It was once believed to be bottomless - in fact legend has it that local parishioners once brought up the bell ropes from the parish church to test its depth. Even after tying the ropes together, and weighting the end, it is claimed they were still unable to reach the bottom.
Crazywell Pool is the subject of many other Dartmoor superstitions. For example, at dusk, it is thought that the waters call out the name of the next parishioner to die, and if you gaze into the pool on Midsummer’s Eve, you will see their face looking back at you!
In fact, the pool was excavated by local tin miners and is thought have been used as reservoir.
His purpose for the visit was to consult the 'oracle of the pool' about his future, another version was that he consulted the 'Witch of Sheepstor who predicted that "his humbled head shall soon be high." The pool holds a place in the folklore of the area for being dark and bottomless.
The pool was also used for military training purposes and several years ago a young marine tragically drowned there whilst on an exercise.
The pool lies at the top of a mining gert which indicates that it was not a natural feature but like so many of Dartmoor's pools, it is the flooded result of mining activities.
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