MMO2738 - 19th Century contour leat southeast of Kinsford Farm (Monument)

A substantial contour leat, probably of post-medieval date, is visible on aerial photographs as an earthwork southeast of Kinsford Farm, Exmoor. Beginning at approximately SS 7499 3686, the leat runs east to west and follows the contour of the slope at approximately 420 metres above sea level for over 700 metres. It is best preserved at the western end, where it is still in use as a drainage ditch, and both the ditch and parts of the bank survive. The part of the leat which is still in use is marked on modern mapping. It is also depicted, although as a much longer structure, on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, indicating it was constructed prior to publication in 1890. The precise function of the leat is uncertain, but it may have been intended to channel water from higher ground to the east to Kinsford Water. On the 1st Edition map the leat appears to start at Emmetts Grange to the east. [1-4] The water flow may actually run west to east along the leat. The 2020 MasterMap data shows the feature running between SS 7438 3709 (near Kinsford Water) and SS 7478 3690, where it is labelled "Sinks". [5] The feature is recorded as a "water carrier or gutter" on a plan of Emmett's Grange published in 1856 by Robert Smith. It linked the "Head of the Brook" to a plantation to the west of the farmstead (MEM24080), via a smaller plantation marked at c.SS 7479 3690 (not shown on 1st Edition map). Water flow is marked west to east on this map. Two further gutters are shown downslope of this feature. The gutters are likely to have been constructed as part of the landscaping scheme developed by Smith at the site, or by his predecessor. It is possible that the ditch recorded as MMO2734 was partially created to increase water flow into this and other water carriages in the farm scheme. [2,6,7] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [8]