Haytor or Hay Tor is a granite tor on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock. A tor is a rock outcrop formed by Weathering, usually found on or near the summit of a Hill. Dartmoor is an area of Moorland in the centre of Devon, England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A county is a Land area of Regional Government within a larger State. Devon is a large county in the South West of England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name It is at grid reference SX 757 770. It is near the village of Haytor Vale in the parish of Ilsington. Ilsington is a Parish situated on the eastern edge of Dartmoor, Devon, England. Until the late 18th century Haytor was known as Itterdown, and should not be confused with older hundred of Heytor which covers the coastal area between the River Teign and River Dart. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system The River Teign (tiːn is a river in the County of Devon, England. The River Dart is a River in Devon, England which rises high on Dartmoor, and releases to the sea at Dartmouth. [1]
Haytor (and the immediately adjacent Haytor Rocks) is a natural beauty spot popular with coach parties and walking groups. It is easily accessible by road. At a height of 457 metres and situated right on the eastern side of the moor, it provides excellent views of the coastline, the Teign estuary and the rolling countryside between, with the ridge of Haldon behind. The River Teign (tiːn is a river in the County of Devon, England. The Haldon Hills, usually known simply as Haldon, are a line of hills in Devon, England.
Haytor and Haytor Rocks together form a typical "avenue" tor, where the granite between the two main outcrops has been eroded away. Its characteristic shape is a notable landmark visible on the skyline from many places between Exeter and Totnes. Exeter ( (IPA ˈeksɪtər is a city, district and County town of Devon, England. Totnes (ˈtɒtnɨs or /tɒtˈnɛs/ is a market town at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area Haytor is also a climbing venue, especially popular with groups and schools due to its generally easy grades.
The granite here is of a particularly high quality and there are several disused quarries near the tor, the rock from which was transported by the Haytor Granite Tramway (built in 1820) to the Stover Canal. A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or Minerals are extracted The Haytor Granite Tramway was a unique granite-railed tramway running down from Haytor Down Dartmoor, Devon. Year 1820 ( MDCCCXX) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Stover Canal is a Canal located in Devon, England. It was opened in 1792 and served the Ball clay industry until it closed in [2]
The tramway itself was built out of the granite it would carry, and due to its durable nature much of it remains visible today.
Granite from the quarry was also used in the construction of London Bridge which was built in 1831, however by 1962 the bridge was sinking and had to be replaced. The last rock was quarried here in 1919; it was used for the Exeter war memorial. [3]
During the 19th Century steps were cut into one side on the Tor and a metal handrail fixed to allow tourists easier access to the summit. This was not entirely welcomed and in 1851, a Dr Coker complained about the rock steps that had been cut 'to enable the enervated and pinguitudinous scions of humanity of this wonderful nineteenth century to gain its summit. ' It is possible that the steps were cut by John Yabsley, stone mason from Halwell.
See also
References
- ^ Percy Russell, A History Of Torquay (Torquay: Devonshire Press Limited, 1960), 6
- ^ History of the Stover Canal, Stover Canal Society
- ^ Harris, Helen (1998). The Haytor Granite Tramway was a unique granite-railed tramway running down from Haytor Down Dartmoor, Devon. Devon's Century of Change. Newton Abbot: Peninsula Press, 82. ISBN 1-872640-47-8.
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