Drake's Leat

Drake's Leat, also called the Plymouth Leat, is a watercourse about 17.5 miles (28.2 km) long that carried water from the River Meavy on Dartmoor to Plymouth. It is mostly stone-lined, was dug by hand, and is 4 to 5 feet across and 3 feet deep. It ended at Millbay. The intake, just upstream of Hoo Meavy, is now under Burrator Reservoir.

A water bill was prepared in 1584 and received royal assent in 1585 as an Act "for the Preservation of the Haven of Plymouth". Sir Francis Drake sat on the select committee. Building began in 1590, with Drake turning the first sod in December, and the water first flowed on 24 April 1591, when the rector of Meavy blessed the leat. Legendary Dartmoor gives 1585 for its completion, which differs from the 1590-91 building dates.

Drake was paid 200 pounds, plus 100 pounds towards compensation. He spent about 100 pounds on the work and 60 on compensation, so he came out about 140 pounds ahead. The official reasons were naval supply and fire protection, but the main use was to power six new mills built by Plymouth Corporation. Drake leased those, and a seventh that already existed.

A folk tale has Drake riding ahead of the water and calling it to follow his horse with magic words. Legendary Dartmoor suggests the story grew out of the real day the water reached the town.

Around 1600 tinners disputed the water taken for their works on Roborough Down, and the case went to the Star Chamber. In 1603 they were allowed to take water. The upper leat was flooded when Burrator Reservoir was built, and it was briefly restored in the Second World War as a back-up supply.

Parts can still be seen on Roborough Down, just off the A386, and near Clearbrook. Much of the masonry is in good repair and the channel is dry for most of the year. It adjoins Drake's Trail, and walkers use it as a waymarker. On 12 September 2025 nine Dartmoor Preservation Association volunteers cleared about 250 metres of it on Roborough Down. Also in 2025, a section turned up during work on Armada Way in Plymouth. The sources found do not say whether it is scheduled.