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FROM THE EDITOR Dartmoor Magazine is published by Blackingstone Publishing Partners David Viccars and Sue Viccars 2 Steward Cottages, Moretonhampstead Devon TQ13 8SD 01647 441174 Blackingstone EDITORIAL Publishing EDITOR Sue Viccars WelcomeGood news! In tandem with increasing the number of [email protected] sales outlets and subscriptions recently we’ve decided to GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emily Kingston up the extent of the magazine, too, so we’ve added another eight pages. But [email protected] the best-laid plans… even with this extra space it’s still hard to fit everything in, ADMINISTRATION David Viccars especially on the News pages – still, better to have too many interesting items [email protected] about Dartmoor to publicise than too few. ADVERTISING Zara Media & Design And talking of interesting items… In this issue we’ve got a bit of a ‘Dartmoor’s 14 Kingfisher Court, Venny Bridge, Pinhoe, ponies’ theme. I am using that term with care since, as you will see on reading Exeter, Devon EX4 8JN the three related articles – by Robyn Petrie-Ritchie, Charlotte Faulkner and [email protected] Timothy Garratt – the current difficulties faced by the range of ponies on the moor is a complex one, thrown into sharp focus with the demise of the Tavistock ADVERTISING MANAGER drift sale on economic grounds a year ago. These articles are intended to go Susie Walker 01392 201227 some way towards explaining how ponies came to be on Dartmoor in the first Dartmoor Magazine is published quarterly place, how we have reached the current situation, and what the future holds for every March, June, September and December. both ponies and pony keepers. I do a lot of work on Exmoor, where the pony Copy date for each issue is approximately six situation is interesting: firstly numbers are far lower, and secondly the gene pool weeks before publication. has been protected over the years so that those ponies seen on the commons ISSN 0268-5027 are true Exmoors. Read on to find out why things are so different on Dartmoor. Dartmoor Magazine is printed by Warners Midlands This issue also marks the start of a run of articles regarding different aspects of The Maltings the First World War and how the conflict affected life here on Dartmoor. Many Manor Lane village communities are involved in researching different aspects of the war and Bourne PE10 9PH I am expecting a constant stream of fascinating stories to come in over the next four years! We are kicking off with a look at what happened at Castle Drogo – SUBSCRIPTION RATES under construction at the time – and also at how the lives of children in a typical £16.50 UK FROM £28.50 OVERSEAS Dartmoor school were affected by the outbreak of war. The editor is always pleased to consider material for Venford Reservoir publication. Any material sent by post must be accompanied And finally to lighter matters. Back in May a by an SAE for its return. Material that is on offer elsewhere cannot be accepted. It must be original and not infringe the bunch of us enjoyed another of our Dartmoor copyright of others. Authors and contributors must have obtained the copyright holder or archive’s permission to use Magazine/Spirit of Adventure trans-Dartmoor any photographs, drawings or maps etc submitted. We are unable to accept poetry or fiction. treks, this time a three-dayer from Trenchford DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that Reservoir to the River Tavy at Denham Bridge. adverts and articles appear correctly, Blackingstone Publishing Another great route (we’ve got quite a bank of cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The these now) and great company, so many thanks views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. to all who came along and to Spirit for putting IMPORTANT NOTICE No part of this publication may be us up at the Powdermills bunkhouse and looking reproduced, stored in a retrieval system (including CDs) after us so well. or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher. Enjoy this issue: Emily and I have – as usual! – had a great time putting Dartmoor Magazine recommends using Ordnance Survey leisure it together for you. maps for exploring the countryside. dartmoorPeople, places and pursuits magazine Sue Viccars Editor When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it Powdermills DARTMOOR 3 In the news What’s happening around Dartmoor? SUE VICCARS Beating the Bounds, Belstone Perfect weather greeted the crowd PHOTOGRAPH assembled on the green at Belstone Flower Festival, Postbridge on 5 June for the once-every-seven- The Church of St Gabriel is a lovely years Beating the Bounds walk. After little church in the moorland village of a blessing from the Rev Stephen Cook Postbridge, constructed of Dartmoor listened to, amongst the 160 people, granite in 1868 by Stone of Chagford. It by Belstone’s oldest parishioner served as a school as well as a church for 97-year-old Marguerite Woodward, the first 65 years, with wooden shutters the walkers set off behind flag-man The walkers in Taw Marsh, with Steeperton Tor behind dividing the school from the sanctuary. Peter Cooper. With the decline of tin mining in The 12-mile parish boundary runs through a glorious mix of scenery, heading the area the school was closed down southward at first from the 2000 Millennium boundary stone below the village up and in 1934 the whole building was to the BB stone in the middle of Taw Marsh. Here Portreeve Michael Ash cut a dedicated as the village church. As with piece of peat to claim turbary rights in the Forest of Dartmoor and various children many old moorland churches, constant collected £2 after being upturned to have their heads ‘beaten’ on the stone, including maintenance is required to ensure the youngest parishioner, 11-week-old Rose Bisson. Pasties, cake, beer and cider that the furnishings complement these fortified the group at Cullever Steps before pressing on down the East Okement to magnificent buildings. St Gabriel’s is Fatherford, continuing through a garden and fields before bringing traffic on the holding a flower festival from Thursday old A30 to a satisfying halt between Mole Avon and Tongue End. There was more 18 to Sunday 21 September (10am– tarmac, fields, undergrowth and bogs to negotiate before following the River Taw 7pm, 4pm on Sunday) and organising a back up Skaigh valley to the Millennium stone. prize draw to raise funds to enhance the The whole day went off without a hitch thanks to behind-the-scenes organisation church’s interior. Free admission; lunch by the Belstone Commoners, headed by Michael and Trudie Reddaway and Ann and cream teas in the village hall. Norman, the Commoners’ Clerk. Chris Walpole Churches Trust (DHCT), which is dedicated DHCT to funding grants to enable them to undertake essential repairs when necessary. We can thoroughly recommend exploring one of our most recognisable churches in the Westcountry at Widecombe-in-the-Moor. (As an added Now in its fourth year, the Ashburton Food St Pancras, Widecombe-in-the-Moor & Drink Festival has been described as the PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF bonus you can enjoy the Craft Market Devon Historic Churches Day at the National Trust’s 16th-century ‘perfect food festival’ and on Saturday On Saturday 13 September many superb Church House.) 13 September the town centre will be Devon churches will be open and welcoming www.devonhistoricchurches.co.uk transformed into a wonderful street market visitors in support of the Devon Historic Judith Kauntze, County Organiser with a carnival atmosphere. Over 50 stallholders will showcase the quality local BURRATOR DISCOVERY CENTRE OPENS and regional produce that is held in such high regard. The Cookery Theatre, organised In early June the above ceremony took place during South West Lakes Trust’s Family Countryside Day. Hundreds of people dodged by the Ashburton Cookery School, brings the showers and enjoyed all manner of countryside activities around together Devon’s top celebrity chefs to display their culinary skills and passion for the lakeside, plus stalls representing a large number of Dartmoor SUE VICCARS organisations. Described as an ‘examplar project’ by Hilary Bracegirdle Devon produce. from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Discovery Centre – housed A Park & Ride service will run throughout in a beautifully converted iron store – is intended to help people the day with regular minibus runs from out- PHOTOGRAPH ‘learn about the heritage and environment of Burrator’ and stands The wonderful of-town parking. For further information alongside an initiative that has already increased local access. Burrator totem pole visit www.ashburtonfoodfestival.co.uk (carved from a www.swlakestrust.org sycamore tree) [see also pages 47–49]. 6 DARTMOOR HILL FARMING From a Dartmoor HILL FARM Anton Coaker on ‘re-wilding’ here are a few eco-nutters who hold pits, indicating the gnarly oak woods were heavily that many UK uplands, including utilised as a fuel source previously. Dartmoor, should be ‘re-wilded’. That And again, if you’d dug out some tin ore to is, cleared of farmed livestock, and trade with some Phoenician geezers who rocked Tpresumably managed tree plantations, and left for up each summer, you might want to smelt this tin nature. The same set often has leanings towards using the nearest available fuel, which wasn’t Welsh reintroducing species once native, but long since anthracite, was it? vanished. Wolves are a favourite. The variation in ongoing management and Anton Coaker farms Obviously, this is a direct assault on what I do for a imprinted visible history of our activities are, for one of the ancient livelihood, and as such, I can’t really warm to it.