MMO3107 - 19th Century water meadow south and east of West Hollowcombe Farm (Monument)

A water meadow of probable 19th century date is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. It appears to have been fed by a spring that provides water to the Danes Brook and a pond at West Hollowcombe Farm.

There is a system of leats to the south of the farm which is probably a catch meadow system. [1] Parts are visible on aerial photographs taken in 2001, running along the valley. [2] A water meadow of probable 19th Century date is visible on aerial photographs as earthworks centred at circa SS 8600 3041, to the south and east of West Hollowcombe farm. This is a type of water meadow known as catchwork or field gutter system, commonly found on combe or hill slopes and designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream. The water is carried along the valley sides via one or more channels or gutters and when irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow from gutter to gutter, 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. The water-meadow may be composed of two elements; a southern section fed by a spring which is the source of a tributary to Danes Brook, and a northern sevtion that may be supplied by a pond at West Hollowcombe Farm. The gutters remain visible on aerial photographs of 1972 but appear poorly maintained. [3-6] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [7]