Hullo there. Last month we studied the animal synonymous to Dartmoor, this time we're going to take a look at the archaeology of the moors. I hope you enjoy it and don't worry if you've missed any of the past Dartmoor Diary features, because you'll find links at the end of this one.

Snow and Ice with a difference!
From time to time we should take a look at the industrial archaeology of Dartmoor, as it's played a considerable part in the shaping of the landscape in a variety of different ways.

Meldon Quarry - some describe Dartmoor quarries as a scar on the countryside others an important legacy of days gone by

The tin mining and granite quarrying operations, have left what some folk describe as visual scars on the countryside, but it's important to remember that this is the price of giving the workers of bygone ages employment.

Some of these enterprises were financially successful for these "Victorian Entrepreneurs", some had only mediocre success and some were financial catastrophes.

There were those that sunk personal fortunes into trying to tame Dartmoor only to find that the geographical situation, the geological bedrock and the ever changing climate and weather led to them losing all they had invested.

A dusting of snow turns Dartmoor into a winter wonderland

As we have had a little bit of winter this year, let's look at The Ice Works on Sourton Commons.

Started in about 1874 and closing in 1886. Twelve years of varying degrees of success and failure. Some years a reasonable amount of ice was stored and others when a negligible "harvest" was recorded.

James Henderson was the brains behind the project when in 1874 he applied to The Duchy of Cornwall, the owners of the commons, for permission to create some ponds on the side of Sourton Tor in which to collect water from a stream that was there.

His intention was to collect the ice during the main winter months from these ponds and store it in an Ice House built nearby.

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