Hanger's Shiel, Hangershill Rock, Hangershiel Rock
Sitting just off the brow of the ridge line running from Butterdon Hill in the south to Three Barrows to the north, Hangershell Rock is a small granite tor residing in a prominent position, with the Two Moors Way to the west.
The compact granite outcrop overlooks Hanger Down and over to Penn Beacon, with great views over to the west with sparse clitter. The tor is still of considerable size given the lack of obvious features in the area.
Consulting Hemery, "The spelling in 1500 was 'Hanger's Shiel', and three centuries later 'Hangershill', with the pronunciation 'Hangershiel' ('sheel')." The mid 19th Century Butterdon (Butter Brook) Rifle Range on Harford Moor still has 102 surviving granite distance markers in situ, one of which is very close to the Rock at the 900 yards mark. This is near enough the maximum distance for the rifles of that time.
Hangershell Rock
The map above is not a navigation tool and we recommend that the grid reference shown below is used in conjunction with an Ordnance Survey map and that training in its use with a compass is advised.
Grid Ref:
SX 6549 5936
Height:
356m
Parish:
Harford
Tor Classification:
Small
Access:
Public
Rock Type:
Granite
Credit:
William Crossing Ordnance Survey
Reference:
Ordnance Survey Maps Eric Hemery: High Dartmoor Mark Fenlon and Tim Jenkinson (2017): Butterdon Rifle Range Markers on South Dartmoor Devon Milestones and Waymarkers: The Journal of the Milestone Society Volume 10 p. 69-71 Nigel Stainer (2014): An Archaeological Investigation of the Victorian Military Rifle Range at Butter Brook Dartmoor
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