This evening walk was sprung upon me.! So where to go, snow was expected. Help !!
So, Princetown chosen, now what?A chance remark made, gave me a "eureka" moment, so........
Meeting in the carpark, three of us set off down the Two Bridges road, turning off to the Devonport Leat path over a dodgy wall. As it had been snowing during the day, this walk was becoming just a bit more difficult, but, hey ho, when the going gets tough, the tough get going !!!!!
Reaching the gate going onto Prison property, still following the leat, we veered off piste, crawled under a gate and found a wonderful clapper bridge over the Blackabrook River. Gingerly over that to find the famous Eleven Arches, 84 metres in length, now listed and which originally carried the 'waste' from the prison to the underground tanks.
Over that, very carefully to find the path next to the leat again.
On through at least two more gates onto the main track that leads to Waldron farm.
Tracking left towards the prison farm, we came to an ominous sign
"You are being watched".
Sent a shiver down my spine, Who. What. Why?
The prison farm was closed in 2004 after a succession of awards for their cattle especially the highland cattle they bred.
Before that in the 1850's, after draining etc of the land, around many crops were also grown for prison consumption. Among them were "mangel wurzels!".
What be they then?
These farm buildings hide a sad tale. Some of the American and French POW's that died were hurriedly buried where the new farm buildings (where we were standing) were to be built. In doing so their bones began to surface. The governor of the time had them all collected up and split between the American and French cemeteries!!
Here endeth your history lesson!!
On on through old woodland and out on to the main road. On up to admire the phone box and up the track towards the radio station and North Hess. Standing atop we admired the views before slipping and sliding back to the always welcoming P of W.
As always great fun.
Brenda