Bloody Pool (S. Brent) Ancient Pool

Database entries

OS Map: SX 70302 62639
OS Source: Tom Greeves
HER: MDV7955
Alternate name: Bloody Pool (S. Brent)
Short Name: PO:BloodyPool
Exist: Yes
Record: Unique
Record Source: Greeves
Cairn Class: No
Lidar: SX 70302 62639
Nearby sites: SX 70302 62639

Notes

"Bloody Pool is one of over 40 such pool sites on Dartmoor which may date to the Prehistoric period and may have had a sacred function. This pool was noted in 1960 as having been filled in and its site now forms part of a roadside verge. In 1854, a hoard of Bronze Age metalwork was recovered from the pool, including four bronze ferrules, with three barbed bronze spearheads. All items were broken and are thought to have been votive deposits; the only pool on the moor where such items have been found."

"A legend of a battle is attached to the area of Bloody Pool. The name Bloody Pool pre-dates the finds of Bronze spears etc. in 1855. Recorded in South Brent Tithe Map 1843." See also find spot HER MDV39436 - Possible location of Bloody Pool and also Legendary Dartmoor: Bloody Pool

References

These are selected references with an emphasis on out of copyright sources linked as PDFs. For more detailed references try any linked HER or PMD record above.

• Burnard, Robert, Early Man, The Victoria History of the County of Devon: v. 1 (1906)
• Greeves, T, Dartmoor's Sacred Pools - Design in the Prehistoric Landscape, Dartmoor Magazine 137 (2019)