Talk a walk through Meavy Valley’s industrial past
Almost all of this walk of just under four and a half miles is along well defined tracks and takes us through some of the farming and industrial past of the Meavy valley.
Start at Norsworthy Bridge. Keeping the forestry plantation on your left head uphill away from the bridge, passing through the remains of Norsworthy Farm which was first recorded in 1384 and abandoned around 1891.
The view ahead eventually opens up and you will see the remains of Crassywell Farm downhill to the right (Photo 1). First mentioned in 1565 the farm was abandoned in 1873 although it was, like a number of old farms, re-occupied for a brief period immediately prior to the outbreak of war in 1914.
Return to the track, and after a short distance you will come to a gulley on the left, usually with water running out of it. Take the path to the right of the gulley and follow it uphill. Keeping the gulley on your left you will come to Crazywell Pool. (Photo 2) This supposedly bottomless remnant of medieval mining was pumped in 1844 to supply water to Plymouth. The pump apparently ran dry after only a few hours, revealing the pool to be no more than about fifteen feet deep. Crazywell Cross can be seen on the horizon nearby.
Proceed uphill to join the Devonport Leat and turn left. After about two thirds of a mile, just before a sluice gate, a fine example of an enclosed bronze age settlement is visible just a few yards downhill of the leat. It would be advisable to cross the leat here or at one of the small clapper bridges nearby before continuing to follow the leat as it turns left and descends Raddick Hill (Photo 3) At the bottom cross over the aqueduct. Where the leat turns sharp left, turn right and follow the valley upstream, keeping the river to your right until you reach the secluded Black Tor Falls. On the opposite bank are the remains of a tin blowing house with an enigmatic number 13 on the door lintel (Photo 4).
Follow the river back and re-join the leat. Cross the leat at a large clapper bridge and follow it, passing through a gateway, until you reach a wooden fingerpost and proceed to Leathertor farm, first mentioned in 1362 and abandoned in 1924. Cross the stile and turn downhill. You will find the entrance to the farm’s “potato cave” where root vegetables were stored for the winter.
Continue to Leather Tor Bridge. (Photo 5) Built in 1833 for £26.50 the bridge replaces the nearby ancient ford and the medieval stepping stones that were used to cross what was then called the Riddipit stream but is now the Meavy river.
Turn downhill for a few hundred yards and cross a stile on the right with a white-topped post behind it. Beside the river are the many remains of a mill where in medieval times locally sourced tin ore was crushed and processed.
Return to the track and continue downhill back to Norsworthy Bridge.
By John Bright, Moorland Guides