Prospect, Hillfield & The Croft Hamlets

Beacon Villages

Belstone - South Tawton - South Zeal - Sticklepath
Under Cosdon Beacon Dartmoor Devon UK

Prospect, Hillfield & The Croft

Do you ever realise how you can go about your normal life, accepting things, without ever realising that there are whole areas of your existence that you know nothing about. Well, two of my areas (I am sure there are many more) are Prospect and The Croft (with Hillfield). I would add one other which is even worse, for I don't even know it's real name, that's Crows Nest. To suggest a walk around this area, I would start from the 'Y' junction in Ramsley Lane (or the exit from Millfield).

My first location of note would be Keith Redstone's house, with the fine barn conversion behind. Then there is the field which Clarence uses for his sheep and cows. Always a pleasant experience, although a bit disappointing if it is empty. Then we come to the phone box (does anyone use phone boxes any more, I have seen people, begging on the streets of Exeter now, with mobiles) and the entrance to the Croft.. I have a couple of friends who live there and know a lot of really lovely families who live there, who talk to me, on their way to school, but really, I know nothing about it. The only written piece I came across was " The Croft and Hillfield are post 1945 developments." What is the difference between the Croft and Hillfield. Who remembers it being built. Who lives there? Are they local families or families from outside the Parish? Walking around the area, it is a pleasant enough place with a footpath across the field coming out just outside Olditch.

		If you go round in a circle, you will come back to the phone box again. Carry on up to the main road but, just before you get there, you will come across this 'milestone'. Where does it come from? How did it get there?
And then you are at Prospect. I gather it used to be its own hamlet, like Shelley and Ramsley, until it was absorbed into South Zeal. Where does its' name come from? It seems obvious that it has something to do with mining. But what, when?

You can then continue over the road and up the hill to Crows Nest. I know Bill Holman has some fine Dartmoor Ponies up there and I once drove up there eight years ago looking for a field for a horse. I have heard everyone talk about Pixie Gardens as if I know what they are talking about. No wonder I have no pictures of this place. So, come down the hill again. If you turn right you come to Ramsley and the Throwleigh Road, just past Owlsfoot . Left will take you past Olditch Farm Holiday Park and on to Ford Farm which, I read somewhere, is a" traditional Devon longhouse with a comprehensive set of outbuildings". And that is the extent of my knowledge!


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