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Historic Dartmoor

Hutholes

Nestled between the bosom of Rowden Ball and Dunstone Down is the ‘deserted medieval village’ of what today is known as ‘Hutholes. The term ‘village’ is probably doing the settlement huge injustice as once it was an ancient manor dating way back into the long-lost mists of time. If ever …

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Beardown Enterprises

Arguably Beardown Estate is best known as being the one-time residence of Mrs. Eliza Bray and her husband the Reverend Bray. However over the centuries there have been many enterprises set up on the Beardown Estate. These included; a small mine, a plantation and a rabbit warren. But as with …

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Throwleigh Sepulchre

Hidden in the various ancient churches of Dartmoor are numerous ‘treasures’ of very description. Many are easily overlooked and many reflect a story from the past. Albeit it a grave, an epitaph, some architectural feature or a simple sign they are worth seeking out. One rarer examples is the Easter …

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Okehampton Vicus

During 1976 and 1977 excavations took place on a Roman fort just to the NNE of Okehampton town, details of which can be found – Here. It has been estimated that it dates back to the 1st century AD. There have been numerous debates as to what the Romans were …

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Gisperdown Cross

As you trundle up the steep, narrow lane that comes from Harbourneford with its high banks you suddenly come across the cattle gridded entrance to Gisperdown Farm. To the right of the cattle grid is an extremely neat ivy-capped field wall. After a casual glimpse you realise that embedded in …

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Big Whit Hill Cross

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Today there are still ‘treasures’ to be discovered or rediscovered on Dartmoor. However, before people go grabbing metal detectors etc. I don’t mean gold and valuables. I am referring to pieces of Dartmoor’s history, archaeology and heritage that have suddenly come to light. I would suggest that some of these …

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Dunsford Cross

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  As with many of Dartmoor’s ancient crosses the Dunsford Cross had throughout time been ‘recycled’ for another purpose, in this case a wheel stop. The cross had been located at the corner of a cottage opposite the Royal Oak public house. Nobody knows when it was first placed there …

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Sanduck Cross

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Here is a case of a typical Dartmoor confusion – I’ve seen Sanduck Cross – which one? The old ancient cross or the road ‘T’ junction called Sanduck Cross? In this particular case the old ancient wayside cross which sits in the hedgerow near Sanduck Farm. To begin with how …

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Okehampton Tapping

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Nostalgia – “A sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past,” and anybody who knows me will say I’m a nostalgiac through and through. I would have loved to have lived on Dartmoor two hundred years ago but clearly that’s now impossible. So the next best thing …

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Drywell Cross

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“A bit of news I think I have for lovers of Dartmoor is that just above this farm Drywell built into a walled hedge is the upper part of a regularly shaped stone cross. My farmer-hot remembers it being put into that position, but he does not remember  anything about …

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