Country Skills and Objects ...Number 6

[Dartmoor navigator]

 

[British Red]

What are we trying to guess ...the "mound" in the picture?

 

[British Red]

Not part of the old granite tramway up around Haytor is it?

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

Not part of the old granite tramway up around Haytor is it?

No, but it is a part of Dartmoor life. (historically) - This one is near where they........ahhhhhh later

 

[British Red]

Doesn't look like a collapsed barrow...not a leat is it?

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

Doesn't look like a collapsed barrow...not a leat is it?

No, it isn't for water nor is it of antiquity. In fact my neighbour new the last family to use this one.

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

It features in some moorland place names

 

[CBJ]

Its not a man made warren is it??
atb

Craig

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

Its not a man made warren is it??
atb

Craig

Yes! Spot on - a pillow mound for warrening. This one is at Ditsworthy warren (where War Horse was filmed).

The early medieval tinners set up some of the warrens, the moor is covered in them. Consequently we have a massive proportion of foxes too.

 

[Bowlander]

Lazy beds?

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

Lazy beds?

See above

What's a lazy bed?

 

[CBJ]

pillow mound. I knew that but for the life of me I couldn't remember the name

atb

Craig

 

[Bowlander]

See above

What's a lazy bed?

Hand dug beds for cultivation of spuds etc. Popular in the hebrides and with other Celtic folk. they look similar to the photos.

 

[British Red]

It features in some moorland place names

Hence the Warren House in I now surmise.....

Awesome thread ...thank you!

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

Red,

If you ever watch War Horse; the family farm house is Ditsworthy Warren, on the River Plym. It was once the largest commercial warrening concern in the country. It's just a small ruined cottage in the middle of nowhere now.