Guide to Dartmoor Ancient or 'Sacred' Pools
Photo: Sourton Tors Ancient Pool
In 2019 Dartmoor Magazine published an interesting article by Dr Tom Greeves entitled Dartmoor's Sacred Pools - Design in the Prehistoric Landscape. The question posed is whether some of the pools on Dartmoor could have a prehistoric origin or significance. In total 43 candidates are listed (see table and listings below).
The Historic Environment Records (HER) for these features use the phrase "over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period". However, whether or not the pools were man-made is not entirely the point as they may still have had ritual significance.
The case of Bloody Pool in South Brent dramatically brings this issue to life. In 1854, a hoard of Bronze Age metalwork was recovered from the pool, including four bronze ferrules, with three barbed bronze spearheads. All items were broken and are thought to have been votive deposits. This is the only example so far found on Dartmoor but there could be others and the pools themselves could have formed part of the ritual landscape of Dartmoor.
Dr Greeves discounts a number of well-known pools that are known to have been the product of quarrying or industrial activity.
Dr Greeves points out that some of these features seem to be associated with prehistoric monuments, he states that:
Seventeen have a close relationship with prehistoric cairns:
- 1.Birch Tor
- 2.Black Hill A (Manaton)
- 3.Black Hill B (Manaton)
- 4.Black Pool (Western Beacon)
- 5.Blackaton Newtake (Hameldown)
- 6.Blackpool (Mardon)
- 13.Buckland Beacon
- 18.Down Pool - Black Hill (Mary Tavy)
- 19.Easdon A
- 20.Easdon B
- 24.Haytor Down North B
- 25.Hookney Tor North A
- 30.Quintins Man A
- 38.Staldon Row
- 41.Wigford Down A
- 42.Wigford Down B
- 43.Wigford Down C
Five pools have a striking relationship with stone rows.
The Goadstone, Langstone and Spurrells stone rows 'graze' the pools tangentially. A reave on Mardon Down changes direction to avoid the pool. At Sourton Tors there are associated monuments including a stone circle and a cairn 'row'.
Five of the pools have complete or partial ring banks around them resembling ring cairns or the prehistoric 'pond barrows' of Wiltshire, Dorset and Pembrokeshire. The Black Hill B pool is particularly interesting have has a double ring bank.
- 3.Black Hill B (Manaton)
- 6.Blackpool (Mardon)
- 18.Down Pool - Black Hill (Mary Tavy)
- 33.Saddle Tor A
- 41.Wigford Down A
Also of interest are the four Brentor pools which form a striking linear arrangement.
The database listings
A few of the suggested 'sacred' pools have previously been associated with the prehistoric and were previously listed on the Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks database as "reported cairns". These include Blackpool on Mardon Down, Blackaton Newtake on Hamel Down. In both cases the list entries on this website have now been changed to "ancient pools".
Two of the ring cairns on Wigford Down are also suggested candidates for being 'sacred' pools. As they are also candidates for being ring cairns the existing ring cairn entries have been retained. Two new "ancient pool" entries have also been added for these two but marked as duplicate records; the purpose being to include them in the listings below as a redirection point to the existing ring cairn entries. All of the other entries in the list of potential 'sacred' pools have now been added to the Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks database.
Do we know for sure that all of these sites have a prehistoric connection? It could be argued that some of these features are natural and have never had any usage or significance in the prehistoric. The same could be said for some of the "reported cairns" listed on this website. Indeed, as time goes by some features thought to be man-made turn out to be natural features and conversely some "reported cairns", thought to be dubious prehistoric candidates, turn out to be good examples after new discoveries are made. Further research into these sites may bring greater clarity into this fascinating subject.
Bibliography & references
Greeves, T, Dartmoor's Sacred Pools - Design in the Prehistoric Landscape, Dartmoor Magazine 137 (2019)
Burnard, Robert, Early Man, The Victoria History of the County of Devon: v. 1 (1906)
Listing of Dartmoor Ancient or 'Sacred' Pools
Birch Tor Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 68683 81657
HER record: 127183
Short Name: PO:Birch Tor
Dimensions (m): 15.5m
Notes: "The pool at Birch Tor measures around 15.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period."
Nearby sites: SX68688166
Black Hill A (Manaton) Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 76188 78885
HER record: 127184
Short Name: PO:BlackHillA
Dimensions (m): 10-11m
Notes: "The pool at Black Hill measures 10-11m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period."
Nearby sites: SX76197889
Black Hill B (Manaton) Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 76172 78467
HER record: 127185
Short Name: PO:BlackHillB
Dimensions (m): 10m
Notes:
Nearby sites: SX76177847
Black Pool (Western Beacon) Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 65500 58120
HER record: 127193
Short Name: PO:Black Pool
Dimensions (m): 31 x 21m
Notes: "One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Livestock watering pond, 30 metres by 20 metres and 0.6 metres deep. Pool has been modified by peat cutting."
Nearby sites: SX65505812
Blackaton Newtake (Hameldown) Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 70786 78972
HER record: 7527
Short Name: PO:Hameldown
Dimensions (m): 13 x 10m
Notes: Previously recorded as a possible cairn (was listed here as Hameldown 2 Reported Cairn), although identification noted later as 'doubtful' - water filled depression with a few surface stones. Identified as one of the 40+ 'sacred pool' sites on the moor, possibly dating from the Prehistoric period.
Nearby sites: SX70797897
Blackpool (Mardon) Ancient Pool
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Mardon Down Stone Circle & Cairns
OS Map: SX 76755 87353
HER record: 19004
Short Name: PO:Blackpool
Dimensions (m): 25 x 20m
Notes: "Marked as an enclosure on historic mapping, this is actually a seasonal pond. Surveyed in 2017, its outline shape is unevenly rounded on the western end. Its appearance, with small scarped edges, suggest it was hand dug and large boulders around the edge have been left in situ. The hollow measures 22 metres by 17 metres but is only 0.5 metres deep. An alignment of small stones in the base of the hollow may be a more recent addition. There is no indication as to where material removed from the hollow was dumped. Cannot be confirmed for certain as a dewpond and no evidence was found for this ever having been the site of a ring cairn, as previously suggested. Recorded as Black Pool in 1912. Included in Greeves' list (2019) of 'sacred pools', with potentially prehistoric origins."
Nearby sites: SX76768735
Bloody Pool (S. Brent) Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 70280 62620
HER record: 7955
Short Name: PO:BloodyPool
Notes: "Bloody Pool is one of over 40 such pool sites on Dartmoor which may date to the Prehistoric period and may have had a sacred function. This pool was noted in 1960 as having been filled in and its site now forms part of a roadside verge. In 1854, a hoard of Bronze Age metalwork was recovered from the pool, including four bronze ferrules, with three barbed bronze spearheads. All items were broken and are thought to have been votive deposits; the only pool on the moor where such items have been found."
"A legend of a battle is attached to the area of Bloody Pool. The name Bloody Pool pre-dates the finds of Bronze spears etc. in 1855. Recorded in South Brent Tithe Map 1843." See also find spot HER MDV39436 - Possible location of Bloody Pool and also Legendary Dartmoor: Bloody Pool
Nearby sites: SX70286262
Bonehill Down Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 73282 77812
HER record: 127194
Short Name: PO:BonehillDn
Dimensions (m): 12 x 6m
Notes: "The pool on Bonehill Down measures 12 by 6m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period."
Nearby sites: SX73287781
Brent Tor A Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 46534 80340
HER record: 127195
Short Name: PO:Brent Tor A
Dimensions (m): 40 x 30m
Notes: "Brent Tor pool A measures around 40 by 30m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor (or just outside the boundary of the National Park) that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period"
Nearby sites: SX46538034
Brent Tor B Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 46599 80298
HER record: 127199
Short Name: PO:Brent Tor B
Dimensions (m): 50 x 40m
Notes: "Brent Tor pool B measures around 50 by 40m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor (or just outside the boundary of the National Park) that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period"
Nearby sites: SX46608030
Brent Tor C Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 46637 80276
HER record: 127200
Short Name: PO:Brent Tor C
Dimensions (m): 40 x 35m
Notes: "Brent Tor pool C measures around 40 by 35m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor (or just outside the boundary of the National Park) that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period"
Nearby sites: SX46648028
Brent Tor D Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 46672 80235
HER record: 127201
Short Name: PO:Brent Tor D
Dimensions (m): 28 x 25m
Notes: "Brent Tor pool D measures around 28 by 25m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor (or just outside the boundary of the National Park) that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period"
Nearby sites: SX46678024
Buckland Beacon Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 73558 73258
HER record: 127202
Short Name: PO:Buckland
Dimensions (m): 10.5 x 9.5m
Notes: "A pool measuring 10.5 by 9.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near a cairn."
NB. Nearby is Turner A13 ring cairn.
Nearby sites: SX73567326
Butterdon (ENE) Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 65731 58968
HER record: 127203
Short Name: PO:Butterdon
Dimensions (m): 15 x 14.5m
Notes: "A pool east-north-east of Butterdon. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near group of features including a stone row and cairns. Sub-rectangular shallow pit 15 metres by 19 metres and 0.4 metres deep. The edges show the remains of peat cutting"
Nearby sites: SX65735897
Cox Tor Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 53635 76205
HER record: 26281
Short Name: PO:Cox Tor
Dimensions (m): 35 x 25m
Notes: "Previously recorded from aerial photographs as a possible quarry. Marked as 'pond' on modern mapping and is one of the examples suggested by Greeves (2019) to potentially have Prehistoric origins."
Nearby sites: SX53647621
Cranmere Pool Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 60330 85830
HER record: 4381
Short Name: PO:Cranmere
Dimensions (m): 1 acre (0.4ha)
Notes: "Recorded in the early 20th century as a possible holy well, it is one of the examples suggested by Greeves (2019) to potentially have Prehistoric origins."
Nearby sites: SX60338583
Cripdon Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 73342 80336
HER record: 127204
Short Name: PO:Cripdon
Dimensions (m): 24 x 14m
Notes: "The pool at Cripdon measures 24 by 14m One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period"
Nearby sites: SX73348034
Down Pool - Black Hill (Mary Tavy) Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 52280 82400
HER record: 127205
Short Name: PO:Down Pool
Dimensions (m): 23 x 24m
Notes: "Down Pool, Black Hill (Mary Tavy) measures 23 by 24m One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period"
Nearby sites: SX52288240
Easdon A Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 73212 82352
HER record: 127207
Short Name: PO:Easdon A
Dimensions (m): 12.5 x 10m
Notes: "Easdon A measures 12.5 by 10m One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period"
Nearby sites: SX73218235
Easdon B Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 73221 82335
HER record: 127208
Short Name: PO:Easdon B
Dimensions (m): 9 x 6.5m
Notes: "A pool measuring 9 by 6.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near a reave."
Nearby sites: SX73228234
Goadstone Pond Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 55700 70650
HER record: 28232
Short Name: PO:GoadsStone
Dimensions (m): 30 x 28m
Notes: "Pool on the summit of the hill near a stone row. Some of the stones from the double stone row appear to have been lost in the pool. Previously incorrectly identified from aerial photograph as an enclosure. One of over 40 pools on Dartmoor thought to have originated in the Prehistoric period."
Worth and Butler refer to this as Goatstone Pool. There is a very interesting discussion of both the origin of the name and of the cairns and stone rows on DartmoorCam: Sharpitor. See also Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Goadstone
Nearby sites: SX55707065
Hangershell Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 65824 59588
HER record: 127209
Short Name: PO:Hangershell
Dimensions (m): 13 x 9.3m
Notes: "A pool, one of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near a prehistoric cairn. Sub-rectangular shallow pit of 12 metres by 16 metres and 0. 5 metres deep. Drained to west and east edges which show the remains of peat cutting"
Nearby sites: SX65825959
Haytor Down North A Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 76269 78331
HER record: 127210
Short Name: PO:HaytorDownA
Dimensions (m): 18 x 14m
Notes: "A pool measuring 18 by 14m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near a prehistoric reave and cairn."
Nearby sites: SX76277833
Haytor Down North B Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 76493 78182
HER record: 127211
Short Name: PO:HaytorDownB
Dimensions (m): 5m
Notes: "A pool measuring around 5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near a prehistoric cairn and enclosure."
Nearby sites: SX76497818
Hookney Tor North A Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 69843 81725
HER record: 127212
Short Name: PO:HookneyTorA
Dimensions (m): 15 x 9.5m
Notes: "A pool measuring 15 by 9.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near a prehistoric cairn."
Nearby sites: SX69848173
Hookney Tor North B Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 69840 81607
HER record: 127213
Short Name: PO:HookneyTorB
Dimensions (m): 7.5m
Notes: "A pool measuring 7.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period."
Nearby sites: SX69848161
Houndtor Down Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 74193 78598
HER record: 127214
Short Name: PO:Houndtor
Dimensions (m): 50 x 17m
Notes: "A pool measuring around 50 by 17m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies south of a prehistoric cairn."
Nearby sites: SX74197860
Langstone Moor Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 55026 78879
HER record: 127215
Short Name: PO:Langstone
Dimensions (m): 28 x 24m
Notes: "A pool measuring 28 by 24 metres. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies at the northern end of a stone row. May be on the site of a cairn"
NB. HER entry implies this could be the same as the Butler reported carn at the end of the stone row. On this website this is currently listed as a separate entry SiteID=1164 (no HER entry). The diagram page 77 (fig 30.8) shows both a mound and a pit. Could this be the pit distinct from the cairn?
Nearby sites: SX55037888
Pew Tor (N side) Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 53361 73595
HER record: 127216
Short Name: PO:Pew Tor
Dimensions (m): 28 x 14m
Notes: "A pool measuring 28 by 14m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period."
Nearby sites: SX53367360
Quintins Man A Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 62100 83949
HER record: 27278
Short Name: PO:QuintinsA
Dimensions (m): 13m
Notes: "Previously identified as a prehistoric barrow, survey work in 1995 suggested this to be a natural feature. One of over 40 'sacred' pools identified by Greeves (2019) that may have prehistoric origin. Lies north of the Quintin's Man cairn."
Nearby sites: SX62108395
Quintins Man B Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 62053 84056
HER record: 127217
Short Name: PO:QuintinsB
Dimensions (m): 20 x 16m
Notes: "A pool measuring 20 by 16m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period."
Nearby sites: SX62058406
Quintins Man C Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 61972 84362
HER record: 127218
Short Name: PO:QuintinsC
Dimensions (m): 12 x 8m
Notes: "Pool north of Quintin's Man measures 12 by 8m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period"
Nearby sites: SX61978436
Saddle Tor A Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 75135 76531
HER record: 127219
Short Name: PO:SaddleTorA
Dimensions (m): 20m
Notes: "A pool measuring 20m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. One of a group of three pools north-east of saddle Tor."
Nearby sites: SX75147653
Saddle Tor B Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 75171 76552
HER record: 127220
Short Name: PO:SaddleTorB
Dimensions (m): 16.5 x 14.5m
Notes: "A pool measuring 16.5 by 14.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. One of a group of three pools north-east of saddle Tor."
Nearby sites: SX75177655
Saddle Tor C Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 75273 76527
HER record: 127222
Short Name: PO:SaddleTorC
Dimensions (m): 14 x 10m
Notes: "A pool measuring 14 by 10m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. One of a group of three pools north-east of saddle Tor."
Nearby sites: SX75277653
Sourton Tors Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 54599 89608
HER record: 127223
Short Name: PO SourtonTors
Dimensions (m): 12 x 10.5 m
Notes: Pool measures 12 by 10.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period, and may have been used to deposit votive items, although these Dartmoor examples may have alternative significance as designed prehistoric elements in the landscape. Many are located on ridge tops and in conjunction with cairns, stone rows and other prehistoric features. Further research may well reveal more about these interesting features.
Nearby sites: SX54608961
Spurrells Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 65818 60062
HER record: 127224
Short Name: PO:Spurrells
Dimensions (m): 18m
Notes: "A pool measuring around 18m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies to the north of a stone row. Livestock watering pond modified by peat cutting of 25 metres by 16 metres and 0.4 metres deep. The edges show the remains of peat cutting"
Nearby sites: SX65826006
Staldon Row Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 63293 62443
HER record: 127226
Short Name: PO:Staldon Row
Dimensions (m): 6.5m
Notes: "A pool measuring around 6.5 metres. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies to the north of a stone row."
Nearby sites: SX63296244
Weatherdon Hill Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 65619 58945
HER record: 127227
Short Name: PO:Weatherdon
Dimensions (m): 13 x 10.5m
Notes: "A pool, one of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies adjacent to the Butterdon Hill stone row. Sub-rectangular shallow pit of 11 metres by 15 metres and 0.5 metres deep. Part of disused peat cutting in the area to the south end of the stone row."
Nearby sites: SX65625895
Whitchurch Down (Warrens Cross) Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 51151 73697
HER record: 127230
Short Name: PO:Whitchurch
Dimensions (m): 38 x 18m
Notes: "A pool measuring 38 by 18m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period."
Nearby sites: SX51157370
Wigford Down A Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 54652 65080
HER record: 2311
Short Name: PO:WigfordA
Dimensions (m): 25 x 15m
Notes: This is a duplicate of SiteID=1464 and as such is marked as a duplicate. See Wigford Down 3 Reported Cairn
Nearby sites: SX54656508
Wigford Down B Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 54692 64967
HER record: 2368
Megalithic Portal: 3536
Short Name: PO:WigfordB
Barrow Report: 12 62
Dimensions (m): 4.5m
Notes: This is a duplicate of SiteID=235 and as such is marked as a duplicate. See Wigford Down 4 Embanked Cairn Circle
Nearby sites: SX54696497
Wigford Down C Ancient Pool
OS Map: SX 54733 64981
HER record: 127231
Short Name: PO:WigfordC
Dimensions (m): 22 x 17.5m
Notes: "A pool measuring 22 by 17.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near two cairns"
Nearby sites: SX54736498