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Ancient Dartmooor |
| Thousands of ancient monuments... |
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Some stone circles such as those at Grey Wethers are simply awe inspiring as well as mysterious |
Over 4000 years of human activity on Dartmoor has made the moor what it is today, a semi-natural landscape with evidence of man everywhere. There are at least 76 stone rows, possibly more; stone circles too, some are burial sites others probably not. Menhirs (standing stones), cairns and cists (kist ven), are all there to see without too much difficulty although winter is probably the best time to see them clearly. Others possibly lie buried in the peat and are yet to be found although there will be no more archaeological digs on Dartmoor now. Grimspound, the largest and possibly most significant ancient settlement is only a little way from Beechwood and makes a great point of interest on a longish walk. The megoliths at Merrivale are a short drive from Postbridge and then an easy stroll.
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The gateway of Grimspound |
Grimspound
Originally built in the middle bronze age the "pound" encircles a possible 24 huts and takes the saxon word for the devil, "Grim". It has been extensively reconstructed in parts since archaeological digs and you can clearly see how the entrance gate and some huts would have looked.
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"After long walks in the moor we enjoyed coming back to Beechwood finding hospitality and good meals." - Urs & Miassa, Switzerland
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And more recently
There are more numerous ancient monuments on Dartmoor than anywhere else in Europe, but there are also many remains of medieval peoples and even more recent industry on Dartmoor. Granite quarrying and tin mining in particular have left their marks here. Locally there was even a starch factory at the enigmatically named Scottish Sheepfold. |
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The great quarries at Hay Tor gave up the granite for London Bridge (the one we exported to the USA!) and for the British Museum in London. |
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The beehive hut near a bend in the East Dart River is now a useful aid to navigation but was an igloo like granite structure possibly made by tin miners to store their tools and other kit. |
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Medieval remains are also found in and around the moor. Evidence of Lydford's saxon origins can still be seen. Settlements were linked by lich ways marked with crosses passed over clapper bridges like the one here in Postbridge. |
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