FUNDRAISING efforts to restore the grave of one of Dartmoor's most renowned writers will be boosted with a perambulation of the northern moor ending at Belstone.

Bill Jerman from Crediton will be carrying out the walk from Willsworthy to Belstone later this year to boost the funds for the restoration of the grave of the Rev Samuel Rowe.

Mr Rowe published the first edition of his work 'A Perambulation of Dartmoor' in 1848. An original copy of the book, which documents Mr Rowe's walks around the moor, its landmarks, wildlife, flora and fauna, is held at the Oxford University Library.

Samuel Rowe was born in 1793 near Yealmpton, the second son of the seven children of Benjamin and Mary Rowe of Sherford Barton Brixton. Educated at Plympton Grammar School, he was apprenticed to a bookseller in Kingsbridge in 1810. Two years later, his father bought an established bookselling business for Samuel in Plymouth.

In 1822 he gave up bookselling, graduating with a BA of Jesus College Cambridge in 1826, attaining an MA in 1833. He was ordained in Gloucester in 1826 and held four curacies in Plymouth before being chosen by the Crediton Church governors as vicar of Holy Cross Crediton in 1833 from a list of 70 candidates.

He lived at Vicarage House in Church Lane with his wife, Sidney Young Neale, whom he married in 1829. They had a son and four daughters.

He wrote and lectured on a diverse range of topics, from religion to antiques, architecture, drama, politics, and railways.

Mr Rowe is buried in the churchyard at Holy Cross Crediton. Over the decades since his death in 1853, the grave has slowly fallen into a poor state. The Holy Cross governors have given their permission for the grave to be restored.

The work will be carried out by stonemason Andy French, who in the past has repaired the church's west window. The work will involve carefully removing the broken ledger stone and the rubble underneath. A firm substrate will be created and a four inch thick reinforced concrete slab foundation will be laid.

It is hoped to be able to reuse about 80 per cent of the existing plinth and rubble over a new damp proof course. This will protect the tomb from any soluble salts from the concrete and the ground.

Some new Portland stone will be needed to complete the repair. The two pieces of ledger slab will then be re-fixed with the weight sufficient to keep them in place. Some mortar repairs will also be necessary.

To date, one grant making trust has been found that may be able to help fund the project, and £100 has already been promised by individuals towards the estimated costs of £950.

Bill's fundraising walk is one of the major fundraising events for the restoration. The perambulation will take him via Fur Tor and Cut Hill on his way to Belstone.

To contribute to the perambulation and restoration project, send a cheque, made payable to Friends of Crediton Church, to Bill Jerman, 12 Blagdon Close, Crediton, EX17 1EL, or contact Bill on 01363 772865.