Dartmoor landscape near Merrivale
This is Long Ash Leat at Four Winds, near Merrivale on Dartmoor. A leat is a man-made watercourse or stream designed to move water naturally, following the contours of the ground, to wherever it is required, whether that is a farm, a quarry, a mine or other industry. The early leats which date back to medieval times were in effect a power supply for the tin-mining industry. It is thought that the dozens of leats on Dartmoor add up to several hundred miles.
One branch of the Long Ash Leat, which is on the western side of Dartmoor, fed water to Long Ash Pits, which were possibly medieval or earlier tin workings where tinners collected alluvial deposits along stream beds.
On the left of the picture is King's Tor, which is 1,246 feet (380 metres) above sea level.
Sources: various, including www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/leats_moor.htm.
Dartmoor landscape near Merrivale
This is Long Ash Leat at Four Winds, near Merrivale on Dartmoor. A leat is a man-made watercourse or stream designed to move water naturally, following the contours of the ground, to wherever it is required, whether that is a farm, a quarry, a mine or other industry. The early leats which date back to medieval times were in effect a power supply for the tin-mining industry. It is thought that the dozens of leats on Dartmoor add up to several hundred miles.
One branch of the Long Ash Leat, which is on the western side of Dartmoor, fed water to Long Ash Pits, which were possibly medieval or earlier tin workings where tinners collected alluvial deposits along stream beds.
On the left of the picture is King's Tor, which is 1,246 feet (380 metres) above sea level.
Sources: various, including www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/leats_moor.htm.