Since the last post we visited some prehistoric and medieval sites on Dartmoor as well as another site of more recent historic interest.
Roborough Rock on the edge of the old World War 2
Airfield at Yelverton on the edge of Dartmoor.
When I was at boarding school in Plymouth in the 1950's
we frequently came here and climbed all over this rock!
Looking across the site of one of the runways.
Back in the 1950's, the runways will still there,
but they are long gone now. This airfield was used as
a departure point for flights to the USA and other places
so travellers such as Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt
passsed through here. Also, I understand that Glenn Miller
departed from here on his last and fatal flight
These earthworks were constructed to protect aircraft from
bombing raids and were contstructed using rubble from bombed
houses in Plymouth.
The Prehistoric Stone Rows at Merrivale near Princetown, Dartmoor.
The more complete row
The other row together with the leat constructed in the
16th Century on the orders of the then Mayor, Sir Francis Drake,
as part of the Water Supply for Plymouth
A prehistoric cyst or burial chamber. It would have had another
capstone and been covered by earth originally.
A medieval marker for the track across the moor
The medieval clapper bridge crossing the River Dart at
Postbridge in the middle of Datrmoor
View Across Grimspound pre-historic village
A hut circle and the main gate at Grimspound
Hut circles witin Grimspound. The huts would have a conical thatched roof.
follow this link to see what such huts would have looked like.
This link leads to more information relating to Grimspound
Old field systems can be seen on the far hillside. These may relate to the
deserted medieval village of Challacombe further down the valley
The church in the village of Widdecombe In the Moor - famouse for it's fair
Widdicombe FairTom Pearse, Tom Pearse, lend me your grey mare
All along, down along, out along lee
For I want for to go to Widdicombe Fair
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney
Peter Day, Daniel Whiddon, Harry Hawk
Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all.
And when shall I see again my grey mare?
All along, down along, out along lee
By Friday soon, or Saturday noon
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney
Peter Day, Daniel Whiddon, Harry Hawk
Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all.
Then Friday came and Saturday noon
All along, down along, out along lee
But Tom Pearse's mare has not trotted home.
With Bill Brewer etc.
So Tom Pearse he got up to the top of the hill
All along, down along, out along lee
He see'd his old mare down a-making her will.
With Bill Brewer etc.
So Tom Pearce's old mare, she took sick and died
All along, down along, out along lee
And Tom, he sat down on a stone and he cried.
With Bill Brewer etc.
But this isn't the end of this shocking affair
All along, down along, out along lee
Nor though they be dead of the horrid career.
With Bill Brewer etc.
When the wind whistles cold on the moor of a night
All along, down along, out along lee
Tom Pearse's old mare doth appear ghastly white.
With Bill Brewer etc.
And all the long night be heard skirling and groans
All along, down along, out along lee
From Tom Pearse's old mare and a rattling of bones.
With Bill Brewer etc. |
Hound Tor, situated between Manaton and Widdecombe On The Moor
The site of the deserted medieval village of Houndtor is found just over the other side of this tor
The view across the site of Houndtor Medieval Village
Remains of various Medieval Longhouses at Houndtor
This link will take you to a site with more information about this site