The Dartmoor Arts

John Lloyd Warden Page, here is another author whose works tend to lay in the shadow of the more famous early Dartmoor topographical writers. I say ‘works’ because he published two Dartmoor books in the 1890s, the first was ‘An Exploration of Dartmoor’ and the second was ‘The Rivers of …

Most Dartmoor enthusiasts are conversant with the works of William Crossing, Eric Hemery, Samuel Row, and Hansford Worth, in other words the early topographical writers. Some may even add to that list Elisa Bray and John Lloyd Warden Page and the Reverend Hugh Breton. But there is one unsung writer …

People get introduced to Dartmoor in many ways, I along with many others first ventured onto its rocky heights in search of letterboxes. At first this tends to be the consuming passion but gradually that broadens out to encompass the many features and moods of the moorland landscape which then …

Author – Professor Ian Mercer Format – Paperback (400 pages) Publishers – Collins Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-00-718499-6 Price – £21.00 It has been many years since a ‘significant’ Dartmoor book has been published and that situation has been rectified by the publication of Ian Mercer’s book ‘Dartmoor’. I have several …

AT GRIMSPOUND Glimmered the cone of many a leathern tent And moonlight glazed the marsh, While hungry wolf pack galloped swift and rent The nightly air, where flocks were safely pent, With ululation harsh. The people slept, the sentinel alone Upon his granite rest Kept watch – a Stone Man, …

As always, whilst searching for something else I came across this verse called ‘The Moorland Gamekeeper‘ written in 1886. On March the 9th of that year it was addressed to Mr. W. French, jnr. who at that time was in the employ of Dr. Blackall of Exeter. This was the …

I came across this poem about twenty years ago and was totally amazed with what is had to say but then lost it, now I have found it again. Considering these words were written in 1871 it’s astounding how much they ring true today, clearly a prophecy if I have …

Dartmoor has always held an air of mystery with its rugged tors, gurgling streams and wild landscape which makes it an ideal place for legends. There are several stories of King Arthur around the moor and it does not take much imagination to place him and his knights battling evil …

Sometime last year the online book seller Amazon listed a forthcoming title called ‘The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor‘ whose author was Phil Newman. On many occasions I have come across his work as a former field archaeologist with the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments and English Heritage. Whenever researching a …

If you walk out to Teignhead Farm the chances are that you will cross the North Teign river by the main clapper bridge. However if one was to walk about 100 yards downstream you will come to a small clapper bridge and on the eastern bank is a small boulder …