MSO8655 - Post-medieval catchwork water meadow at Bowden Farm (Monument)

Summary

A post-medieval field gutter system at Bowden farm is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

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 south and east of Bowden Farm, Withycombe. Centred at SS 9996 4054, two gutters are visible running east to west across a south facing slope above an unnamed stream. This system appears to be connected to the farmyard at Bowden, suggesting that this was an integrated system which also distributed liquid manure as fertiliser to the fields. 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. [1-4]

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <1> Report: Francis, P.T.H.. 1984. A Survey and Description of the "Catch Meadow" Irrigation Systems Found in the Exmoor Region of West Somerset.
  • <2> Aerial photograph: Aerial photograph reference number . CPE.UK.1980 3218 (April 1947).
  • <3> Monograph: Cook, H. + Williamson, T.. 2007. Water Meadows: History, Ecology and Conservation. Windgather Press. 1st Edition. 1-7, 28-9.
  • <4>XY Archive: 2007-2009. Exmoor National Park NMP: ST 04 SW. MD002176. [Mapped feature: #40017 ]

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO704
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11936
  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 SE73
  • Pastscape HOBID (was Monarch UID): 1119552
  • Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 34517

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred ST 0002 4053 (153m by 41m)
Map sheet ST04SW
Civil Parish WITHYCOMBE, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Mar 3 2020 2:42PM

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