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Summary

Peat pass of 135 metres to the south-east of Flat Tor; several lengths of causeway linking stretches of good ground. Now rather broken up as the gutters which should drain the boggy patches are clogged. Stone clapper bridges span the gutters. The western memorial stone is kept in place by wooden stakes. This was one of a number of passes constructed between 1895-1905 under the direction of William Francis Phillpotts, to provide better access cattlemen and fox hunters.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68SW/20

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PEAT PASS (Constructed, XIX to Edwardian - 1895 AD (Between) to 1905 AD (Between))

Full description

Le Messurier, B., 1965, The Phillpotts Peat Passes of Northern Dartmoor, 167-168 pl.13 (Article in Serial). SDV242771.

Peat pass on Flat Tor; several lengths of causeway linking stretches of good ground. Now rather broken up as the gutters which should drain the boggy patches are clogged. Stone clapper bridges span the gutters. The western memorial stone is kept in place by wooden stakes.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 111, Map 34 (Monograph). SDV219155.

One of the Phillpotts (1837-1909) peat passes cut to facilitate huntsmen on the moor. Nine of these passes were dug around the centre of the moor ranging from over a kilometre to a mere 60 metres. They are now marked by small cairns along their length and by short granite posts at each end. A bronze plaque commemorating Phillpotts is attached to each of the posts.

Ordnance Survey, 2013, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV350786.

Peat Pass marked on modern mapping, on south side of Flat Tor.

Sandles, T., 2014-2019, Legendary Dartmoor, accessed 2015 (Website). SDV356498.

Flat Tor peat pass (SX613814 – 612813)
From east to west the pass is roughly 183 metres in length. Although not shown on the Ordnance Survey map the cut begins at Cowflop (old Dartmoor name for the foxglove) Bottom. It had suffered much at the hands of the tinners but the causeway linked several stretches of good ground.
Constructed to provide a drier path through the blanket bog at the end of the 19th / beginning of the 20th century, under direction of William Francis Phillpotts. (Citing Le Messurier).

Cooper, F., Biodiversity Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority, 23/02/2013, Peat Pass (Personal Comment). SDV350959.

LiDAR data shows the peat pass to lie just to the north of where it is currently shown on Ordnance Survey mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project

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