Dartmoor Explorations

A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park

Eric Hemery’s Seat at Erme Pound

Erme Pound in the centre of the South Moor was originally a Bronze age settlement but was used by the moormen during the middle ages between 16th to 18th centuries to corral their cattle and by the Tinners’ who built their crude shelters. Within the pound are several Hut Circles, a Tinners’ Cache / Hut, and at least three buildings constructed by the moormen who were corralling cattle here.

In one of the buildings constructed by the moormen, there is a raised plinth which is capped by flat granite slabs to for seating and one well known Dartmoor author, Eric Hemery appears in a photograph where it looks like he was sketching or possibly taking notes. Eric Hemery refers to Erme Pound in his publication ‘Walking Dartmoor’s Ancient Tracks – A guide to 28 routes’.

This ‘Then and Now’ post shows Eric Hemery sat in the aforementioned building and what the location looks like in the 21st Century

1. Eric Hemery
Eric Hemery’s seat, which looks like it was taken in summer due to his clothing and the amount of bracken
1. Map
Hemery’s Seat is located at SX63787 65596
2. Hemery's Seat 1
Hemery’s Seat in the 21st Century. The walls of the building are up to 0.8 metres thick and up to 0.9 metres high.
3. Hemery's Seat 2
‘Then and Now’ at Eric Hemery’s Seat. There does appear to have been a large boulder ‘added’ to the building over the last 40 years or so and it appears just behind Eric’s head. It would seem that these constructions, even in remote areas are subject to change. The seating is not as obvious as in Eric’s day
4. Hemery's Seat
The building measures 5.5 m by 2.3 m
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