MMO3651 - Post-medieval water meadow southwest of Chapman's Farm (Monument)

Summary

A post medieval water meadow system, known locally as a catchwater meadow, is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 as a series of earthworks.

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Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

  • None recorded

Full Description

A post-medieval water meadow system, known locally as a catchwater meadow, is visible on aerial photographs as a series of earthworks in fields west of Chapman's Farm, Treborough. Centred at approximately ST 0048 3599, at least four gutters are visible running east-west along the contours of a south facing slope above an un-named stream. The system covers an area of some 5.6 hectares, and appears to be connected to the farmyard at Chapman's Farm, suggesting that this was an integrated system which also distributed liquid manure as fertiliser to the fields. [1] Catchwater meadows used a series of approximately parallel gutters to distribute flowing water evenly over the surface of the meadow in order to prevent freezing in winter and encourage early growth in spring, thereby providing extra feed for livestock. Most catchwater meadows are believed to date to the post-medieval period, although it is possible that they were first developed in the medieval period. [2]

Sources/Archives (3)

  • --- Archive: 2007-2009. Exmoor National Park NMP: ST 03 NW. MD002177.
  • <1> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF CPE/UK/1980 3332-33 11-APR-1947.
  • <2> Monograph: Cook, H. + Williamson, T.. 2007. Water Meadows: History, Ecology and Conservation. Windgather Press. 1st Edition. 1-7, 28-9.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • National Monuments Record reference: ST 03 NW96
  • Pastscape HOBID (was Monarch UID): 1499311

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred ST 0049 3600 (610m by 153m) (Aerial Survey)
Map sheet ST03NW
Civil Parish TREBOROUGH, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Feb 22 2013 12:35PM

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