Erme Pound

Erme Pound is a 'drift pound' and the stone walls were constructed during the medieval period. Drift pounds were used to hold stray animals found grazing on the moor during the seasonal stock round-ups (or drifts). The animals were impounded until the owner paid a fine. Erme Pound is one of four drift pounds within Dartmoor Forest (the area of the royal hunting ground). Crossing suggests that the medieval walls of Erme Pound were built on top of the foundations of a prehistoric enclosure. Burnard's photograph shows the stone bench in one of the two shelters outside the walls of Erme Pound.