MSO7119 - Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)

SS 7231 4229 Pinkworthy Pond (pronounced Pinkery) is an artificial lake, formed by damming the headwaters of the River Barle. Orwin [2] states that John Knight dammed up the headwaters of the Barle... making a reservoir some seven acres in extent and some thirty feet in depth at its lower end. The work of dam construction and the associated 'canal' (see MSO6847), was carried out by two hundred Irish labourers. There is no record, nor any tradition, for the purpose of this stored water. Orwin says it was obvious that the so called 'canal' was intended for the conveyance of water from the pond but the use to which the water was to be put remains uncertain. He states that it was probably not a source of water power but suggests the pond and canal were constructed to provide irrigation water for the stretch of land from Pinkery Farm to Honeymead. The present area of the pond is about 1.2 hectares (2.9 acres) and was never the seven acres stated by Orwin. The pond is drained by removing wooden plugs in two 12 inch pipes placed in the dam wall (MEM22686) [3]. It has been emptied twice, once in 1889, when the body of a Parracombe farmer, Richard Gammin, was recovered [3], and secondly in 1913 in the course of an unsuccessful search for a suspected suicide, after which the pipes were replugged and it was refilled [2]. The overflow from the pond is via a rock-cut tunnel through the southeast end of the dam into the River Barle. There is a length of embanked ditch (similar in construction to the 'canal') running down the southern half of the eastern side of the pond. Its purpose is not clear. It along with a similar embanked ditch between the dam and the start of the 'canal' but, if this was the case, it was not completed. It is still not clear why the pond was constructed. It does not appear to have been for irrigation purposes in association with the 'canal' (MSO6847) or for water power to work an incline on a proposed railway from Porlock Weir to Simonsbath as suggested by Youell [4]. Burton [5] suggests one of the theories why John Knight took the trouble to make the pond was 'because he wanted to have a lake on his estate'. Note: The name of the pond is shown as Pinkery Pond on the 1890 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map [6] but this was changed to Pinkworthy Pond on the revision of 1904 [1]. [1-7] The pond was formed by large dam across valley at head of River Barle (MEM22686). The overflow is in the southeast corner via a rock-cut channel. There was formerly a plug under the dam to drain the pool. [9] This was constructed by John Knight c. 1830 although exact purpose is not known. Perhaps for irrigation purposes or to provide water for inclined planes at Prayway head above Simonsbath on the Exmoor-Porlock railway (MSO7906). A letter dated 28th November 1826 from John Knight to Charles Bailey asking for a lease of land 25ft wide for the purpose of a 'railroad with inclined planes from Porlock to Exmoor forest'. Water transported by canal (MSO6847). Suggested that the dam (MEM22686) was not strong enough to pound the water to intended height and pond only covers half the original 7 acres. [2] The documentary evidence is conflicting and it is not clear why the pond was constructed as none of the suggestions make a great deal of sense. [14] The Knight family created this large feature early in their time on Exmoor, likely around 1830. The River Barle was dammed against the blanket bogs of the high Chains for an unknown purpose. The reservoir only contains around half the water it used to – a tunnel in the dam (MEM22686) was cut to reduce the water level, in addition to the existing wooden plug which could be used to drain the pond. [15] A large scale metric survey of the Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond environs was undertaken by Hazel Riley in 2012 as part of the Exmoor Mires Project. Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond is an artificial body of water which measures 170 metres north-south and 100 metres east-west. This is located high up on the south side of the Chains, created by the construction of a massive earth and stone dam (MEM22686) across the headwaters of the River Barle. This feature was created by John Knight and was probably completed by 1830. There is little known documentary evidence as to its original purpose but several theories have been advanced; it is suggested by Hazel Riley that John Knight constructed the Pond to provide a body of water to power agricultural machinery for his new farms, but this scheme was unrealised as the difficulties of arable farming on this part of Exmoor became evident. [16] The feature is labelled "Pinkworthy Pond" on 2021 MasterMap data. It is shown at a slightly smaller size to the 1st Edition map. [6,17] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [18] The pond is mentioned in a publication on the industrial archaeology of Somerset. The source suggests it may have acted as a water source for a counter balanced incline at Warren Farm for the proposed Railway (MSO7906), but states "there are other indications that it was intended as a tub-boat canal for distribution of lime". [19] The heritage asset was assessed for inclusion on the Exmoor Local Heritage List in February 2024. It was noted that it's historical association was high with the Knight Estate. It had a high social communal value as it is a well known landmark and destination, and has high collective value being one of a group of features strongly associated with the 'reclamation' of the former Royal Forest by the Knights. It was decided to add the asset to the Local Heritage List. [20]