MMO2149 - Post-medieval drainage ditches southwest of Pinkery Pond (Monument)

An area of regular post-medieval drainage ditches 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 around 1833.

An area of regular post-medieval drainage ditches is visible on aerial photographs on moorland to the south-west of Pinkery Pond, Exmoor. 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 1833. Centred at approximately SS 7212 4209, the ditches run approximately north-south across a south facing slope above a tributary of the River Barle. It appears that the ditches were designed to channel water into this watercourse. The ditches are all cut in approximately parallel lines, and cover an area of approximately 3.5 hectares. The whole area around The Chains and Pinkery Pond is particularly boggy and peat covered, and it seems likely that the ditches were cut to drain the area in preparation for 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] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [5] An ecological study included peat depth sampling here [6]