Potato Cave near Combshead Tor
N 50° 29.976 W 003° 59.679
30U E 429458 N 5594653
A granite man-made cave for storing potatoes.
Waymark Code: WM3A38
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/03/2008
Views: 12
Many of the old Dartmoor farms have what are called 'potato caves'. These were chambers dug into the growan (soft porous rock originating from decaying granite) and were where the potatoes were stored over winter. This particular cave has large chunks of granite on top. The man-made caves are usually not to far from the farm. This cave may have belonged to nearby Middleworth farm which was abandoned when Burrator reservoir was build at the end of the 19th century. It is also noted that the potato caves occasionally were used to store illicit stills and their produce.
Ordnance Survey map reference (10 figure) if within DNP – If outside the Park, add N/A: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
A current photo of the way mark would be good but is optional.