Shaugh Prior can be explored from several perspectives: open moorland, traces of settlement dating back thousands of years, and industrial history. These themes are reflected in the character of the parish as well as in specific places and buildings. Trowlesworthy Warren, St Edward’s Church and the area around Shaugh Bridge offer points of reference as you choose between archaeology, architectural history and experiences in nature.
Moorland, China Clay Pits and Oak Woodland
The parish of Shaugh Prior encompasses open moorland, crossed by streams running between the tors of Dartmoor. In the central area, China clay pits above the villages of Lee Moor and Wotter shape the landscape. To the south lies a belt of farmland and woodland. Open moorland, extraction sites and a wooded landscape shaped by agriculture are therefore among the area’s different facets.
At Shaugh Bridge, near Shaugh Prior, lies an ancient oak woodland that is part of the UK’s rare temperate rainforest habitat. Walks there follow the River Meavy through old oak-wood valleys; the upper Plym Valley can also be explored. This river and woodland landscape offers a different focus from the open high ground and the areas shaped by clay extraction in the parish.
Archaeological Traces and St Edward’s Church
Traces of human settlement in the moorland date back more than 2,000 years. The remains of Bronze Age settlements are visible near Trowlesworthy Warren. High walls, pillow mounds and dog kennels can also still be clearly seen there. These visible features make Trowlesworthy Warren a specific point of interest for anyone interested in the landscape’s earlier history.
St Edward’s Church is the oldest surviving building in the parish. It was built largely between the 14th and 16th centuries, in several phases. Notable features include the west tower, a south porch with a vaulted roof and a 15th-century font cover. The long construction period and the different building phases give the church a historical focus distinct from the settlement remains at Trowlesworthy Warren.
The area around the church also tells of former routes and overnight accommodation: stone crosses marked routes near St Edward’s Church. A church house next to the church served as overnight accommodation for monks and other travellers. This describes a historical purpose of the church house, not a current accommodation option.
Clay, Tramway and Visible Relics
The old route of the Lee Moor Tramway is still clearly visible today. The tramway carried clay and finished goods to Plymouth. Bricks and sanitary ceramics were manufactured in clay works near the pits. The remains of a 19th-century iron mine, a quarry tramway and a brick kiln can also be found at Shaugh Bridge. Together, these places offer insight into the different traces of industrial history, from the visible route to the structural remains.
The “Plym Valley bricks, boulders and bronze” walking trail passes quarries, a 19th-century brickworks and a Bronze Age burial site. It therefore offers a different way to explore the area’s history than looking at individual surviving buildings: here, several traces are connected along a route. Shaugh Bridge is half a mile from National Cycle Network route 27 (NCN27). Check the route details before setting off.
Highlights for Your Visit
When planning your visit, it is worth keeping the different themes distinct rather than combining them into a single attraction. Trowlesworthy Warren is known for its visible settlement remains and other historic features; St Edward’s Church offers insights into building phases and architecture. At Shaugh Bridge, old oak-wood valleys, walks along the River Meavy and industrial relics come together. The upper Plym Valley adds to this landscape focus, while the tramway’s history brings the transport of clay to Plymouth into view.
You can tailor your visit to your interests: if you are mainly interested in archaeological and architectural traces, Trowlesworthy Warren and the church offer distinct points of reference. If you are more interested in landscapes and routes, the walks near Shaugh Bridge and exploring the upper Plym Valley make a good focus. The National Cycle Network route can be included as an additional point of reference when planning; the half-mile distance refers to Shaugh Bridge.
Discover more destinations: Abbotskerswell, Buckland Brewer, Budleigh Salterton, North Tawton, Tipton Saint John, Okehampton, Lamerton, Bigbury-on-Sea
For the main travel overview: Devon.
