MMO1961 - 19th Century water meadow south of Barbrook (Monument)

A post-medieval water meadow of a type known locally as a catchwork or field-gutter system was constructed on a southwest facing slope above the West Lyn River at circa SS 7177 4713, to the south of Barbrook, probably associated with a barn at Stockwater. 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 a series of 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. Any excess water then returned to the feeder stream at the valley bottom or was removed by a tail drain. The use of a series of parallel gutters to improve the coverage, as seen here, is a common feature of Exmoor systems. This system may be connected to Stockwater Barn, at SS 7191 4710, possibly being an example of an `integrated system' where the water is passed though the farmstead or related outbuildings to pick up manure and subsequently distribute this liquid fertaliser on the slopes. [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]