Dulverton Lorna Doone Statue, Dulverton, Exmoor National Park

Dulverton Lorna Doone Statue, Dulverton, Exmoor National Park

[Main photo: the Lorna Doone statue in Dulverton]

 

Lorna Doone Statue in Dulverton

R.D.Blackmore's 'Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor' is celebrated by a statue in Dulverton.

‘Lorna Doone. The Lorna Doone bronze by Prof. George Stephenson, commemorates R.D. Blackmore’s literary tradition of Exmoor, and depicts the young Lady Lorna Dugal who, in the seventeenth century, was kidnapped in childhood by the outlaw Doones of Badgworthy. The work was Commissioned by Dr. Whitman Pearson, U.S.A., and donated to the Town of Dulverton in 1990.’ (Source: plaque on statue)

 

Location of the Lorna Doone Statue in Dulverton

We've positioned the Lorna Doone statue on Google maps. Zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.

Malmsmead and Oare are located in Exmoor's 'Doone Country'. Richard Doddridge Blackmore's famous novel 'Lorna Doone' is set in this area.

 

Doone Country

If R.D. Blackmore and Lorna Doone are of interest then explore Doone Country at Oare, Malmsmead and Doone Valley.

 

Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary and Oare

Visit the Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary where Lorna Doone married Jan Ridd in that novel.

 

Lorna Doone Inn and Malmsmead

Enjoy a cream tea at Lorna Doone Inn in Malmsmead.

 

Deserted medieval village 

Badgworthy Water cuts a beautiful, remote valley south of Malmsmead. Follow Badgworthy Water past the Lorna Doone/Richard Doddridge Blackmore Memorial to the site of a deserted medieval village which is said to be where the Doone family lived.

A good path runs along the west bank of Badgworthy Water to the site of a medieval village.

Note that the location of the Doone's home is open to speculation. 'Legend placed the Doones in the deserted medieval settlement of Hoccombe Combe, a tributary of Badgworthy. The valley of Blackmore's famous novel Lorna Doone, however, more closely resembled Lank Combe, another tributary.' (Source: 'Exmoor: The Official National Park Guide' by Brian Pearce)

Badgworthy Water, Hoccombe Combe and Lank Combe are all clearly marked on Ordnance Survey mapping. Refer to that for detail.

 

R.D.Blackmore and Lorna Doone in Exeter and Dartmoor National Park

Look out for R.D. Blackmore on the wall by the entrance to Exeter Cathedral.

Also visit Chagford and the surrounding area in Dartmoor National Park to discover more about the local story on which the novel is based.