Perambulations

In 1240 King Henry III ordered by a writ which was dated the 13th of June that the lands of his brother Richard of Cornwall should confirmed by a boundary perambulation. The lands in question were the Forest of Dartmoor and the Manor of Lydford which he had previously granted to Richard in 1239. It was decreed that the Sheriff of Devon and 12 “lawful knights of the country” should undertake the mission. Accordingly the party consisted of the Sheriff, who Tristram Risdon lists as Gervas de Horton and the following men:

The perambulators completed their task on the 24th of July which is a clear indication of how quickly the King’s wishes were obeyed. The boundary that was delineated by the perambulation passed through numerous points which consisted of geographical and prehistoric features and are as follows:

Many of the above names are clearly of an ancient origin and are no longer listed on the OS map. The following list comprises of the perambulation points and their modern names:

	Cossedonne – Cosdon (SX 63600 91523)
	Hundetorre – Hound Tor (SX 62883 89033)
	Thurlestone – Watern Tor (SX 62908 86823)
	Wotesbrokelakesfote – Hew Lake Foot (SX 63955 86053)
	Heigheston – Shoveldon Longstone (SX 66025 85678)
	Langestone – The Heath Stone (SX 67120 83721?)
	Turbary of Alberysheved – Metheral Marsh (SX 67365 83246)
	Furnum Regis – King’s Oven (SX 67473 81296)
	Wallebrokeshede – Wallabrook Head (SX 67555 81051)
	Along the Wallabrook to its confluence with the East Dart (SX 67208 74708)
	Dartmeet (SX 67190 73105)
	Okesbrokesfote – O Brook Confluence (SX 66233 72425)
	la Dryeworke – Dry Lake’s tin streams (SX 66060 71008)
	Dryefeld Ford – Intersection of Dry Lake and the Sandy Way (SX 65948 69700)
	Battyshull – Ryders Hill – (SX 65970 69063)
	Wester Wellabroke – Wellabrook Head (SX 66535 68355)
	Down the Wellabrook to its confluence with the river Avon ( SX66473 66160)
	Ester Whyteburghe – Eastern Whittabarrow ( SX 66538 65170)
	la Redlake – Red Lake Foot (SX 63590 66105)
	Grymsgrove – Erme Head (SX 62143 66868)
	Elysburghe – Eylesbarrow (SX 59963 68598)
	Syward’s Cross – Syward’s Cross (SX 60163 69918)
	Ysfother – South Hessary Tor ( SX 59730 72366)
	Another Ysfother – North Hessary Tor ( SX 57872 74213)
	Mystor – Great Mis Tor (SX 56272 76928)
	Mewyburghe – White Barrow (SX 56847 79318)
	Lullingesfote – Limsboro Cairn (SX 56560 80548)
	Rakernesbrokyfote – Rattlebrook Foot (SX 56017 83751)
	Up the Rattlebrook to its head (SX55950 86973)
	la Westolle – Stenga Tor (SX 56780 88003)
	Ernestorre – Yes Tor (SX 58085 90151)
	Chapel of St. Michael de Halgestoke – Halstock Chapel (SX 60??? 93???)
	Cossdonne – Return to original starting point.

In 1609 another perambulation was carried out and its findings were presented to a Survey Court in the August of that year. The main purpose of this perambulation was to clarify many of the bound points and modify others. There were additional boundary points added between those of the original 1240 ones.

The 1240 Perambulation

Today there is a challenge walk called ‘The Ancient Boundary Walk of Dartmoor’ and this takes in the route of the perambulation. The walk was devised by Ian Kirkpatrick in 1982 and it his he who officiates over those taking part. Since its inception there have been 1,082 walkers to successfully complete the 42.5 miles of its route. The route winds its way through just about every aspect of ‘wild Dartmoor’ taking in tor, streams, bog and fen. Personally I have not done it yet but every year it is on my ‘tuit’ list and hopefully in 2006 I will finally get around ‘tu it’.