| Summary : A water meadow of probable 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs on the north facing slopes above Larcombe Brook, Winsford parish. The gutters of the water meadow are visible following the contour of the combe for over 1100 metres. It is unclear with which farms this system was associated. Such water meadows are usually 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. |
More information : For details see summary. (1-4)
A water meadow of probable 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs to the south of Ashcombe, on the north facing slopes above Larcombe Brook, Winsford parish. The gutters of the water meadow are visible following the contour of the combe for over 1100 metres and cover an area of approximately 7 hectares centred on circa SS 89123744.
This is a small example of a type of water meadow known as catchwork or field-gutter system, commonly found on combe or hill slopes and designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream. The water is carried along the valley sides via one or more channels or gutters and 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 and April.
Despite its size, it is unclear with which farms this system was associated.
It is possible that the construction, maintenance and use of the water meadow was divided between Ashcombe and Lee Farm to the south-east. This may be supported by the apparent dual water supply of the gutters; the gutters may have been fed by springs at Ashcombe and to the south of Lee Farm. (5-9)
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