Cranmere Pool is not actually a pool. In fact it is a just a boggy hollow in the ground. This is the site of Dartmoor's first and most famous letterbox. The origin of letterboxing dates back to 1854 when James Perrott decided to place a bottle at this site for visitors to leave their visiting cards. Perrott lived in Chagford and was a Dartmoor guide during the mid-19th century. As time passed, people began leaving postcards which other visitors would then take and post on. By 1905, a visitor's book had been added for people to record their names and make comments. A more permenant box-like structure is now at Cranmere Pool and contains a visitors' book and rubber stamp for those who wish to continue the tradition now known as Letterboxing.

Boddy Collection