Monument Number 974472 |
| Hob Uid: 974472 | |
Location :
Somerset
Somerset West and Taunton
Exford
|
| Grid Ref : SS8422837274 |
| Summary : A small water-meadow of probable post-medieval date, of a type known as a catch-work, ditch-gutter or field-gutter system, is visible on aerial photographs as earthworks to the around Buckworthy. Such water-meadows are typical of Exmoor and are usually found on combe sides or hill slopes. They are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring, stream or river along the slopes via a series of roughly parallel channels or gutters. When irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow from gutter to gutter, thereby irrigating the slopes. This film of water prevented the ground freezing during the winter and raised the temperature of the grass in the spring, thereby encouraging early growth, particularly important during the hungry gap of March to April. |
More information : For details see county SMR. (1)
The Somerset HER notes a water-meadow system seen on aerial photographs around Buckworthy. A water-meadow can be seen on aerial photographs of the 1940s centred on circa SS 8423 3730, to the south of the farm. Of probable 19th century date, it is of a type known as a catch-work, ditch-gutter or field-gutter system,.
Such water-meadows are typically found on combe or hill slopes and are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream along the slope via a series of roughly parallel channels or gutters. When irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow from gutter to gutter, thereby irrigating the slopes. This film of water prevented the ground freezing during the winter and raised the temperature of the grass in the spring, thereby encouraging early growth, particularly important during the hungry gap of the March and April.
The water-meadow is relatively small, visible covering only circa 2 hectares on the south-west facing slopes overlooking Pennycombe water. The gutters cannot be clearly seen on later aerial photographs and may have been levelled by post-war agricultural improvements. (2-4)
|