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VIEW IMAGES OF FOGGINTOR AND SWELL TOR QUARRIES IN THE 1980s
VIEW IMAGES OF THE PRINCETOWN BRANCH WHICH SERVED THE QUARRIES
  1. Industrial Archaeology
  2. Quarries of Cornwall and Devon

Foggintor Quarry

Foggintor Quarry is located on a desolate part of Dartmoor in the heart of a landscape scattered with granite boulders and old industrial ruins. There was once a rocky outcrop, known locally as Foggin Tor, now there is just a vast and rugged pit filled with clear cold water. Foggintor Quarry opened around 1820 as “Royal Oak Quarry”.

Closure of Foggintor Quarry came in 1906, however, the community of houses which developed around the Foggintor Quarry continued to house quarrymen and their families employed at the nearby Swell Tor Quarry which continued in operation until 1938. The final members of the Foggintor Community vacated their homes in 1951.

During the early 1840s Foggintor Quarry supplied the granite that was used to build famous London landmarks such as Nelson’s Column and stone from nearby Swell Tor Quarry was used to construct the old London Bridge which was moved to the USA. A number of unused corbels from the London Bridge project remain at Swell Tor.

Locally the stone from the Quarries was used for a vast number of buildings including the famous Dartmoor Prison and nearby village of Princetown. The stone being taken away by rail the remains of the track bed is a popular walking route. There exist quite extensive remains of the quarry sidings which initially served the horse worked Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway and latterly the Great Western Railway Princetown Branch which in many places followed the route of the earlier Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway.

For a detailed online account of the history of Foggintor please visit the excellent Legendary Dartmoor web site at: https://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/foggintor.htm
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  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    The remains of Red Cottages, (formerly known as Mount Pleasant) on the track leading towards Yellowmead Farm. They were given the name Red Cottages as they were initially painted in red lead, though in later years were painted back with with pitch to try and make them weatherproof. The cottages were planned in 1846 and built by April 1849. They are believed to have been demolished in 1953, the same time as Hill Cottages at Foggintor Quarry.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Looking across the site of Red Cottages the outline's of the gardens can still be clearly seen. In the distance can be seen the trees at Four Winds Car Park - once the site of Walkhampton Foggintor School which later became a residence known as Four Winds. The remains of Red Cottages, (formerly known as Mount Pleasant) on the track leading towards Yellowmead Farm. They were given the name Red Cottages as they were initially painted in red lead, though in later years were painted back with with pitch to try and make them weatherproof. The cottages were planned in 1846 and built by April 1849. They are believed to have been demolished in 1953, the same time as Hill Cottages at Foggintor Quarry.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    The remains of Red Cottages, (formerly known as Mount Pleasant) on the track leading towards Yellowmead Farm. They were given the name Red Cottages as they were initially painted in red lead, though in later years were painted back with with pitch to try and make them weatherproof. The cottages were planned in 1846 and built by April 1849. They are believed to have been demolished in 1953, the same time as Hill Cottages at Foggintor Quarry.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    The site of Walkhampton Foggintor School viewed from the gardens of Red Cottages. The school was quite extensive and a Christmas Tree planted in the garden by the son of a former headmaster has matured considerably and stands higher than the surrounding trees. The school was built for the education of quarry workers' children and closed at the end of the 1936 Summer Term. After a period of use as a dwelling known as "Four Winds" the building was demolished in 1964. Beyond the school in the distance is Merrivale Quarry. The last quarry to operate in the area closed in 2003.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    The remains of Red Cottages, (formerly known as Mount Pleasant) on the track leading towards Yellowmead Farm. They were given the name Red Cottages as they were initially painted in red lead, though in later years were painted back with with pitch to try and make them weatherproof. The cottages were planned in 1846 and built by April 1849. They are believed to have been demolished in 1953, the same time as Hill Cottages at Foggintor Quarry.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    A Devon Red cow and calf near the site of the quarry workers' Red Cottages.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    A gathering or Devon Red cattle near the site of Red Cottages. Merrivale Granite Quarry can be seen in the background.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Yellowmead Farm with Foggintor Quarry behind.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    The track of the original branch of the Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway extended along the track from Foggintor Quarry past Yellowmead Farm to the Tavistock - Two Bridges road. Here one can see a couple of stone sleeper blocks on the track near the farm. The blocks between the farm and the road were removed by apprentices of Swell Tor Quarries in 1926 during the General Strike to make the track to Yellowmead more suitable for road vehicles. Thus the sleeper blocks only remain visible from Yellowmead to the Foggintor Quarry.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    View along the track to Foggintor - note the original Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway stone sleeper blocks.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    The prominent "Big Tip" with the remains of Hill Cottages tp the left.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Continuing along the track towards Foggintor Quarry.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Continuing along the track towards Foggintor Quarry.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Continuing along the track towards Foggintor Quarry.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Yellowmead Farm with the former Merrivale Granite Quarry, closed in 2003 visible in the background.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    View back towards the Tavistock - Two Bridges Road. With the former Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway stone sleeper blocks visible. Great Mis Tor is visible in the background.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Evidence of pointwork and possible siding on the former track of the Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway branch just beyond Yellowmead Farm. Possibly a siding was located here?

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    The enclosed land of Yellowmead Farm. Beyond can be seen the site of the former Walkhampton Foggintor School built to serve the children of the quarry workers. It would be a good 20 to 30 minutes walk to and from school from the quarry workers homes.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Approaching Foggintor the remains of Hill Cottages can be seen.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    View back from the former branch track of the Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway towards Yellowmeade. Great Mis Tor and Little Mis Tor can be seen in the distance.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    The Foggintor Quarry Big Tip.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    View from the foot of "Big Tip" back towards Yellowmead Farm and Great and Little Mis Tors.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    The Foggintor "Big Tip" with the remains of Hill Farm to the side. (the area was known at onetime as Hill Quarry although it was originally Royal Oak before becoming Foggintor Quarry). Hill Farm is also known as Eva’s Farm, after Henry Eva, one of the tenants.

  • Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    Foggintor Quarry, Dartmoor, Devon - September 10, 2020

    View towards Hill Cottages

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