MMO1735 - Post-medieval water meadow east and west of Rudd Cottage (Monument)

A post-medieval water meadow system is visible on aerial photographs as a series of earthworks. It is not clear from the aerial photographs whether the ditches are connected with the yard at Rudd Cottage or with the yard at Trenishoe Manor.

A post-medieval water meadow system, known locally as a catchwater meadow is visible on aerial photographs as a series of earthworks to the east and west of Rudd Cottage. Centred at SS 6336 4668, at least four ditches crossing four fields are visible on a steep east facing slope. The ditches, known as gutters, vary in length from 90 to 195 metres, and appear to be fed by a spring at SS 2633 4678. This series of roughly parallel gutters were used to distribute water over the surface of the meadow in order to encourage early growth in spring and prevent freezing in winter. It is not clear from the aerial photographs whether the ditches are connected with the yard at Rudd Cottage or with the yard at Trenishoe Manor, but this does appear to be an integrated system, in that it also distributed liquid manure as fertilser across the fields. [1-3] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [4]