Crimean Ovens

Crimean Ovens were a radiant heat system used to warm hospital tents at Point of Rocks during the Civil War. Dating back to the days of the Roman Empire, the system placed a heat source outside the tent. Its flue consisted of a shallow trench approximately 12 inches wide and 18 inches deep, lined with bricks and covered with an iron plate, with a chimney on the opposite side of the tent. As hot air passed through the flue to the chimney, the adjacent ground was heated, providing even warmth while eliminating the dust, smoke, and soot that would have resulted from placing a heat source inside the tent. By extending the flue trench, one source could heat multiple tents.

Virginia · United States