Three Horse Shoes

Local Interest

Nestling at the foot of the ancient hill fort of Eggardon, Powerstock is scattered over the hills and dales with its roots embedded before history was recorded.

There is a well here whose water runs red at certain times, because an unfaithful wife was once thrown in and drowned in its waters by her jealous husband; it is either her blood that stains the water, or the red dye of her petticoat.

At another well here, a man drawing water had a fleeting thought of making the pact with the Devil. The Devil appeared, to ask the man if he meant to do it or not; he answered that he must finish drawing water first, but the Devil pushed a burning candle into the water of the well, and as soon as it was extinguished, made off with the man's soul.

The church is perched high on a hill with a green mound, (all that remains of Athelstan's Castle which guarded the valley), dates from Norman times and is built of local stone. On the door inside the south entrance is a beautiful 15th Century carving. The carving shows a king holding a staff and a crowned woman giving bread to children. They are thought to be Good King Wenceslas and St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

In the churchyard east of the path and south of the main door is a very rare survival, a 13th century Dole Table from which in pre-reformation times charitable doles of bread were distributed to the poor.

The Manor House, originally built in 1700 with later additions has been restored.

Eggardon hill

Eggardon Hill Fort has impressive 360 degree views across the County. The drive up to the fort is worth experiencing itself.

Eggardon Hill s an iron-age hillfort which, arguably, has one of the finest views of any hill-fort in the county. On a clear day from there you can see right across Lyme Bay to South Devon and Start Point.

Some complain that the problem with hillforts is that they are on hills! Eggardon Hill is minimum effort, maximum reward, and is best approached on the promontory from the east, having come along the line of the Roman Road.
There are two Bronze Age barrows within the Iron Age fort, as well as more modern remains. Field boundaries, and a huge octagonal feature run across the interior, but these are well disguised by taller grass, thistles and nettles in summer. The octagonal feature has been described as an arboretum, or coppice, and was also used to give navigational assistance to sea farers.

Two original entrances to the fort are on the south east, and north west sides. These are not inturned like many hillforts, but cut through the ramparts at a steep diagonal angle to offer greater defence. A fence runs straight through the middle of this fort which starts to spoil the effect but you can access the entirety, once you find that elusive gate to the second side.
Only the light changes on Eggardon, it is never quite the same as the patterns of sun and shadow drift across the landscape in an infinite variety of ways. It is a very impressive location, with a near 360 degrees panorama, and is worth a visit for the views alone.

Jurassic coast

The Heritage Jurassic Coast of Dorset England has won international acclaim. The Dorset coastline has been awarded World Heritage Site status.

The Dorset and East Devon coastline of England, where countless fossils have been found over hundreds of years, has been given World Heritage Site Status.

This puts the coast, which includes the beautiful cliffs of Golden Cap in Charmouth and the historc resort of Lyme Regis, on a par with the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids, the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef. The Jurassic coast is the first natural site to win the ultimate accolade in England.

---