A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
December 31, 2025
Knighton Lodge
When looking at old (often black and white) photographs of buildings, often in ruins, it is always intriguing to unravel some of the social history relating to the dwelling. One such case in point is Knighton Lodge at Whiteworks. If one conducts an internet search on this 20th century dwelling, there is little information to be gleaned. However, having only imagined what it must have been like to have lived in this location, the author was very fortunate to receive in October 2022, a fabulous four page hand written letter (with enclosed photographs) from David German, much of which provided a lovely account of what it was like as a young boy in the 1940s to have lived at this remote location.
David will be been known to many through living in the Princetown area most of his life, having been a police officer and for starting and running the Princetown History Club (originally from Lord’s Cafe). It is also through David, we now have some lovely old photographs of the area from a bygone era. The author has been fortunate enough to have been given some of the collection, for which he now treasures.
This post is dedicated to David. Parts of the letter he sent in 2022 and one of his attached photographs are shared here for others to enjoy. If any reader of this post would like to share any further photographs of memories of the area he would be most grateful in receiving them
The ruins of Knighton Lodge can be found at the end of the tarmac road to Whiteworks. There is a lot of stone here from other walls and buildings from the Tin Mine era of the 19th century, but Knighton Lodge can be discerned by some rendered walls which still remainThe ruins of Knighton Lodge taken in November 2025. Note the trees around Whiteworks Cottages in the backgroundThe north side of Knighton Lodge on a rather frosty day. There had been a snow flurry the day beforeCollage of the ruins of Knighton Lodge. The location is SX61254 70989The letter and photographs from David German dated 7th October 2022. The first two pages are almost entirely dedicated to memories of Knighton Lodge and is transcribed thus: “Hi Steve, Love your Dartmoor Explorations. As you might know when I was about 7/8 years old my parents lived in Knighton Lodge, Whiteworks, now demolished. All we had was a radio which was run by a battery accumulator. It used to be charged up at Steph’s (Stephens Bros) Garage, Princetown. I remember going in there and seeing dozens of them all linked up by wires on the floor in the shop. All charging. In the winter, we used to walk up, across the Devonport Leat and onto Peat Cott. An evening playing Ludo and Aunt Elsie, who was married to Uncle Ernie, used to play this old pedal organ and we used to sing songs and hymns. Aunt Mabel brought, looked after her brothers, because their (?) died young, she never married. Uncle Fred married and he and his wife farmed Knighton Lodge until she died. He then moved to Castle Farm and lived with Mabel and Uncle Bob, Uncle Bob never married”. David continues: “Just remembered when living at Knighton Lodge I used to go out by the stone walls, clap my hands and watch hundreds of rabbits stop and then run into their burrows. Our dog would often mark where a rabbit was in these walls and dad would remove some stones and catch the rabbit…..we had rabbit pie once a week – no taste like it”. Photograph from the David German collection, which looks to have been dated from 1940s. It would be lovely if this and the other photographs from David could be ‘cleaned up’David German provided notes on each photograph. The author has annotated names and noted that with the exception of ‘Gran’ German all the people in the photograph are mentioned in the letter…fond memories I have no doubt
Stephen Bros Garage where once accumulators were charged!
View of Knighton Lodge and presumed barn probably from 1950s or possibly 1960sThe same view taken in December 2025Combined pictureKnighton Lodge, possibly from 1940s. The author assumes the lady and child are from the German family. Is this a photograph of David ?The same view taken in December 2025Combined viewKnighton Lodge from just below Whiteworks Cottages, presumably from 1940s. Is this another picture of David ?The same view taken in December 2025Combined picture. The skyline matches but the foreground isn’t perfectKnighton Lodge and Whiteworks taken from near Devonport Leat. The lack of tree around Whiteworks dates the photographMore or less the same view in December 2025Combined picturesDevonport Leat and small clapper behind Whiteworks Cottages. There is another clapper a few hundred metres upstream. It is likely that David German used this route from Knighton Lodge to go to Peat Cot (as per his letter). One assumes he may have been going to the Weslyan Chapel. An interesting thought….it is known that Richard Hansford Worth (the well known Engineer, Archaeologist and Author) and his wife Annie, sometimes attend services at Peat Cot. Annie would play the chapel harmonium to provide the music. One assumes the German family met the Worth’s ?
Steve, as always a meticulously researched account and I will be pleased to pass this on to Dave’s daughters and Margaret for you, Wonderful memories of our dear friend Dave who I worked with for many years and President of Princetown History Club for many decades until his calling to ‘Higher Service’ .
Katrina Oakes December 31, 2025
This is an amazing article . My dad , David German , often talked about Whiteworks and the time he spent there .
SteveGriggDartmoor December 31, 2025 — Post author
Hi Katrina,
Thank you for your comment, glad you liked it.
Kind Regards,
Steve (Dartmoor Explorations)
Simon Dell December 31, 2025
Steve, as always a meticulously researched account and I will be pleased to pass this on to Dave’s daughters and Margaret for you, Wonderful memories of our dear friend Dave who I worked with for many years and President of Princetown History Club for many decades until his calling to ‘Higher Service’ .
SteveGriggDartmoor December 31, 2025 — Post author
Thank you Simon
Kate Butterworth December 31, 2025
I think David’s mum was a Worth, hence the connection.
SteveGriggDartmoor January 2, 2026 — Post author
Thank you for the information Kate