in the house. On Friday Aug 7th, 1874 the following case was heard at Crockernwell Assizes and as the evidence was revealed it …

Noah and Priscilla Small had been married for 26 years over which time they had ten children and sadly at the time only eight were still alive. They were a gypsy family who made their living by hawking brooms and brushes around the various town markets. In the January of …

Now legend would have it said that the mysterious ancient oak grove of Wistman’s Wood is infested with numerous supernatural beings such as the Wisht Hounds, Druids and ghosts along with the infamous Dartmoor Piskies. I think it would be fair to say that in these modern times many people …

There was once an old soldier who had fought a bitter campaign in the Napoleonic wars. When in 1815 that bitter conflict came to an end he like many of his brave comrades he returned home to find that there was no home, no job and no prospects. His only …

Back in 1927, Ivor Gordon Thompson, aged seven years was living with his family at Redlake Cottage near Ivbridge, at the time he was described as a delicate child due to having suffered from an attack of pneumonia when he was fifteen months old. He was the son of Samuel …

It has been claimed that last year at least 158 animals were killed on the roads of Dartmoor by vehicles. There are signs along most roadsides of the central moorland routes advising people to take ‘Moor Care’. An enforceable speed limit of 40 mph has been put in place in …

In the October of 1939 Dartmoor Prison once again proved to be the inescapable establishment it was designed to be. In the following incident it was also the wartime restrictions that proved to be the final downfall of three escaped convicts.The three ‘stars’ of this show had all previously served …

On the 3rd of December 1939 two men escaped from Dartmoor Prison in what at the time was described as; “one of the most amazing dashes for liberty in the history of Dartmoor Prison.” It was also said that their means of escape; “made history.” There were numerous newspaper reports …