avatarSally Prag

Summary

The article recounts the author's experiences and the history of "The Queen of the Dart," a once-promising mine and now a secret swimming spot in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK, through the playful antics of their dog, Ginger.

Abstract

The author shares a personal connection to "The Queen of the Dart," a secluded swimming spot on the River Dart, which was once the site of a lucrative mine in the 19th century. Over the years, the author's relationship with the location has evolved, from discovering it as a caravan owner to revisiting it with their dog, Ginger. The article delves into the historical significance of the mine, its initial success, and eventual decline due to a fire and depleted resources, linking its fate to the myth of Old Crockern, the guardian deity of Dartmoor. The author humorously suggests that Ginger's enthusiastic digging at the site could be a playful embodiment of the mine's spirit, seeking to uncover the once-promised riches. The narrative weaves together themes of natural beauty, local mythology, and the enduring allure of hidden treasures.

Opinions

  • The author perceives "The Queen of the Dart" as a special, almost mystical place, enhanced by its hidden nature and the myths surrounding it.
  • The author implies a sense of wonder and continuity, as the site transitions from a prosperous mine to a tranquil swimming spot, and now a playground for their dog.
  • There is a hint of amusement and affection in the author's portrayal of Ginger's behavior at the site, suggesting that the dog's playfulness captures the enduring spirit of the location.
  • The author seems to hold a reverent view of the local mythology, particularly the legend of Old Crockern, as a cautionary tale about the consequences of exploiting nature's riches.
  • The article conveys a sense of nostalgia and a personal connection to both the history of the mine and the present-day experiences shared with Ginger at the riverside.

The Queen of the Dart Rises Again

A mysterious place, a mysterious spirit, and a myth that lives on

Photo by Alyssum Mormino on Unsplash

I have been visiting The Queen of the Dart for over 3 years now.

I first discovered it when I bought a touring caravan and placed it on a campsite beside the town of Ashburton, on the southern boundary of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, UK. It was early May and the spring was blanketing the Devon land.

A heatwave began just as the kids’ schools broke up for their half-term holiday and we were lapping up every bit of sun we could at our caravan. The campsite owner told us that we could walk down a track that would take us to a nice swimming spot on the River Dart, which sounded perfect for these hot days.

It was a ten-minute walk down without much shade, so when we arrived we were ready to dive into the cold, cold river. It was a truly beautiful spot, though with little space to accommodate many people on the bank beside the river. However, that didn’t matter in the slightest, since hardly anyone seemed to go there. It seemed to be a little-known secret swimming spot.

After selling the caravan later that summer, the spot remained one that we would occasionally nip down to on a hot summer’s day, since we only lived a few miles away, but then we began to forget about it.

I never knew what to call that spot until recently, when I discovered that it is known as The Queen of the Dart.

When I adopted our sweet little dog, Ginger, I thought of that track, since it was a nice option for a safe, leash-free walk and swim, without the steep, exposed hills of the moor. Ginger and I began to walk there after school drop-off since it was just off the route.

In recent weeks, as autumn has begun to settle upon the earth, we have made it a regular Friday morning walk when we have some extra time. Ginger, as she has come out of herself and grown more confident and less timid over the last couple of months, has become absolutely hilarious when we arrive in this spot.

Like clockwork, the minute we arrive, she is bounding up and down the sandy river beach, showing off her whippet speed, and digging with absolute playful gusto, making me roar with laughter every single time! Not knowing the origin of the name The Queen of the Dart, I decided that she must be connecting with some spirit that the place was named after, and embodying the Queen herself.

This started to make me curious — what was the origin of the name The Queen of the Dart? Why did it feel so special, yet so hidden from the public? So I started to delve into the history.

The promising riches of The Queen

It didn’t take me long to uncover the story behind the name. However, this story may not have been so interesting if it wasn’t for the myths and legends that are woven throughout the land and its wild, mystical beauty.

According to Legendary Dartmoor, the Queen of the Dart was the name given to a mine that was opened in 1853 that promised its owners great riches. Sourced from the Legendary Dartmoor website, a newspaper report from the time read as follows:

“The interesting ceremony of christening a mine took place near Ashburton, on Friday week. At about 12 o’clock a numerous party from Ashburton, Totnes, and the neighbourhood assembled; and one of the proprietors, Mr. T. D. Coleridge, in a very appropriate speech, stated that only a few weeks since the mine had been discovered, and the results, so far, had been most cheering. Some of the mineral wealth was before them, and it was very probable that by perseverance the mine would prove a good speculation to all interested in the undertaking. He then christened the mine ‘The Queen of the Dart.’ At this moment Miss Elizabeth Bradridge of Pridhamsleigh Barton broke a bottle of old claret against the rock amidst cheers of all present. The company then repaired to a building near the mine, which was tastefully fitted up with flags and evergreen — where a most substantial dinner was served by Mr. H. Stentiford of the Exeter Inn. The chair was taken by Mr. J. D. Sawdye; Mr. Edward Sawdye acted as vice. On the removal of the cloth the usual loyal toasts were drank. ‘The Queen of the Dart’ was proposed amidst much enthusiasm. The afternoon was spent most harmoniously. Songs, speeches and recitations were given… The miners and workmen were regaled with plenty of roast beef, ale, &c. The mine is situated near the South Plain Wood Mine. The lode is within sight of the surface, and at present it seems to be an extraordinary discovery.” — The Western Times, October 8th, 1853.

However, fate awaited this new and very promising mine.

The initial rewards were substantial, earning the owners the equivalent in today’s money of £60,000 for the sale of over 400 tonnes of copper-ore in 2-and-a-half years, enabling them to invest in the building of a steam engine and line to the site. However, a fire destroyed the engine building and much of the investment was lost as a result.

Following this, the committee sought shareholders in order to gather the capital to build a water wheel and a suspension bridge across the river. The Queen of the Dart still promised such riches that investors were easily persuaded. The mine was sunk deeper and wider-reaching but, it seems that, following the fire, the copper-ore was no longer available in such abundance. The shares were eventually sold off and the mine closed.

The curse over Dartmoor

According to Legendary Dartmoor, this story is illustrated with the myth of Old Crockern, the ancient deity of Dartmoor, who is known to have once said:

“if you scratch my back then I’ll rip your pockets out.” — Source: Legendary Dartmoor

It is believed that Old Crockern guarded the natural resources of Dartmoor and that his warning was that he would take revenge on anyone who exploited the land and its natural riches and make sure that no one could ever get away with such endeavours. This story regales how the curse held true, and that it stopped the greed of humans in its tracks.

The Queen rises again

I am afraid that Ginger, dear sweet dog that she is, might be the devil’s desire to excavate the land returned in dog form. It seems that she is determined to dig for the riches once promised, as you can see in the video below.

I believe that she may be the embodiment of the spirit of the Queen, returning to tell Old Crockern that dogs are more powerful even than curses of deities. However, I think she’s a long way from finding any riches beneath that sand.

May the Queen forever reign in hope.

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