Goldsmith's Cross, near Fox Tor Mire

Goldsmith's Cross, looking north-east across Fox Tor Mire

Goldsmith's Cross stands upon the high moor on the edge of Fox Tor Mire. It is almost certainly one of the many that once acted as waymarkers on the monastic track between the abbeys of Buckland and Buckfast. William Crossing was the first person to record the existence of this track across the moor and in his famous 'Guide to Dartmoor' he referred to it as the "monks' path".

Goldsmith's Cross stands to the west of the cross surmounting Childe's Tomb, from which it is visible. The cross to the west of Goldsmith's Cross is currently Siward's Cross, standing close to Nun's Cross Farm.

The cross is carved from granite and is obviously shorter than it was originally, the shaft having been reduced in height. It was rediscovered by Lt. Goldsmith in 1903 having been thrown down and broken upon the moor not far from its original position. Goldsmith oversaw its repair with metal staples and the re-erection of the cross upon the boulder in which it formerly stood.

It's well-worth visiting Goldsmith's Cross as it lies within easy reach of several other medieval Dartmoor crosses, including Childe's Tomb and the cross at Mount Misery and on Ter Hill.

Goldsmith Cross looking into the eastern extent of the Dartmoor National Park

The cross also enjoys tremendous views north across Fox Tor Mire and towards the eastern side of the Dartmoor National Park. There is a Bronze Age stone-lined tomb or kistvaen in the vicinity.

Access: via Tor Royal Lane accessed at Princetown. There are several car parks above the Devonport Leat.

Sources:
'Guide to Dartmoor', William Crossing, 1981
'Dartmoor Crosses and Some Ancient Tracks', F. H. Starkey, 1989

The 'New' London Bridge Corbels at Swelltor Quarry

The 13 remaining corbels with Swelltor Quarry in the background.

One of Dartmoor's more well-known artifacts isn't prehistoric at all but dates to the beginning of the 20th century. They can be seen at Swelltor Quarry and are granite corbels carved on-site for alterations that were being made to London Bridge [SX556735].

The quarry opened c.1820 along with the quarry at nearby Foggin Tor. In March 1903 nearly 1600 tonnes of granite were blasted in one operation and it was from this rock that the corbels were fashioned. Swelltor Quarry at this time was under the ownership of Pethicks and they were the firm given the commission to supply the pieces necessary for the bridge's alteration.

One of the beautifully worked corbels.

The 'New' London Bridge was designed by John Rennie and opened in 1831 as a replacement for the medieval bridge that had spanned the Thames since the 13th century. Rennie's bridge was itself constructed originally from granite quarried at Haytor. By the end of the 19th century, due to congestion, a plan was hatched to increase the width of the bridge by 13ft by projecting the pavements out over the Thames on a series of corbels. It is the remnants of these corbels which can be seen today at Swelltor Quarry.

Thirteen of them lie on a track to the north-west of the quarry. These were apparently too short to be used and so lie here still, fully finished, enjoying spectacular views into West Devon and Cornwall.

The corbels with views into West Devon and Cornwall.

The bridge itself was sold in 1968 and the casing stones shipped to Lake Havasu. Some of the corbels remaining on the moor at this time are said to have been included in the sale and made the journey to America where they were used when the bridge was rebuilt in Arizona.

Access: A round trip from Princetown to see the corbels is a very easy walk of about 7km along the disused railway line. The corbels are to the right of the path that passes through the quarry on the way to King's Tor.

Sources:
'Industrial Archaeology of Dartmoor', Helen Harris, 1986
'Exploring Dartmoor Again', F. H. Starkey, 1986

Crazywell Cross, near Crazywell Pool

Crazywell Cross

This cross stands close to the south-east corner of Crazywell Pool [SX583704]. It is almost certainly one of the crosses erected upon the moor during the Middle Ages to act as a waymaker for the track leading east-west between the great abbeys of Buckfast and Buckland.

William Crossing wrote about this cross at the end of the 19th century as it was lying broken upon the moor: "The cross, of which only the head now remains, is lying near the edge of the pool, and probably not far from its original site. It is particularly unfortunate that it should have been overturned and shattered for no spot could be more fitting for it than the bank of the silent pool".

The cross has subsequently been repaired, the original head and arms being affixed to a new granite shaft and the whole re-erected in what is probably a new socket hole close to where it once stood.

Crazywell Cross towards Burrator Reservoir

Access: very easy via parking at Norsworthy Bridge, Burrator Reservoir. A short walk on a graveled path soon brings you to both Crazywell Pool and the cross.