King Way, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
In his work 'Walking Dartmoor's Ancient Tracks: A guide to 28 routes', Eric Hemery writes:
'In an attempt to account for the name-origin of the track, we must rely on both documented history and tradition concerning 'the King's Posts'. Although a regular postal service between the smaller towns of West Devon and east Cornwall [sic] was not inaugurated until 1722, a petition of 1630 addressed to King Charles I, concerning 'the King's Posts', specified the need to provide posthorses 'on the Western Stages of His Majesty's Posts ... from London to Plymouth'. This resulted in a proclamation dated 31 July 1635 about arrangements subsequently undertaken for post-boys riding the 'Plymouth Road' - that is, the route from Exeter south of the Moor via Ashburton. It was not until 1720, however, that a regular mounted postboy service was established between Okehampton (then on the London-Launceston postal routes) and Tavistock. In the meantime, the King's Messengers had carried official posts on horseback between the two towns when needed. The open moorland traversed by Track 11 [The King Way] would surely have been preferred by the riders to the villages and enclosed, muddy lanes of the border-country.'
In his 'Guide to Dartmoor', William Crossing writes:
'26.-*The King Way. The old road from Tavistock to Okehampton, which was in use previous to 1817, did not run like the present one through the vale of Parkwood, but was carried over the high ground to the west of it, and left the town by the steep hill now bearing the name of Exeter Street. It crossed the Walla Brook a short distance below Indiscombe, thence running on by Wilminstone, to which place it may still be followed. Beyond this it crossed the Burn near Wringworthy Farmhouse, and ascended the hill on the opposite side, and from this point onward to the Lyd followed practically the same line as that taken by the existing highway. But a track belonging to a time much earlier than that of this old road also ran this way, and that the latter was formed upon it, at least as far as the Lyd, or a little beyond, is more than probable. Further, however, the old road did not follow it, but was carried along the verge of the moor instead of across a part of it as the track was. This is known in the locality, that is to say, from Mary Tavy to Sourton, as the King Way, and though much of it is now obliterated, I have been able by careful examination to trace it from the village of Black Down to Higher Bowden, near Meldon, a distance of between eight and nine miles.'
Photo Gallery
