A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
March 18, 2020
zeal tor tramway
Steve Grigg and Frank Collinson
Built for Messrs. Davy and Wilkin of Totnes, 1847-1850, for carrying peat from Redlake Mire to Shipley Bridge. The tramway was constructed from wooden rails bolted to granite blocks, along which the peat was transported in horse-drawn trucks. The business only continued for a few years and ended in 1850. The lower part of it was later, in 1872, used by the Brent Moor Clay Company. Ref: Dartmoor HER.
Next to the tramway looking towards Eastern Whitebarrow. Lower end of the tramway, looking SW overlooking Bala Brook, Middle Brook and Red Brook valleys.Iron spikeAnother iron spike.Iron spike. Three Barrows and Wacka Tor in the background.Lots of iron spikes around SX66985 64301Evidence of the clay extraction period from Petre’s Pits circa 1872, after the peat extraction period of the tramway 22 years earlier.Evidence of the clay extraction period from Petre’s Pits circa 1872, after the peat extraction period of the tramway 22 years earlier.Remains of wooden rail.Walking pole to size the wooden rail. SX66889 64390Platform structure next to the tramway at SX66889 644021949-1969 OS shows another building but I cannot find any information on Dartmoor HER. Near junction with Jobbers Road and the tramway.The ruined building from old OS map.The ruined building. SX66665 64520Feeding time. Two orderly queue’s; one for cows and one for sheep.3/4 stone. Presumed to mean 1 and 3/4 miles from Shipley.The stone next to the tramway.
