Why would a Spanish Lake be found on Dartmoor? In fact prior to 1588 you could not have found a Spanish Lake on Dartmoor, so what event gave birth to the Spanish Lake? – all will become clear later. On the western slopes of Shell Top on Lee Moor the …

As you travel along the A386 from Okehampton to Tavistock the tiny village of Sourton suddenly appears as the road snakes under the shadow of the high moor. Most people immediately notice the rather flamboyant Highwayman Inn, some will remark on the ancient ‘OXO stone’ stood sentinel beside the road …

In 1853 Dartmoor was in the grip of a harsh winter, the snow lay thick with drifts several feet deep. At this time Dartmoor prison was used to house convicts who were guarded by a company of the 7th Regiment of Royal Fusiliers. The deep snows had cut off Princetown …

There once was a small cott nestled in the valley between Riddon Ridge and Bellever tor. The East Dart river ran close by the homestead which was known as Whiteslade or more appropriately the ‘Snailey House’. Now for some unknown reason, on Dartmoor a ‘snail’ is what is more commonly …

High up on the valley of the river Erme is a small stream that tumbles down the northern flank of Stalldon. This stream is known as the Downing’s House Brook, nothing strange about that. If you walk up the brook you will just see evidence that the old tinners have …

The ‘Sheep Measure’ has always fascinated me and it was only after reading about its purpose that it fascinated me even more. William Crossing, 1990, p. 461, notes the following: “… we come upon the rectangular enclosure known as Lough Tor Pound. The gateway is on the side nearest the …

No this is not about a brave soldier who whilst on guard duty fought off single-handed a hoard of invaders, although it is the story of a battle. The Sentry is in fact a field by the church, originally it was called the Sanctuary Field, time and Devonshire dialect have …

 Ice is probably a strange thing to list amongst the aspects of Dartmoor but thanks to a man with foresight it was, for a very short time, a thriving industry on northern Dartmoor. In wintertime the one thing Dartmoor is not short of is ice and if you go back …

‘The ruined sheepfold stood four-square on the western slope of Stannon Hill. Built nearly a hundred years ago, at the time when many enthusiastic spirits discovered Dartmoor and dreamed dreams of prosperity to be dug from her bowels or garnered on her breast, it adds one to a long list …

On the western flank of Pudsham Down sits Scobitor which today is a small farm on whose lands sits a small tor and an enigmatic round tower. Incidentally and way off topic but to indulge my love of place-names, the name Pudsham Down at one time possibly meant the ‘Down …