#devonhistory

[survivethejive]

The English historian William George Hoskins, a native of Devon, argues in this clip that St Michael's Church was built on top of Brent Tor because it was formerly a pagan place of worship. Local folklore about the Tor connects it to the Devil who apparently did not want the church to be built. The earthworks near the base date to the Celtic Iron Age and are thought to be military (part of a hill fort) but this does not rule out the possibility that later pagans used the old fort as a place of worship. Generally in Indo-European religions, the worship which took place at the top of mountains involved animal sacrifices to a sky father, which makes sense. You want the offerings to be as close to him as possible. If Hoskins is right then surely a proper archaeological survey will reveal remains of animal sacrifices up there. Anyway I went up there today to have a look at it myself. #Dartmoor #brentor #paganism #archaeology #pagansites #devonhistory #ironage #skyfather #indoeuropean #misty #moorland https://www.instagram.com/p/CHDq5vjAdFs/?igshid=yvupi7gkghdg

[othmeralia]

Found in a book, this 1876 partial letter to “Aunt Mary” details a whale carcass viewing in Beer in southwest England. The letter states that the whale was found floating and brought to shore by fishermen, then “proprietors” fixed an “avenue of brown sails” around the whale so that only those who paid could get in to view. It goes on to say that “Thomas, the chandler in Exeter has purchased the carcass; so we shall have a chance of some real”....... unfortunately, the letter ends abruptly so we don’t know exactly what the writer was hoping to have a chance at. A chandler was a candle maker and household goods seller of oil, soap, and such items so I imagine the writer is referring to the chance of obtaining real whale oil products, maybe. 

Found in: The anatomy of plants : with An idea of a philosophical history of plants; and Several other lectures read before the Royal Society (1682) / by Nehemiah Grew.     

[perranyarns]

Looking forward to the wool shows we'll be attending over the next couple of months! Woolly Weekend is held at Kelly House which has been in the Kelly family for over 900 years! It's a fabulous day out, & the homemade cakes by the enormous kitchen fire are not to be missed! #devonhistory @kellyhouse.kelly #familyhome #WoollyWeekend #woolshow #handdyedyarns #PerranYarns #devon #ukcraft #whatsondevon #eatcake #lovewool #knittingaddict #crochetaddict #weavingyarn #daysout https://www.instagram.com/p/BnqXzwun8yj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kyptat71ho78

[flamingbeads]

History!... . . . #devon #hallsands #losttothesea #26thjanuary1917 #devonhistory

[survivethejive]

Spent Summer Solstice charging about Dartmoor with the lads. Visiting some interesting ancient megalithic monuments and finally having a dip in the reservoir. First pic is of the dolmen called Spinsters rock, second is me at Fernworthy stone circle, the fourth is the foundation of a bronze age round house. #dartmoor #megalithicmarvels #megalith #neolithic #devonhistory #britishhistory #dolmen #stonecircle #fernworthy #fernworthystonecircle #spinstersrock #cairn #bronzeagebritain #hiking #wildswimming (at Dartmoor National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBs2UycgN9f/?igshid=w58lohk0lhut

[survivethejive]

The picturesque fishing village of Appledore erected this runestone style monument in memory of a Viking invasion. In 878 a host of Norsemen led by Ubbi (hubba) landed in North Devon near the torridge estuary. One of King Alfred’s retainers, Odda, ealdorman of Devon tried to repel the Vikings but his force was trapped in a fort called Cynuit, probably near Torrington. However they fought back with a dawn defensive against the sleepy Vikings and killed Hubba and 840 of his men. The Norse had used a local island as a base from which to stage their raids and it still bears a Norse name today; Lundy. #NorthDevon #Vikings #runestone #Appledore #vikinghistory #instahistory #AngloSaxon #Devonhistory (at Appledore, Devon, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/survivethejive/p/BxS3KR-AXES/?igshid=5jjbqbdycldi