Showing posts with label Postbridge; Gunpowder Mills; Joss Hibbs Gunpowder Pottery; Carole Glover; Dartmoor hill ponies.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Postbridge; Gunpowder Mills; Joss Hibbs Gunpowder Pottery; Carole Glover; Dartmoor hill ponies.. Show all posts

Tuesday, 13 June 2017

Postbridge and some Dartmoor views


Here is the view from our B&B window - so peaceful, and I enjoyed watching birds flitting about (Jackdaws and Magpies much in evidence!)  The room was "comfortably appointed" but the shared bathroom (supposedly with just the occupant of the single room across the landing) turned out to be shared with all the letting rooms - we were glad to have got in their first thing!



View of the bridge over the Dart from the Clapper bridge.  The rain had raised river levels and speed.




The Medieval clapper bridge.





There were several big bushes of Broom in flower on the river bank.


Ferns looking verdant.  Light levels were low and so my clever camera used the flash.


As at home in Wales, every surface becomes covered in green moss.


The remains of the Gunpowder Mills.  There is a spooky story about the Hairy Hands and we were talking about this at the Warren House Inn with Joss Hibbs (who lives in a cottage by her Pottery at the Powder Mills).  She mentioned several recent occurrences of practiced drivers (one of a fire engine) suddenly ending up in the bog on the approach to the cottages, so perhaps the Hairy Hands are still there!  Apparently they were all that remained of a worker at the Gunpowder Mills, who - before leaving for Italy where he had been left an inheritance - went back into the Mills to collect something, still wearing his hobnail boots.  They struck a spark, and there was an almighty explosion and all that was found of him was his hands and his empty boots . . .  BTW, we went back before we left, and bought our joint Christmas present for several years to come from Joss's Pottery.  It's a huge Charger (plate) by Carole Glover.  From the link you will see her style, which is strongly influenced by 16th and 17th century slipware, especially from Devon.


There is a Tor on top of this hill, but the low cloud hid it on the day I was taking photographs.


Small foal with a good bit of Shetland blood.  These Dartmoor hill ponies are mongrels but tough as old boots and can cope with the poor grazing and wet moorland weather.



Once the clouds lifted, there were wonderful views elsewhere on the moor.


Enjoy.  I can smell my bread is cooked so I had better go down and rescue it.  I set it off in the Panny at 6 a.m. this morning - a half and half Granary and white flour.    More photos to follow.