Stop 3
Front House
Trick or treat?
The mosaic here tells of Bovey’s rich history involving the English Civil War. What it doesn’t mention, was an ingenious act of deception.
Stand with your back to the mosaic. The building in front of you was once a pub, called Front House. There, royalist troops were billeted. One night, tired of the windswept and wintery conditions of the moor, the officers retired to Front House. They decided to pass the time sitting by the fire and enjoying a round of cards.
Little did they know, Cromwell had led his army into the town where they pounced upon the royalists! The roundheads, smashing at the doors and trying to break the hinges, shouted for the royalists to give themselves up. In a last desperate attempt, the Cavaliers threw their money out amongst the roundheads as a distraction. Cromwells men were poorly paid and could not bear the temptation. As the scrambled for the money, the group of Cavaliers fled.
All but one, made it out of the town. We’ll return to his story soon!
Sources:
www.torbayweekly.co.uk/news/storyteller-ghostly-cavaliers-headless-ladies-and-the-devil-himself-7224071
dartmoorpreservation.co.uk/the-ghostly-cavaliers-of-dartmoor/
Devon’s Folklore and Legends. Viewing Devon Series. A. Farquharson-Coe