Rattle Brook

Coordinates: 50°47′38″N 4°01′19″W / 50.794°N 4.022°W / 50.794; -4.022
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50°47′38″N 4°01′19″W / 50.794°N 4.022°W / 50.794; -4.022

Rattle Brook is a brook in north Dartmoor in Devon in south-west England.[1] It is situated East of Great Links Tor,[2] and rises by the Rattlebrook Peatworks on remote moorland in the western section of Dartmoor National Park.[3] It flows past Bleak House with Green Tor to the east and Higher and Lower Dunna Goat Tors to the west.[4] It runs between Amicombe Hill and Rattlebrook Hill to join the River Tavy at the mouth of Tavy Cleave.[5]

Usage Today[edit]

Recreational walkers tend to stay west of Rattle Brook with the series of scenic tors stretching from Great Links Tor to Hare Tor to Tavy Cleave Tors and Ger Tor.[5] This is largely due to the high amounts of bog, mud, and thick grass to the East of Rattle Brook in the moor East of Rattle Brook.[5]

RattleBrook Peatworks[edit]

The Rattlebrook Peatworks was a railway established in the Rattle Brook valley for the Dutchy of Cornwall to facilitate the transportation of goods and trade.[6][7] Constructed in 1879 in the era of horse-drawn carriage transportation, the line was operated for almost all of its life by horse.[6] The line featured only one passing place, just over half way along the line from Bridestowe where the line reversed direction.[6]

At its peak, the line was seven miles long, and in that distance rose 1000 ft in elevation.[8] Only by the early 20th century did more modern railcars become adopted in the area, when the first petrol powered lorry was converted to run on rails in Okehampton.[6]

The line was discontinued in 1932, with its final job being to remove all the metal as scrap from Rattlebrook and lift the rails.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ john (17 January 2015). "Rattlebrook Peat Railway, Lydford, Dartmoor, Devon". www.christophersomerville.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Tors of Dartmoor Database Result: Great Links Tor". www.torsofdartmoor.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Rattlebrook Peat Works". www.richkni.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Heritage Gateway - Results". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Dartmoor, Holiday In. "Rattle Brook, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park". Holiday In Dartmoor. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Rattlebrook Peat Railway". brucehunt.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  7. ^ "RATTLEBROOK HEAD PEAT WORKS". Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Heritage Gateway - Results". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2024.