As the A386 Tavistock to Okehampton road leaves the settlement of Black Down, just to the north of Mary Tavy and enters open common land, there is a lane on the east side which descends into the valley, leading north eastwards towards Cholwell (Riding Stables). A short distance after this junction, set in the eastern verge of the road are a group of four upright stones known as ‘Peggy’s Four Men’. The origin of the name is unknown to the author, but he suspects that it is the modern equivalent to the ‘Annie Pinkham’s Men’ tale relating to approx. 50 upright stones a little further north along the A386 above the iconic Wheal Betsy Engine House. The name ‘Peggy’s Four Men’ is mentioned in a very early edition of Mike Brown’s Gazetteer and on Legendary Dartmoor website, but there is no explanation as to the origin of the name in either of these sources.
William Crossing, in his Guide to Dartmoor, mentions four stone uprights (ie Peggy’s Four Men) in two places, namely: pages 58 and 156, but does not name them. He specifically mentions the four stones when describing a track (his reference 23) called ‘Lydford Path’, which he states leads from the settlement of Black Down to Lydford Railway Station. The stones described by Crossing were “placed on this right of way (A386) in order to protect a culvert” and “about 100 yards further on, but on the opposite side the track (‘Lydford Path’) commences”.
The author would be grateful in hearing from anyone who is aware of the origin of the name ‘Peggy’s Four Men’
Bibliography
- William Crossing – Guide to Dartmoor (pages 58 and 156)
- Mike Brown Gazetteer (early edition)
- Legendary Dartmoor website: Annie Pinkham’s Men – Legendary Dartmoor
