MMO2597 - 19th Century water meadow north of Slade Farm (Monument)

Two ditches visible as earthworks on aerial photographs may be the remains of a 19th Century water channel of a type known as a leat or field gutter, probably forming a simple water meadow known as a catchwork or field gutter system.

Two ditches visible as earthworks on aerial photographs to the north of Slade Farm may be the remains of a 19th Century water channel of a type known as a leat or field gutter, possibly forming a simple water meadow known as a catchwork or field gutter system. The southernmost gutter can be seen following the contour of the hill for approximately 100 metres, centred on circa SS 9455 4056. Centred on circa SS 9457 4061, the northern feature is much shorter and is roughly F shaped. Catchwork systems are usually found on steep combe or hillsides and are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream along the valley sides via one or more 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 March and April. If these two features are gutters, it is unclear from where they received their water. [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]