Aloha to Princetown - A Dartmoor Village (Devon, England)

The setting is a worthy one, if the devil did desire to have a hand in the affairs of men.

In 1901, Arthur Conan Doyle stayed at the Old Duchy Hotel in Princetown, Dartmoor, to write a new adventure for Sherlock Holmes. He incorporated a centuries old ghost story about a hell hound while drawing upon a real hell hole - the Dartmoor Prison. 

The Dutchy Hotel is now the National Park Visitor's Center with exhibits about Arthur Conan Doyle ...

... and Dartmoor's history, including this long stone from a Bronze Age site.

Outside is the War Memorial with many tributes, including silhouettes (top) and crosses (below). 

Walking northwest, I discovered the Church of St. Michael and All Angels.  It has a unique connection to the American military.  From the Church Conservation Trust (link),  

This simple, slender-towered Dartmoor church was built between 1812-14 by prisoners captured in the Napoleonic Wars with France, and the War of 1812 with the United States - they were held at Dartmoor prison.

The east window contains stained glass of 1910 in memory of the American prisoners who helped to build the church.

Although the church does not host regular services, it is still open for those seeking a quiet place.

Nearby is the actual prison which is still used today.  Signs state it is prohibited to take photographs of the granite building.  But I met a guard locking up his Mini .... 

... I commented on the patriotic roof!

On the day of my visit, Princetown was hosting an community event with fire rescue, including the new female recruit!

Emergency services also honored its "oldest" member - the chocolate lab. 

Despite its "grim" history, Princetown blooms with flowers like other Dartmoor Villages.

Princetown offers a variety of hikes along the former granite tramway to panoramic vistas of the tors (hills) surrounding the village.  No doubt these hikes include a hut cirlce or two.


Mahalo,

Kim

Next:  Hound Tor and Bowerman's Nose.