Devonport Leat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Devonport Leat
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Devonport Leat looking East towards Cramber Tor at Raddick Hill Falls
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| Shown within Devon |
The Devonport Leat is a special water channel in Devon, England. It was built a long time ago, in the 1790s. Its main job was to carry fresh drinking water from the high lands of Dartmoor to the growing town of Plymouth Dock. This town later changed its name to Devonport.
Contents
What is a Leat?
A leat is like a small, artificial river or stream. People build leats to move water from one place to another. They are often used to supply water for towns, farms, or even to power mills. The Devonport Leat was very important for bringing clean water to the people of Devonport.
Where Does the Water Come From?
The Devonport Leat gets its water from five different rivers on Dartmoor. These rivers are:
- The West Dart
- The Cowsic
- The Hart Tor Brook
- The River Meavy
- The Blackabrook
The Blackabrook was actually the first river to supply water to Plymouth Dock through this leat.
How Was It Built?
Building the Devonport Leat was a big project! Workers used strong granite rock from Dartmoor to make the water channel. They also built a small aqueduct and a tunnel. An aqueduct is like a bridge that carries water over a valley or another river.
Changes Over Time
When it was first built, the Devonport Leat was very long. It carried water all the way to Plymouth Dock, which was about 27 miles (43 kilometers) away!
However, the leat is shorter now. The part that still works stops near the Burrator Reservoir dam. Today, some of the water travels through underground pipes to a water treatment plant in Dousland. This plant cleans the water to make it safe to drink.
The rest of the water flows into Burrator Reservoir. This large reservoir provides most of the drinking water for the city of Plymouth. For some of its journey, the water pipes follow old routes. These include parts of the older Plymouth Leat (also known as 'Drake's Leat') and a railway line that is no longer used.
The Leat's Journey
The Devonport Leat starts its journey high up on Dartmoor. It begins north of a famous old woodland called Wistman's Wood. At this point, the leat is over 410 meters (1,345 feet) above sea level.
The leat passes close to a place called Two Bridges twice. It follows the natural shape of the land, winding its way through the Cowsic valley. From there, it heads towards Princetown.
Today, all the water from the Devonport Leat eventually ends up in Burrator Reservoir. Engineers carefully planned the leat's winding path. They chose routes that followed the natural dips and rises of the land. This made it easier for the water to flow downhill without needing pumps.
