Ashburton, a Devon town on the edge of Dartmoor, is becoming a hub for those drawn to folklore, myth, and rural traditions. The town of around 4,000 people is seeing a revival of interest in old folky ways, with storytellers, mythologists, pagans, and even witches becoming a common sight.
This early May bank holiday weekend, the fledgling Dartmoor Tors festival will attract hundreds of participants. The event celebrates West Country folklore through music, talks, walks, and workshops. Highlights include a mass walk to Bellever Tor on Beltane and a closing procession to an ancient healing well in the town.
Sophie Pierce, the festival's co-organiser, said: 'I think Ashburton is fast becoming the epicentre of a folk revival, a place where people are interested in the land and old traditions.' She added that the festival aims to explore the human relationship with Dartmoor.
Rebecca Beattie, a writer and witch who moved back to Dartmoor during the pandemic, noted that people are seeking connection to simpler times amid current troubles. 'In the early 20th century, there was a real push to re-find landscapes, legends and folklore. If you think about the similarities between then and now – wars, pandemics, recessions – it may be that people are again feeling the need to find a rootedness.'
At the heart of the revival is the Field System gallery, which sells folk-inspired items and the Dartmoor Folklore Map. Co-founder Milly Brown described folk culture as 'DIY, sort of anti-establishment, a bit punk,' and said the gallery aims to bring together long-term residents and newcomers.
