MMO1988 - 19th Century water meadow north of Kibsworthy Farm (Monument)

Evidence of a catchwork or field-gutter system. Although the channels cannot be seen on the aerial photographs, characteristic flushes of water descending the combe side indicate the presence of a gutter close to the field boundary.

Evidence for a 19th Century water meadow of a type known locally as a catchwork or field gutter system may be visible on aerial photographs, to the north of Kibsworthy Farm, Lynton and Lynmouth parish, centred on circa SS 7130 4830. Catchwork systems are usually found on steep combe sides and are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream along the valley sides via one or more channels or gutters. When irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow, 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 use of a series of parallel gutters to improve the coverage is a common feature of Exmoor systems; single gutter systems such as this are more unusual. Although a channel themselves cannot be seen on the aerial photographs, and has therefore not been transcribed, characteristic flushes of water descending the combe side indicate the presence of a gutter close to the field boundary. The gutter was probably fed by a well immediately to the north, marked on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map at circa SS 7130 4837. [1-4] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [5]