Brent Tor facts for kids
Brent Tor is a unique hill, known as a tor, found on the western edge of Dartmoor in England. It's about 6.5 kilometers (four miles) north of Tavistock. This impressive hill rises to about 330 meters (1,100 feet) above sea level. What makes Brent Tor special is the small, ancient Church of St Michael that sits right on its very top. This church serves the nearby village of Brentor.
Contents
What is Brent Tor Made Of?
Brent Tor is a fascinating example of an ancient volcano. It's not an active volcano anymore, but millions of years ago, it was! This volcano formed during the early Carboniferous period. It's made up of volcanic rock called basalt, which is a dark, fine-grained rock.
The hill is mostly made of two types of volcanic material:
- Volcanic breccia: This is a rock made from broken pieces of volcanic rock, ash, and dust that got cemented together. Imagine a natural concrete made from volcano bits!
- Pillow lava: This type of lava formed when hot, gooey lava erupted underwater. As it hit the cold water, it cooled quickly into rounded, pillow-like shapes. This tells us that Brent Tor was once under a sea! Over a very long time, the volcano has worn down, but its unique rock structure remains.
A Look Back in Time: Brent Tor's History
Around the base of Brent Tor, you can still see the remains of ancient earthworks. These are old ditches and banks that were once part of an Iron Age Hill fort. A hill fort was a fortified settlement built on a hill, used for protection by people living thousands of years ago.
It's a bit unusual that the defenses are at the bottom of the tor, not the very top. Most hill forts were built right on the highest point. No major archaeological digs have happened here yet, but the northern parts of the defenses are still quite clear. They show several layers of banks and ditches, which tells us a lot about how people built forts during the early Iron Age.
The Church of St Michael
The tiny Church of St Michael, also known as "Saint Michael of the Rock," sits proudly at the very top of Brent Tor. It was built way back in the 13th century. This small church is only about 4.5 meters (15 feet) wide and 11 meters (37 feet) long. Its tower stands about 12 meters (40 feet) tall and holds five bells.
Long ago, the church might have been used as a Beacon tower. This means it could have had a fire lit at the top to send signals. Imagine a warning signal spreading the news of enemies seen out at sea, like during the time of the Spanish Armada!
There's a fun legend about how the church ended up on the tor. People say the church was originally meant to be built at the bottom of the hill. But every night, the devil, who didn't want the church built, would move the building materials to the top of the hill! Despite the devil's tricks, the local people kept building, showing their determination.
The church can hold about 40 people. Even though there's a newer church (Christchurch) in the village built in the 1800s, St Michael's is still used for special services. These include Christmas Day, Easter Day, and evening services during the summer months. In 1995, lightning struck the church, causing a lot of damage, but it has since been fully repaired.
Stories and Legends of Brent Tor
Brent Tor is a place full of interesting stories and legends.
One well-known legend is about "The Merchant and the Storm." The story goes that a merchant from the Middle Ages was almost shipwrecked at sea. To show his thanks for surviving the storm, he paid for the church on Brent Tor to be finished.
The churchyard of St Michael's was also used as a filming location for a TV show! It appeared in the 1983 ITV version of Jamaica Inn, a famous story by Daphne du Maurier.
Images for kids
-
Brent Tor from the northeast
-
St Michael's Church, Brent Tor
