Brent Tor is a tor on the western edge of Dartmoor, approximately four miles (6.5 km) north of Tavistock, rising to 1100 ft (330m) above sea level. The Tor is surmounted by the Church of St Michael, the parish church of the village of Brentor, which lies below the Tor.
Around the Tor are Iron Age earthworks, the remnants of a Hill fort.[3] Unusually, the fortifications are at the base of the Tor, rather than the summit as is more normal (compare with Brent Knoll in Somerset). No serious archaeological work has been carried out on the site. However, the northern ramparts in particular are well preserved, displaying a multi-vallate pattern characteristic of the Iron-A, or early -B, culture. There are three distinct consecutive ramparts in this sector, and traces of internal partitioning.
ChurchEdit
St Michael's Church, Brent Tor
The Church of St Michel de Rupe ("Saint Michael of the Rock") atop the Tor dates to the 13th century, and measures 15 feet (4.6 m) wide and 37 feet (11 m) long. The tower is 40 feet (12 m) high[4] and houses five bells.[5] At one point, the church may have been used as a Beacon tower, used to spread word of enemies seen out to sea (see also Spanish Armada). It is also said that the church was to be built at the bottom of the tor, but the devil who didn't want to see its construction would move the construction to the top of the hill each night to stop its construction. Dissuaded by the devil, the locals continued with its construction in defiance.
The church has a capacity of approximately forty people. Although there is a newer (19th century) church (Christchurch) in the village, which is used for many services, St Michael's is still used on Christmas Day, Easter Day and for Evensong during the summer. In 1995 the Church was struck by lightning, which caused extensive damage, but this has since been repaired.
LegendsEdit
There are many legends surrounding Brent Tor. One of the best-known is that of the Merchant and the Storm. According to this story, an early medieval merchant paid for the church to be completed after nearly being shipwrecked.[6][7] The churchyard was used as a location in filming the ITV version of Jamaica Inn.[8]
ReferencesEdit
^Dartmoor National Park Authority, Educational Register of Geological Sites September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^Robert Hesketh, Devon's Geology, an introduction, page 8. Bossiney Books
^Hopkins, Adam & Witney, Dudley (1995). The Moorlands of England. Key Porter Books. p. 92. ISBN9781550136050.
^Brentor Church: A Guide, Church of England publications
brent, western, edge, dartmoor, approximately, four, miles, north, tavistock, rising, 1100, 330m, above, level, surmounted, church, michael, parish, church, village, brentor, which, lies, below, from, northeast, devon, contents, geology, iron, earthworks, chur. Brent Tor is a tor on the western edge of Dartmoor approximately four miles 6 5 km north of Tavistock rising to 1100 ft 330m above sea level The Tor is surmounted by the Church of St Michael the parish church of the village of Brentor which lies below the Tor Brent Tor from the northeastBrent Tor Devon Contents 1 Geology 2 Iron Age earthworks 3 Church 4 Legends 5 ReferencesGeology EditBrent Tor is an unusual example of early Carboniferous basaltic volcanic rocks now weathered down 1 It is composed of volcanic breccia and pillow lava exuded beneath a former sea 2 Iron Age earthworks EditAround the Tor are Iron Age earthworks the remnants of a Hill fort 3 Unusually the fortifications are at the base of the Tor rather than the summit as is more normal compare with Brent Knoll in Somerset No serious archaeological work has been carried out on the site However the northern ramparts in particular are well preserved displaying a multi vallate pattern characteristic of the Iron A or early B culture There are three distinct consecutive ramparts in this sector and traces of internal partitioning Church Edit nbsp St Michael s Church Brent TorThe Church of St Michel de Rupe Saint Michael of the Rock atop the Tor dates to the 13th century and measures 15 feet 4 6 m wide and 37 feet 11 m long The tower is 40 feet 12 m high 4 and houses five bells 5 At one point the church may have been used as a Beacon tower used to spread word of enemies seen out to sea see also Spanish Armada It is also said that the church was to be built at the bottom of the tor but the devil who didn t want to see its construction would move the construction to the top of the hill each night to stop its construction Dissuaded by the devil the locals continued with its construction in defiance The church has a capacity of approximately forty people Although there is a newer 19th century church Christchurch in the village which is used for many services St Michael s is still used on Christmas Day Easter Day and for Evensong during the summer In 1995 the Church was struck by lightning which caused extensive damage but this has since been repaired Legends EditThere are many legends surrounding Brent Tor One of the best known is that of the Merchant and the Storm According to this story an early medieval merchant paid for the church to be completed after nearly being shipwrecked 6 7 The churchyard was used as a location in filming the ITV version of Jamaica Inn 8 References Edit Dartmoor National Park Authority Educational Register of Geological Sites Archived September 27 2007 at the Wayback Machine Robert Hesketh Devon s Geology an introduction page 8 Bossiney Books Hopkins Adam amp Witney Dudley 1995 The Moorlands of England Key Porter Books p 92 ISBN 9781550136050 Brentor Church A Guide Church of England publications Dove s Guide for Church Bell Ringers Legendary Dartmoor Sacred texts Williams Michael 1984 Unknown Devon St Teath Bossiney Books pp 16 18 50 36 11 N 4 09 37 W 50 603138 N 4 160225 W 50 603138 4 160225 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brent Tor amp oldid 1166567960, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
