Reading Out Loud
Focused Elements:
You can have these explanations read out loud by clicking on 'Speak Explanation' (access key 'a')
These controls are to provide alternative means of accessing the information on this page. Two main facilities are provided: adjusting the text size and listening to the text on the page.
1) Adjusting Text Size:
You can increase the text size by clicking on 'Larger' (access key '+'), and reduce it by clicking on 'Smaller' (access key '-'). You can reset the size back to its original value by clicking on 'Reset' (access key 'j')
2) Listening to the Text
You can adjust the pitch of the spoken word, the rate or speed of delivery and the volume. You can also choose the voice to use by clicking on the drop-down list. The default voice is whatever is the standard for the computer and browser you are using.
To set your default, please refer to the description in the Accessibility Statement.
There are normally three sections of text on the page that you can listen to: the headings, the main text and a selection. Click on 'Speak Headings to speak the page headings (access key 'l'). Click on 'Speak Main Text' (access key 'q') to listen to the main text.
You can also select an area of text in the page using standard select methods and click on 'Speak Selection' (access key 'w') to read the selection aloud.
You can enable the reading out loud of the element that currently has focus by clicking on 'Start Focus Speaking' (access key 'f') and you can stop this by clicking on 'Stop Focus Speaking' (access key 'd').
You can pause the audio by clicking on 'Pause' (access key 'r') and resume by clicking on 'Resume' (access key 't').
To cancel or stop the audio click on 'Cancel' (access key 'y'). To restart the current audio from the beginning, click on 'Restart' (access key 'k').
To hide the accessibility controls click on 'Hide Panel' (access key 'h')
To hide this explanation click on 'Hide Explanation' (access key 'x')
Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Banner Images





You can find out more about the various images used in the website page banner here. We will add to these images from time to time. The images were all taken within Widecombe Parish and at all seasons of the year, showing its beauty and interest whatever the weather.
Honeybag Tor dominates the skyline behind Widecombe Church. Taken from the road close to the southern end of Widecombe Fair Field
Sunbeams piercing the rainclouds over the Widecombe Valley to the south of Widecombe Village. Taken from Pudsham Down
Bluebells down by the river. Abundant by the Webburn. Holwell Lawn (just outside the parish - towards Hound Tor) is a good place to walk amongst them.
Dartmoor Ponies on Hameldown. The iconic Dartmoor view. Beautiful semi-feral ponies roaming free on the Moor. Long may it continue.
The Church House in Widecombe Village centre. In its time it has been an alehouse, a school and a workhouse, amongst other things, and now it is owned by the National Trust and has an NT shop and the rest is used as the village hall.
The Moor gate at the top of Church Lane (or Bowden Lane). There used to be many of these gates on the roads leading to Dartmoor, essentially as a means of controlling livestock. Now they have been largely replaced by cattle grids to avoid slowing down traffic. See how many sites you can find that would have had gates in the past.
Picture from the Widecombe Archive showing the community gathered outside the Church House in 1909 - waiting for the Prince and Princess of Wales who were en route to the Huccaby Races.
The Cave-Penny Memorial on Corndon Down in the south of the parish. The inscription reads: 'To the Glory of God and to the Dear Memory of Evelyn Anthony Cave Penny Lieut Q.V.O. Corps of Guides. Fell in Palestine whilst gallantly commanding his men June 8th 1918 Aged 19. Look up and lift up your heads.' Q.V.O = Queen Victoria's Own
Shire horses on the village green. Riders are often out in the parish. Always a spectacle, especially the shires.
Roundhouse on Yar Tor Down with Sharp Tor in the background. Widecombe Parish, and Dartmoor generally, abounds with archaeological remains. There are some spectacular roundhouses well worth exploring.
The information on this page was last modified on February 25 2024 13:59:57.