MSO11829 - Post-medieval water meadow on south side of River Barle (Monument)

Water meadow system seen on aerial photographs near the deserted farm of Well (MSO11675). [1,2] A water meadow of probable 19th Century date is visible on aerial photographs on the south side of River Barle at circa SS 8525 3349 near the deserted farm of Well with which it was probably associated. This is 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. The area immediately downslope of the farmstead is incised by numerous footpaths which may obscure further gutters from view. [3-5] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [6]