Monument Type(s):

• WATER MEADOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A medieval water meadow, part of an extensive water management system associated with the 12th century Buildwas Abbey.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA3078 - 1977 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA3079 - 1980 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA3080 - 1986 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA4872 - 2002 Earthworks survey at Buildwas Abbey by RCHME

Description

A well preserved group of water meadows <3>

In 1981 the scheduled area of Buildwas Abbey was extended to include these water meadows <4>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, as one of less than 10 Water Meadows <5>

Scheduling revised in 1997. Relevant part of Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the ruined and buried remains of Buildwas Abbey and the earthwork and buried remains of an extensive water management system, including water meadows, leats, fishponds, mills, and a fish weir, as well as the remains of several charcoal burning hearths ..The river .. Formed the basis of the complex water management system which operated in the vicinity, and included the fishponds and water meadows which would have supported the abbey's economy and ensured a plentiful food supply for the monks and their livestock. ->

-> To the west of the stream which forms the western boundary of the abbey precinct, and covering an area of c.6ha, are the remains of a system of water meadows. These comprise a number of rectangular fields, each of which is bounded by shallow channels averaging 2m wide. Water would have been fed into the channels from a source to the south, and controlled by sluices to allow selective irrigation. Ample spring pasture for over-wintered beasts would have been assured through the maintenance of these meadows. The surplus water would have fed from the channels into a central drain which runs along the south edge of the meadows, before turning north to discharge into a substantial canal. This is orientated roughly east-west, and cuts across the neck of the river meander forming the north edge of the meadows. This well defined channel is c.250m long by 14m wide and 2m deep, and is flanked on both sides by levee banks 8m wide and 0.5m high. At the west end of the channel the southern bank curves south to merge into the river bank, while the northern bank wraps around the end of the channel to join onto the south bank, effectively sealing the channel's end. At the east end the channel branches into two, the northern and smaller of the two branches probably acting as an outflow, curving north east to discharge into the river. The southerly channel curves south east and fades after c.80m on the edge of the possible mere west of the main fishpond complex. A causeway 20m east of the fork probably represents the site of a controlled sluice. On the far side of the stream the line of the channel continues as a slight hollow, which joins the main leat of the fishpond complex. North of this canal is a pair of rather less distinct ditches, the northerly of which runs parallel to the river bank and about 15m south of it, while the southerly runs roughly parallel to the main canal. These ditches join almost parallel to the main canal. This major water control system was probably related to flood control and may also have formed part of the fish weir which survives to the east. <6>

Field survey of earthworks carried out at Buildwas abbey and its environs in January and February 2002 in conjunction with the publication of a new guide book for the site. Three areas of earthworks were examined, labelled ‘the pond field’, ‘the west field’ and ‘the south field’. A range of features were identified <7>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 03390 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01a> English Heritage, 1985, Guide Book to Buildwas Abbey (Guidebook). SSA8623.

<01> Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (HBMC), 1987-Aug-10, Scheduled Monument Report on SAM 33016 (10/08/1987) (Field Monument Warden Report). SSA8625.

<02> Barret Gill, 1990, Barret Gill, Oblique View, 1990: 90/04/I/33 (Colour slide) (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA16404.

<03> Burrow Ian, 1977, Visit Notes, 1977 (Site visit report). SSA8626.

<04> Department of the Environment (DoE), 1981, Map of Scheduled area, 1981 (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA8624.

<05> Horton Wendy B, 1990/ 1991, MPP Evaluation File (TEXT). SSA20084.

<06> English Heritage, 1997, Scheduling Papers (Revised Scheduling, 14/03/1997) (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA21201.

<07> Brown G, 2002, Earthworks at Buildwas Abbey, Shropshire (Field survey report). SSA20886.

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.