MMO2140 - Post-medieval drainage ditches east and southeast of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)

An area of regular post-medieval drainage ditches is visible on aerial photographs, most likely cut as part of the Knight family's attempt at improvement and at the same time as the construction of Pinkery Pond (c. 1830).

An area of regular post-medieval drainage ditches is visible on aerial photographs on moorland to the east and southeast of Pinkery Pond. The ditches were most likely cut as part of the Knight family's attempt at improvement, probably at the same time as the construction of Pinkery Pond around 1830. Centred at approximately SS 7251 4209, the ditches run east to west across a southwest facing slope above an unnamed stream and Pinkery Canal. It appears that the ditches were designed to channel water into this stream and possibly the canal. The ditches are all cut in straight parallel lines, and cover an area of approximately 36 hectares. The whole area around The Chains is particularly boggy and peat covered, and it seems likely that the ditches were cut to drain the area prior to it being enclosed. According to Orwin, many miles of drainage ditches were cut across parts of Exmoor, but in some areas failed to provide adequate drainage for the land to be enclosed [2]. Large areas of Exmoor were successfully drained, although it appears that this area, which is still open and boggy moorland was not one of them. Other similar ditches are visible in the surrounding areas, some draining into natural streams and water courses, others appearing to drain into Pinkery Canal. Many of the ditches are associated with areas of peat cutting. [1-4] An area of drainage channels on the east side of Pinkery Pond was visible during a metric survey in 2012. These probably date from the 1830s or 1840s and are part of the Knights improvements on Exmoor. [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] An ecological study included peat depth sampling here [7]