Eden Philpotts
The Forest On The Hill
Eden Phillpotts was probably the most prolific of all Dartmoor writers. He was born in India in 1862 and brought up in Plymouth. In 1879 his family moved to Ealing where he lived until he moved back to Devon in 1899. His cycle of eighteen Dartmoor novels were written over a twenty-five year period between 1898 and 1923 and each one was set in a different locality. The Forest on The Hill was published in 1912 and is set in and around Ilsington and Yarner Wood. Several of the buildings and sites featured in the novel still survive including the disused copper mine that plays such an important part in the novel (see picture below top left), and the cottages of the leading characters (see picture below top right) and many of the ecological features. In the words of Kenneth Day (1981, David & Charles) Phillpotts: “......observation and recording of nineteenth-century life on the Moor and his.....evocative descriptions of Dartmoor in all its varied moods can never be equalled or surpassed.”
The Reality
Len Evans was a gamekeeper at Yarner Wood in the 1920s. Photos of him and his wife and anecdotes from relatives show us how the characters in the novel would have looked and behaved at the time (see picture below, bottom left). As was the case in Phillpotts time the general public were barred from entering Yarner Wood.
After a long period of neglect Yarner Wood was purchased by the Nature Conservancy in January 1951 and in May 1952 was one of the first six National Nature Reserves (NNR) to be declared in the UK. Yarner Wood is now part of the East Dartmoor Woods & Heaths NNR (see picture below, bottom right) and the site has since been extended to include adjoining farm and moorland. East Dartmoor Woods & Heaths NNR is managed by Natural England and associated partners (www.naturalengland.org.uk)
Forest On The Hill - The Movie!
The Forest on the Hill was made into a B&W silent film in 1919 directed by Cecil Hepworth - sadly no copies survive.
The leading lady, Drusilla Whyddon, was played by Alma Taylor (1895-1974) who was one of Britains leading actresses of the time. In 1924, she was named by the Daily News , along with Betty Balfour, as Britains top star. Her last film appearance was in Blue Murder at St Trinians (1957)
The Forest On The Hill Guided Walks
The Walk lasts for 5 hours including a lunch break. During lunch we have the chance to look at archive photos of scenes from the 1920s just after the novel was written. For groups of a minimum of 6 people it costs £5.00 per head at any time that suits your group! Please contact Phil Page to make the arrangements on 0785 8421 148 or e-mail enquiries@dartmoornaturetours.co.uk
Eden Phillpotts was probably the most prolific of all Dartmoor writers. He was born in India in 1862 and brought up in Plymouth. In 1879 his family moved to Ealing where he lived until he moved back to Devon in 1899. His cycle of eighteen Dartmoor novels were written over a twenty-five year period between 1898 and 1923 and each one was set in a different locality. The Forest on The Hill was published in 1912 and is set in and around Ilsington and Yarner Wood. Several of the buildings and sites featured in the novel still survive including the disused copper mine that plays such an important part in the novel (see picture below top left), and the cottages of the leading characters (see picture below top right) and many of the ecological features. In the words of Kenneth Day (1981, David & Charles) Phillpotts: “......observation and recording of nineteenth-century life on the Moor and his.....evocative descriptions of Dartmoor in all its varied moods can never be equalled or surpassed.”
The Reality
Len Evans was a gamekeeper at Yarner Wood in the 1920s. Photos of him and his wife and anecdotes from relatives show us how the characters in the novel would have looked and behaved at the time (see picture below, bottom left). As was the case in Phillpotts time the general public were barred from entering Yarner Wood.
After a long period of neglect Yarner Wood was purchased by the Nature Conservancy in January 1951 and in May 1952 was one of the first six National Nature Reserves (NNR) to be declared in the UK. Yarner Wood is now part of the East Dartmoor Woods & Heaths NNR (see picture below, bottom right) and the site has since been extended to include adjoining farm and moorland. East Dartmoor Woods & Heaths NNR is managed by Natural England and associated partners (www.naturalengland.org.uk)
Forest On The Hill - The Movie!
The Forest on the Hill was made into a B&W silent film in 1919 directed by Cecil Hepworth - sadly no copies survive.
The leading lady, Drusilla Whyddon, was played by Alma Taylor (1895-1974) who was one of Britains leading actresses of the time. In 1924, she was named by the Daily News , along with Betty Balfour, as Britains top star. Her last film appearance was in Blue Murder at St Trinians (1957)
The Forest On The Hill Guided Walks
The Walk lasts for 5 hours including a lunch break. During lunch we have the chance to look at archive photos of scenes from the 1920s just after the novel was written. For groups of a minimum of 6 people it costs £5.00 per head at any time that suits your group! Please contact Phil Page to make the arrangements on 0785 8421 148 or e-mail enquiries@dartmoornaturetours.co.uk
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