Tinner's Hut - Near Kit Rocks, North Dartmoor.
N 50° 37.787 W 003° 57.885
30U E 431767 N 5609100
A granite tinners hut on Dartmoor.
Waymark Code: WM65C5
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/06/2009
Views: 4
The remains of this hut is situated beside the East Dart River north west of Kit Rocks.
Dartmoor's valleys used to contain vast amounts of elluvial and alluvial Cassiterite (Tin ore) which was washed there when Dartmoor, which was vastly more mountainous than it is now, eroded millions of years ago.
The black heavy Cassiterite settled in valley bottoms beneath the much lighter Granite sands and pebbles.
Since the Bronze age man has exploited these alluvial deposits. In the Medieval period exploitation of these deposits exploded and Tinner's ventured into the remotest areas of the moor to "stream" the deposits and gain the valuable ore for smelting at various Blowing Houses around the moor.
Due to the distance of some of these alluvial mines from the Tinner's own homes temporary accommodation was built from the local Granite stone to allow the Tinner's to live where they worked for short periods.
These Tinner's huts are scattered all over the moor in valley bottoms.
Ordnance Survey map reference (10 figure) if within DNP – If outside the Park, add N/A: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
A current photo of the way mark would be good but is optional.