The long ridge of high moorland sweeping northwards from Quintin's Man is barren of any significant outcrops until it reaches Wild Tor Ridge, upon which stand the bold rocky crags of the very aptly named Wild Tor (grid reference SX623877). Although perched on the northern toe of the great bulk of Hangingstone Hill, and some 200ft below its summit, Wild Tor still maintains an elevation equal to the crown of neighbouring Steeperton. Which latter, however, because of its dramatic rise from the marshy flats of the Taw Basin, dominates the scenery in this part of the Moor. The ridge continues northwards from Wild Tor, narrowing and momentarily dropping below the 1400ft contour, until it spreads out again beyond Little Whit Hill where it is immediately swallowed by the broad shoulder of Cosdon. The summit of the latter is in fact itself only marginally higher than Wild Tor Ridge, although its great bulk again gives it a domineering aspect. It is these features, and the expansive views over North Dartmoor, which seem to always command the attention of the walker on this exposed ridge, overriding considerations of Wild Tor itself, and the rugged outlines of its scattered piles are, perhaps, best appreciated from afar.

The interior of Throwleigh church seems to be brighter than many of the smaller Dartmoor churches which, though usually somehow 'homely', are often fairly dark and gloomy within. There are no principal monuments within, but the building itself contains some interesting and unusual features. Above the porch entrance is a lead sundial dated 1663, and cleverly incorporated into the ornamentation of the right hand spandrel of the outer doorway are the letters 'TC', thought to refer to Thomas Courteney, Earl of Devon and patron of Throwleigh church in 1452. The sundial itself is not in fact an original feature - it was apparently bought at a jumble sale in Exeter! Near the lych gate stands the shaft of an ancient cross discovered at Barton in 1977, and propped against the outside of the nave stands the only surviving eighteenth century slate headstone now to be seen in the graveyard, one which amusingly demonstrates the literary ability of many early monumental masons -

As noted, this headstone now stands propped against the wall of the church, so the exact site of Henry Endecott's grave is not known. Someone else whose final resting place has long been forgotten is Christopher Tooker, who in his will of 1592 desired "a christian buriall in ye churchyarde at Throwley". To his children he bequeathed various small gifts, including "a best
gowne...sylvern hookes...a tynning vessell...a great brazen crocke...my best brazen horne...my best ewere", and to his servant George Venycombe he left "a doublet and grey jerkyn...a pair of leathern drawers...my second best hatte" - wife Anne, who received the residue of his estate, presumably received the "best hatte"!

The thatched lych gate at the entrance to the churchyard conveys an air of antiquity, and it might be thought that members of the Tooker and Endecott families would have passed through it on their way to services, although this is a false impression for it is in fact fairly modern, as a brass plaque on one of its roof timbers reveals. A fairly narrow double-gated structure at the head of a short flight of granite steps, it has a finely cut low granite coffin shelf placed centrally within. Alongside the gate is the old church house, which probably once also served as the parish poor house. These types of properties in all parishes often housed rather curious assemblages of individuals and families, and such was the case here in 1851, when the following persons were in residence - Joseph Endacott, a tailor, aged 65, and his wife Ann, aged 67; Irish-born Maggie Dodd, aged 46, a pauper; Mary Pardon, aged 77, also a pauper; James & Grace Aggett, aged 53 & 52, and their sons James & John, aged 25 & 12, all agricultural labourers, and also their daughter Mary, aged 8; James Aggett snr was also the parish sexton.

These begin in 1653. Throwleigh is in fact recognised by the IGI.

There are 2,895 Throwleigh entries on the Dartmoor & West Devon Genealogy Index (DGI) a surname search service from which is available from Dartmoor Press.