Grimspound
Where Bronze Age Man Meets Sherlock Holmes


Dartmoor, in the county of Devon, has the largest number of prehistoric monuments in England and Grimspound is one of the most amazing. Even if you've never been to Devon, you may actually know this place.


Victorian detective writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle describes it as Sherlock Holmes' hideout in The Hound of the Baskervilles!

And here's what Sherlock Holmes' intrepid biographer, Dr Watson, has to say about it:

"... down beneath me in a cleft of the hills there was a circle of the old stone huts, and in the middle of them there was one which retained sufficient roof to act as a screen against the weather.... A vague pathway among the boulders led to the dilapidated opening which served as a door ... 




Unfortunately, only remnants of the huts remain today, certainly not enough to shelter anyone. But when this site was first excavated in 1894-1896 by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, the findings were widely publicised and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle seems to have taken careful note. He describes the huts as 'neolithic', but we believe today that Grimspound is actually a Bronze Age settlement.


Looking Down Over Grimspound Ancient Village © essentially-england.comLooking Down Over Grimspound Ancient Village © essentially-england.com


A thick double wall encloses a 4 acre site. Inside are the foundations of 24 huts, 13 of which show no signs of habitation and may have been storage rooms.

The remaining huts are circular with a clearly defined, paved entrance. A few even have a porch! Inside, either in the centre of the hut or opposite the entrance, is evidence of a hearth and some huts appear to have a raised platform off to one side which may have been where the occupants slept.

The purpose of the settlement is still subject of argument. Archaeologist think that the settlement was not a place that people fled to when danger threatened. It has thick, protective walls and a ready supply of water, but is tucked into a small valley without far-reaching views.


Grimspound Hut © essentially-england.comGrimspound Hut © essentially-england.com


Only a small number of objects - a few bits of pottery and an arrowhead - have so far been discovered on the site. So we can't really say if Grimspound was a Bronze Age cattle ranch, a festival village or a religious site.

But we do know that it is a place that draws people and inspires them. Thousands of years ago the area inspired people to build their homes here. Only a 100 years ago it inspired
to use it as a setting in one of his stories.

And who knows whom it will inspire next?

If you would like to know more about Grimspound ancient village, then please visit the English Heritage website.













Are You Planning a Visit to Dartmoor?

Where You Could Stay

This is such a beautiful part of Devon - with the sea on one side and little villages nestling in green valleys on the other - that many people come for their holidays, often year after year. A good way to explore the area at your leisure is by renting a holiday cottage in Devon.

And here are a few examples of where you could be staying:


The Stone Barn Cottage
Holne
Sleeps 6


Widecomb Longhouse
Widecomb-in-the-Moor
Sleeps 6


Little Gate Cottage
North Bovey
Sleeps 4


To see other holiday cottages in Dartmoor click here. Or check out holiday cottages in other parts of England by clicking here.


Or you could try a family-orientated holiday resort in Devon. There's plenty of choice...





If you need to find a hotel, then try one of these search platforms...







 

What You Could See and Do

Dartmouth and the South Devon coast are a paradise for sailors of all ages and abilities. So if messing around in boats on the water is your kind of holiday, then you're in just the right place.

But with the coastal path on one side and the Devon countryside on the other, this area is also great for walking. Besides Slapton Sands and its beautiful nature reserve there are villages, hillsides, cliffs and beaches to explore. And just a short drive will take you up to the wilds of Dartmoor, to rocks and endless skies and tales of smugglers and giant hounds.

Why not check out


Refreshments at Hound Tor © essentially-england.comRefreshments at Hound Tor © essentially-england.com

Alternatively, these pages will tell you more about England's prehistoric sites:


Explore more of England's Glorious County.
Return from Grimspound to the Devon page.