Moorland Ramblings

Old Crockern

Dartmoor has inspired myths and legends for as long as humans have inhabited it. Crossing the moor crosses through tales of healing stones, piskies, black dogs and the wild hunt.

For as long there have been myths, there has also been people looking to take unfair advantage of the moor and all it has to offer. Industry looked to profit from the natural resource, the military looked to benefit from its open expanse and isolation and farmers look to graze their animals on the vegetation rising from the thin, acidic soil. As with any ancient land, Dartmoor has a spirit. The spirit of Dartmoor is Old Crockern, and Old Crockern looks to protect the moor from those who would bring it harm.

Old Crockern is a mystical figure, varyingly described as skeletal, a giant strong as granite, or a ghoulish figure made up of the matter of the moor, with a wispy beard made of lichen and eyes as black as peat pools. No matter his appearance, one thing is certain, Old Crockern embodies the soul and temper of the wild landscape for which he provides protection. For centuries, he has ridden out from Crockern Tor atop his black horse at midnight, to protect Dartmoor from money-hungry land grabbers or to pursue unwary travellers, who would look to tame the landscape.

Old Crockern’s Revenge

Enclosure involved the division or consolidation of common lands into the prescribed, manicured and (importantly) individually owned plots of farmland that we are used to today. In England, the movement for Enclosure began in the 12^th century, but proceeded rapidly from the middle of the 15^th century. Enclosure represented a real danger to the common way of life on Dartmoor, threatening not only the source of income for the locals, but also their ability to provide food for their families and use the moor as had been for centuries. As such, during the years of enclosure, locals called upon Old Crockern to resist the impeding of their common land and the most famous story involving Old Crockern relates to this.

Having made his fortune farming the lands of the North-West, in the 19^th century (1851 to be precise) a farmer from Manchester moved down south. One evening, shortly after arriving, the northern farmer was drinking in a local inn, and heard tales of how growing crops in the acidic peat of the moor wasn’t possible. However, ignoring local knowledge, the visitor continued to tell of his previous exploits and proceeded to tell the local men what they were doing wrong.

Having been mocked for his arrogance and shunned for his hubris, the farmer left the inn and found himself crossing the barren landscape. Pausing for a break, the farmer found himself atop Crockern Tor. Reflecting on the farming practices he had heard and confident that he could do better then the “backwards” locals he had encountered, his decision was made, he would look to add to his already substantial wealth by cultivating Dartmoor (and proving a point to the ignorant locals whilst at it).

So the farmer set to planning, and he felt it wouldn’t take much, needing only fertiliser, drainage and a bit of hard work.  The next day, revitalised by his plan, the farmer ordered the tools and equipment he needed, spending a good deal of money in doing so.

A few days later, with the steam-threshing machines and ploughs on order and plans firmly developed, the farmer returned to Crockern Tor so he could excitedly visualise his dream. Whilst there, he met an old local man who had lived in the area his whole life. They fell into talking and naturally, the conversation steered to the farmer’s ambition. Having heard his plans, the kindly local thought it pertinent to share with the farmer a dream he had recently had.

The local told of meeting Old Crockern, the spirit of Dartmoor, near Wistman’s wood in his dream. During his encounter with Old Crockern, the local was told he would soon meet a “greedy farmer” and to pass on a message:

“Tell the man from Manchester that I know his mighty plans and that many such men have come to my land with the same intent but like them I promise him one thing, if he as much as scratches my back with a plough share, I’ll tear his pockets out.”

Upon hearing the message, the farmer just laughed at the old man, passing off the message as local superstitious nonsense and passing his own warning to the local – that in the future he should keep his ridiculous dreams to himself. The local, having seen multiple failures in the past, shrugged his shoulders and continued on his way to the nearby pillow mounds.

The farmer continued with his plans and began to attempt to farm the land between Crockern and Longaford Tors. He tried for years, but every year his crop failed and every year he lost more and more money. Driven by his pride, and motivated by his arrogance, the farmer continued to battle on but instead of draining the bogs and growing his purse, he fell further and further into the quagmire that had claimed so many before. Eventually, he admitted defeat and returned to Manchester physically, mentally and financially broken and with his reputation in ruins. On his return journey, he was able to reflect that Old Crockern had indeed been true to his promise.

Crockern the Huntsman

Old Crockern is not just destined to appear in dreams, and humble ambitious farmers. On dark, stormy nights, when the mists are swirling and the terrors of the night seem closer then ever, Old Crockern is known to ride out from Crockern Tor, on his skeletal steed, to release the Wisht Hounds from their kennels in Wistman’s Wood. From here, Old Crockern leads his spectral pack along the corpse roads, through the towns and chases unsuspecting wanderers, reminding everyone that the Spirit of Dartmoor, it’s soul, cannot be tamed.

Despite the modern development of the moor, the ever-present Spirit of Dartmoor continues to manifest as a potent protector and is ever in the mind of the locals. Old Crockern was summoned as recently as the 21st of January 2023 as part of the Right to Roam protest in opposition of the intentions of Alexander Darwall, the landowner, hedge fund manager and multi-millionaire who is attempting to ban wild camping on and restrict access to the moors. Thankfully, the summons of Old Crockern has proved fruitful, and Darwall’s initial success has been overturned, demonstrating that the everlasting Spirit of Dartmoor is as relevant and active now as ever he has been.

Featured in the Moorlander Edition 207 (July 19th 2024)