Dinna Clerks Longhouse, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park

Dinna Clerks Longhouse, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor is known for its longhouses. Higher Uppacott is a superb example of an extant longhouse. The ruined medieval village at Hound Tor is famous for its medieval longhouse foundations. We include the lesser known Dinna Clerks because it's a great excuse to encourage you to visit one of South West England's finest museums. On the ground, there's little to see at Dinna Clerks. The model in the photograph accompanying this listing is from Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery or Exeter's RAMM. In the museum, there's almost too much to take in because it's such an impressive place.

The model is in the medieval section of the museum. Whenever we visit, young kids are playing with the wooden livestock figures. Kids learn quickly that the animals would have slept in the right hand side of the house where there's a channel in the floor for animal waste. The family slept in the centre and left of the house. The hearth, or fireplace, is set in the middle of the house below a roof without a chimney. There's an information board that begins:

'A longhouse on the moor.

This is a model of the type of building common in Devon. It is known as a longhouse. This one is based on remains found at a place called Dinna Clerks, on Dartmoor.

A coin found in the ruins suggests that this house burnt down towards the end of the 13th century.

But what was life like for the family who may have lived here? This is the story of one day in the life of a farmer and his family. It is early Spring, 700 years ago ...'

To find out what happened, visit Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery or Exeter's RAMM.

We've positioned Dinna Clerks on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. There's little to see on the ground but the area is magnificent. Another cluster of longhouse foundations is up the road at Hutholes. Also visit Hound Tor Abandoned Medieval Settlement and Higher Uppacott.