Take a step back in time in your imagination - 370 million years back, to be precise - and just think what it must have been like on Dartmoor at the time of its origins.

A lot has happened on the prehistoric moors in its time: dinosaurs once roamed its vast expanses, and giant redwoods grew majestically where Dartmoor Prison in Princetown now stands.

Then, there were the years of turbulence - of volcanoes, earthquakes and ice-ages, and we know that Dartmoor has been beneath the sea - not once but twice - and possibly on even more occasions. In fact, the moors have only been inhabited by us for a relatively short time. But, for much of the last 10,000 years, Dartmoor people have depended on materials from Dartmoor rocks - such as granite and tin - for their livelihoods and sustenance.

The idea is sometimes expressed that the Skylark Inn was originally opened to meet the needs of thirsty miners and farm labourers, but this seems unlikely. The Inn, as such, does not appear on the census returns until 1861, though it is possible that the actual building was one of the empty houses noted in the previous census.

Today the majority of houses are owned by their occupiers, and the total population is probably only a fifth larger that the previous maximum achieved in 1861. Clearbrook is still a quiet residential hamlet, beautifully placed for walking, cycling or riding in the valley of the River Meavy, or on Dartmoor. Its Pub, the Skylark, is said to be the only one of that name in Britain and with its wide view of the open moor it is appropriately named. It has always supplied drinks but has recently added to that a growing reputation for food! It does not offer accommodation but two houses still do.

If anyone knows of any more about the history of the Skylark Inn please submit details to the webmaster.

Historical Map of Devon

The Horse and Mule live thirty years
And nothing know of wines or beers.
The Goat and sheep at twenty die,
But never tasted Scotch or Rye.
The Cow drinks water by the ton
And at eighteen is almost done.
The Dog at fifteen cashes in,
Without the aid of Rum or Gin.
The Cat in Milk and Water soaks,
And then in twelve short years it croaks.
The useful, sober, bone-dry hen,
Lays eggs for Nogs and dies at Ten.
All animals are strictly dry,
Teetotal live and quickly die.
But sinful Plymouth Gin-full men,
Survive for three score years and ten.
And some of us (though mighty few),
Stay pickled till we’re ninety-two!