Dartmoor in fiction

Set against the misty windswept expanse that is Dartmoor, it is not surprising that the prison – which opened in 1809 – has become the focus for many works of fiction over time. Here are five to choose from.

The Hound of The Baskervilles

In ‘The Hound of The Baskervilles’ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1902, Sherlock Holmes investigates the strange occurrences at Baskerville Hall where a spectral dog is reputed to haunt the fortunes of the Baskerville family. Following the death of Sir Charles Baskerville, rumours abound that he suffered heart failure whilst trying to evade a large dog. Dr Watson is sent off to Dartmoor in the company of the new heir to the Baskerville title, Sir Henry Baskerville, whilst Holmes himself remains in London.  

Dr Watson’s visit coincides with the escape from Dartmoor Prison of a prisoner by the name of Selden, a convicted murderer – and their stories weave together in a gripping mystery.

The character of Selden is purely fictitious, as is Baskerville Hall, but the descriptions of the area in and around Princetown are accurate. Conan Doyle drew upon local legends of the ‘wisht hounds’ as his inspiration. 

The Sittaford Mystery

Britain’s best-known writer of crime fiction is probably Agatha Christie, who used Dartmoor Prison in her 1931 novel ‘The Sittaford Mystery’. The plot centres around a séance held at Sittaford House by its new tenants, Mrs Willett and her daughter Violet. A ‘spirit’ reveals that the owner of the house, Captain Trevelyan, has been murdered at his home, Hazelmoor. Cut off by a snowstorm, Trevelyan’s old friend Major Burnaby sets off on foot for Hazelmoor – where he finds that Trevelyan is, indeed, dead. But whodunnit? And how is ‘Freemantle’ Freddy, a prisoner who escapes from Dartmoor Prison three days after the murder, involved? Whilst the official investigation is led by Inspector Narracott, Emily Trefusis acts as the amateur sleuth.

Mad Blood Stirring

‘Mad Blood Stirring’ was written by radio presenter Simon Mayo. Set in 1815, it concerns prisoners of war who were fighting for America during the War of 1812. The title of the book is a quote from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the staging of which by the prisoners forms the backdrop of this story. 

The novel begins with the arrival at Dartmoor of Joe Hill who has been captured with other sailors aboard the US ship Eagle. They arrive on New Year’s Eve 1814 and bring with them rumours that the war is over and a peace treaty has been signed. But unrest grows within the prison as the prisoners cannot understand why they are still being held captive. There is also tension along racial lines, with Black and White prisoners kept segregated. The story introduces us to the real-life character of King Dick, a leader among the Black prisoners, and to the Rough Alleys, a gang of White prisoners trying to run the prison their way. The story is fictional, but set within the context of true events.  

Hatred is the Key

The War of 1812 and the Princetown Massacre also form the backdrop to ‘Hatred is the Key’. Published in 2009, it also features King Dick, although referred to as ‘Big Dick’ in this novel.

The story begins with a sea battle between HMS Raytheon and the US ship Libertine, aboard which we encounter three slaves, chained up below deck during the battle but released once the fate of the ship is realised and it surrenders. The survivors are taken prisoner and so their journey to Dartmoor Prison begins. 

The narrative moves quickly from the prisoners’ arrival, to the signing of the peace, to the massacre of 6 April 1815. Alongside this are added an escape, an illegal smuggling operation, and a romance between a prisoner and a young village girl. The book is largely fictional although based around true events. 

The Watchers of Pencarrack Moor

The events of the Dartmoor Mutiny of January 1932 forms the backdrop to ‘The Watchers of Pencarrack Moor’, the third in a series of novels by local author Terri Nixon who carried out research at Dartmoor Prison Museum prior to writing them. The ‘Watchers’ of the title are a team of local people recruited by the police to act as lookouts for any criminal activities, including escapees from the prison. 

The plot involves a grudge between a warden and a prisoner, an escape, and real-life gangsters from 1930s Britain. Most of the characters are fictional but the events around the Mutiny are real – including true accounts of how ‘loyal’ prisoners who assisted the authorities during the disturbances received favourable treatment and reduced sentences as a reward.