A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
April 11, 2025
The Hangingstone – 70 years of an iconic Dartmoor Logan
During the 1970’s, Eric Hemery started work on what some consider to be the best classic work of all time, namely, High Dartmoor: Land and People. With a forward by HRH Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, the work is over 1000 pages of every possible detail on places, people, mysteries and much more that is a must for the library of any Dartmoor enthusiast.
In the Taw Country section of High Dartmoor, Eric describes his experiences at Hangingstone Hill, whose name derives from the long, flat logan-stone on its north-west brow. The section includes a photograph (plate 411), which shows Eric atop the Hangingstone (logan)in 1954. He states that in 1964, he found the stone prostrate on the turf below the base rock. The Western Morning News reported that two years later (27th September 1966) that the stone (which was a rocking logan) had been replaced by the military. Sadly, on 26th October 1976, Eric reported that the stone didn’t rock and to everyone’s knowledge it hasn’t rocked again to this day.
In addition to the Eric Hemery experiences of this location, the author has added a few photographs and reminiscences of his own, as the Hangingstone logan-stone has over the last 30 years or so been the go-to place for a coffee or lunch break
Bibliography
Eric Hemery (1983) – High Dartmoor: Land and People (Pages 823-4)
Eric Hemery sitting on the Hangingstone in 1954The Western Morning News article from September 1966, describing the events of Eric Hemery having found the Hangingstone prostrate in 1964 and it being re-instated in 1966. It appears that in spite of the euphoria reported by the Western Morning News, on 26th October 1976, Eric further reported that the stone didn’t rock and it is thought it hasn’t rocked again to this day. The Hangingstone in 1991. This was taken whilst the author was walking the Okehampton Adventure Training Scheme (OATS) walk that year, which was always on a Sunday in April. These walks were either a 12 mile (half OATS) from Postbridge to Okehampton or 28 mile (full OATS) from New Waste (Cornwood) to Okehampton. Each participant got a pasty, a cup of tea and a certificate on completion. The author has completed both half and full OATSThe Hangingstone in 2012. Taken on a solo walk at lunchtime !The Hangingstone in 2017. Walk with friends between Meldon and Postbridge taking in the Dartmoor 600m peaks (Yes Tor, High Willhays, Hangingstone Hill, Whitehorse Hill and Cut Hill). The author can confirm the logan didn’t rock in 2017The Hangingstone in April 2025. Taken during a lunch break. On this occasion, the author was in the area to take pictures to recreate P.G Stevens sketches (from Crossings Guide)Collage of pictures of Hangingstone Hill Military Hut Skylark in April 2025 near the Military Hut
