MMO3653 - Post-medieval water meadow south of Eyreland (Monument)

A post-medieval water meadow system, known locally as a catchwater meadow, is visible on aerial photographs as a series of earthworks south of the deserted settlement of Eyreland, Withycombe (see MSO8642). Centred at approximately ST 0076 3795, four gutters are visible running east to west along the contours of a south facing slope below Eyreland. They were probably fed from the spring south of Eyreland, and may have been connected to the farmyard, thus distributing liquid manure to the fields as fertiliser, in addition to water. Catchwater meadows used a series of approximately parallel gutters to distribute flowing water evenly over the surface of the meadow in order to prevent freezing in winter and encourage early growth in spring, thereby providing extra feed for livestock. Most catchwater meadows are believed to date to the post-medieval period, although it is possible that they were first developed in the medieval period. [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]