Life on a Dartmoor Scrapyard
Author Peggy Harris
I grew up on a scrapyard on the edge of Dartmoor, alongside my brothers. Those early years shaped me, and I’ve spent a lifetime remembering them — the laughter, the struggles, and the tough, messy world I grew up in. My memoir, Life on a Dartmoor Scrapyard, a collection of short stories, is my way of sharing those memories with you; inviting you into my world and the adventures that made me who I am today.
“I was born Margaret Harris in 1966 but everyone calls me Peggy. My brother Bob and I were twins and I have an older brother born in 1964 called Jim. We were all raised in a scrap yard on the edge of Dartmoor, three miles from Chagford the nearest village where I eventually went to primary school.”
From this beginning Peggy recalls her colourful memories of growing up in the scrapyard. This book gives us the laughter and fun experienced growing up in the freedom of a Dartmoor scrapyard surrounded by a variety of amazing characters and animals, while the undercurrents of the harshness of her life and the sadness are also revealed in an unsentimental honesty.
She talks about Sam, her father and her mother, her brothers, friends and neighbors, their working life in tough conditions. A wonderful example of social history!
Her stories tell of a Dartmoor that quietly existed without too much interference, although at times difficult their lives were rich in so many ways.
“When I left school I could hardly read or write. If I had to fill in forms I couldn’t write my whole name. When I read to my daughter Clare I found it hard to read simple stories, and I would skip the words I didn’t know and make something up.”
After two years of being serialised in Dartmoor Magazine Peggy published two books.
Life on a Dartmoor Scrapyard, The Early Years by Peggy Harris
£12.50 (inc postage and packing)
To pay by cheque: Please download the publicity leaflet and order form in pdf format
or, if you prefer to pay by credit card, please click the Paypal button below Kindle Download Available
Life on a Dartmoor Scrapyard, The Later Years by Peggy Harris
£12.50 (inc postage and packing)
To pay by cheque: Please download the publicity leaflet and order form in pdf format
or, if you prefer to pay by credit card, please click the Paypal button below
The Later Years
From this inauspicious start Peggy has written a vivid account of her early years, of growing up in the scrapyard. The first print run selling out in under two weeks and a queue snaking out onto the pavement outside the venue of her first book signing. Currently on its third print run, Peggy launched the sequel in 2010. Bursting with more stories from her vibrant childhood in the scrapyard and a collection of stories, she has gathered about the family and her father, Sam, which have been sent into her from fans and people who remember the family. Readers will also get an insight into her journey from the yard. Although not straying too far from her roots, she gives us an insight to how as a single mum she set up a new life for herself and her daughter.
A selection of reviews
Further reviews can be found on Amazon for Early Years and Later Years
Enchanting
A wondeful telling of a unique – sometimes harsh, sometimes hilarious – upbringing in a most unusual environment: a scrapyard in a national park. Peggy Harris is an excellent storyteller and I am sure that anyone reading her book – and the sequel – will be as enchanted as I was. Strongly recommended.
An excellent book. It reflected the hardships endured in the …
An excellent book. It reflected the hardships endured in the 50’s and 60’s in the rural areas of Britain. The author wrote this book from the heart.
We can all identify with our own communities, the basic conditions at that time.
life on a Dartmoor Scrapyard
I loved this book. It was great to have Peggys story unfolding in bite size chunks. I found the stories to be both humourous and at times somewhat moving as you were drawn into the trials and tribulations of growing up on a scrapyard. I hope there is some sort of follow up, most enjoyable.
Captivating story
Peggy holds your attention straight away. A book you can’t put down.
Lovely book!
Excellent, got this for my brother and he loves it. Had a quick read and it looks really well written, very easy and humorous read.
Fun on Dartmoor!
Dad loved this ! Great item…..
absolutely brilliant!
I spent most weekends at Sammy Harris’ scrapyard, in our ‘Sunday best’! This is a real insight to what we didn’t know when visiting. We would arrive in one car and go home in another. We had a seesaw and a roundabout seat from there and had many years of enjoyment from them. Our family are from Ilsington, thank you for taking my memory back there for a while.
Country Tales
Everyone who grew up in the country will have heard tales from the older generation of how life was in the past. Peggy’s book shows that in some corners of the countryside little has changed. The people and animals she writes about give an entertaining and truthful view of country life. With a dry sense of humour, Peggy is a natural story teller. Despite the hardships of her tale I couldn’t help giggling especially at the antics of Donkey Jack.
A beautifully written memoir of childhood
On recommendation, my mum and I have been reading this book and have found it absolutely riveting.
Peggy writes so beautifully about her memories of her family and life on the scrapyard, her stories are impossible to put down. This is the perfect gift for anyone who is familiar with Dartmoor or at all interested in reading some unique memories of outdoor living. A simply lovely book.
Moorland tales
This is a jolly, fascinating little book. It has an unusual style and is written as if you were sat listening to the author herself. The hints of Devonshire intonations give colour to the stories she tells. With tales and anecdotes of her adventurous childhood growing up on a Dartmoor Scrapyard, which of us would not liked to have had a taste of that life? I thoroughly recommend this entertaining and lively book.
moonlit ngt
I absolutely love this book, so funny,the story of him driving in the moonlight had me in stitches, we read them aloud to friends and have giggle, thank you for lifting my spirits and putting a smile on my face!
Four Stars
Great book about real life and growing up in a hard but happy family life. really enjoyed it
A Hard but Fascinating Life
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this unusual book, which I purchased after first seeing it at a friends house & later borrowing a copy from my local library.
The author has a very engaging and down to earth style. Her character comes across so well through the stories she tells of the people and animals in her early life. Although it was obviously a hard existence, there is a lot of humour too. It’s a window on another world.
I’ve always lived near Dartmoor, and love the place, & this deals with the harsh reality of it, not the rural idyll.
The b/w photo illustrations are well chosen for the text, and the whole book has a quality feel to it. I hope a follow up volume comes along soon.
A cherry for the top of any bookshelf!
I received this book as a Christmas gift and what a wonderful gift indeed! I couldn’t put it down and once finished was passed Peggy’s second book – which was equally as inspiring, heartwarming and fascinating!
I love Dartmoor but often find books about Dartmoor slightly irrelevant to today’s world. It is amazing to think Peggy’s experiences in this book are so recent, that this is the life of someone we could all pass in the street without realising.
I shall certainly be recommending this book to my friends and family and not just those who share my love of Dartmoor but anyone who can appreciate what a wonderful read this refreshingly moving book is.
I wanted to read more and more …
I picked up this book when staying at my mothers house on Dartmoor. I meant to flick through it, but, once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. It is such a great read and insight into Peggy’s life. It must have been incredibly tough for her growing up in the scrap yard environment, but this book really opens your eyes to the fact that you don’t need to have lots of possessions to be able to live a rich and rewarding life. I loved the stories about her donkey – having grown up with ponies myself (some obliging and some not) I can only take my hat off to Peggy for sticking with the challenging donkey she had for her equestrian pursuits and managing to see the funny side of its many exploits. She is clearly someone who gets on with life, rises to a challenge and always puts her best foot forward – a great example to us all. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Peggy Harris takes us into a world of unique characters and the animals that surrounded her in her early years. She is such a good story teller that she brings to life her memories and experiences in the most colourful way. From comedy, to heartfelt moments anyone interested in the countryside will enjoy this read.
E.A.Oliver Reader Review 2010
AN INTIMATE new memoir of life on Dartmoor is published this week with Peggy Harris’s fascinating recollection of life with her father Sam in the scrapyard he ran
near Chagford.The story of the harsh reality of life in an old caravan, with little money, is vividly illustrated with the work of Dartmoor photographer Chris Chapman, who has supplied a lot of images for the book.
Western Morning News 2010
To listen to the i Life On A Dartmoor Scrap Yard – The Early Years back in circulation’…In a colourful and humorous way Peggy brings to life her childhood memories and tells of many characters, animals and events that have featured in her life as she grew up at the Scrap Yard with her twin brother Bob, older brother Jim and her parents.The book is very honest, sometimes humorous and sometimes heartfelt in its discription of a life that was very hard…’ Crediton Courier August 2011
Book signing frenzy! When Peggy Harris agreed to come and sign copies of her a Dartmoor Scrapyard’ none of us could foresee such an response.
Over 250 books were signed and sold on the night with people queing from the door and down the road. Even the freezing winter weather did not deter them.
Sue Viccars, who edited the book said: “We were all stunned! “We knew Peggy’s articles had been very popular in the Magazine, but we didn’t expect such an enthusiastic response.
It is lovely for Peggy and great for the publisher.”
Renowned photographer, Chris Chapman, was also present and speech explaining how the book came about. His own evocative large in the book, along with older archive material.
Three Crowns Chagford 2009
Life on a Dartmoor Scrapyard: The Early Years
‘… Her father Sam started the scrap yard in the late 1940s. He lived in an old gypsy caravan on the site, and then in a succession of more modern, secondhand static caravans. He bought an old wooden chalet and the family lived in that, but still used the caravans too.”We could make up push bikes from spare parts, make go-carts, play hide-and-seek in the old cars, we could drive cars, ride motorbikes, but when you came home from school they could be gone. Father would have sold it or given it away.”In the hot summer of 1976 the caravan was like sleeping in an oven at night.”
This is Exeter 2009
A Hard but Fascinating Life
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this unusual book, which I purchased after first seeing it at a friends house & later borrowing a copy from my local library.
The author has a very engaging and down to earth style. Her character comes across so well through the stories she tells of the people and animals in her early life. Although it was obviously a hard existence, there is a lot of humour too. It’s a window on another world.
I’ve always lived near Dartmoor, and love the place, & this deals with the harsh reality of it, not the rural idyll.
The b/w photo illustrations are well chosen for the text, and the whole book has a quality feel to it. I hope a follow up volume comes along soon.
Enchanting.
A wondeful telling of a unique – sometimes harsh, sometimes hilarious – upbringing in a most unusual environment: a scrapyard in a national park. Peggy Harris is an excellent storyteller and I am sure that anyone reading her book – and the sequel – will be as enchanted as I was. Strongly recommended.
An excellent book. It reflected the hardships endured in the …
An excellent book. It reflected the hardships endured in the 50’s and 60’s in the rural areas of Britain. The author wrote this book from the heart.
We can all identify with our own communities, the basic conditions at that time.
Lovely book!
Excellent, got this for my brother and he loves it. Had a quick read and it looks really well written, very easy and humorous read.
Captivating story
Peggy holds your attention straight away. A book you can’t put down.
A book you just want to go on reading.
Peggy’s story is remarkable. You just want to read to find out the next chapter of her life.
A great follow up
A great follow up to the first book by Peggy Harris about her life in Devon.
Brings back fond memories for me!
Having lived in Moretonhampstead and knowing this family, the boys Jim and Bob, both helped my old man out from time to time, also babysitting me and my siblings (we gave Jim such a hard time, I can laugth now but I bet he hated it when mum & dad asked him to baby sit, which wasn’t often as they couldn’t afford to go out much but Jim always did when asked!!…I do remember Sam and the scrapyard, I have fond memories of Lettaford, rumbling through the jumble sale stuff was great fun! I do remember Peggy but not that well. Peggy I have to say both books made me laugth out loud especially the pigs, donkey Jack and I had forgotten about that blackbird, I was amazed by that as a child, throughly enjoyed reading both, an amazing lady, well done you should be so proud of yourself xx
A wonderful and inspirational story.
A wonderfully written, honest and poignant tale of an amazing woman’s strength and determination. Such a fascinating and inspiring story. A page turner, both funny and heart breaking. A fantastic read.
Devon Life Magazine
… now on its third print run. Sam Harris’s Scrapyard had an almost legendary reputation on Dartmoor… April 2012