MSO9343 - Post-medieval water meadow at Liscombe Farm (Monument)
Summary
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
Type and Period (1)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
Water meadow system seen on aerial photographs around Liscombe Farm. [1,2] An extensive water meadow of probable 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs to the north and south of Liscombe Farm, Dulverton parish, extending over an area of about 15 hectares centred at circa SS 877324. 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. It is probable that this extensive water meadow was associated with Liscombe Farm. Two smaller systems visible immediately to the east may be mistaken for part of this system, but are potentially connected to Old Ashway and Lower Spire Cottages. The two northernmost earthworks, probably carriage gutters or headmains, are marked on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1889. [3-9] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [10]
Sources/Archives (10)
- <1> SEM6918 Report: Francis, P.T.H.. 1984. A Survey and Description of the "Catch Meadow" Irrigation Systems Found in the Exmoor Region of West Somerset. 39.
- <2> SSO289 Aerial photograph: 1947. LHL CPE/UK/1980. 3164.
- <3> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR RAF 106G/UK/1944 3164 (23 January 1947).
- <4> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR RAF CPE/UK/2082 4036-7 (19 May 1947).
- <5> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR RAF 540/890 (F20) 3028-9 (3 October 1952).
- <6> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR RAF 543/2332 0099-100 (26 July 1963).
- <7> SEM7396 Monograph: Cook, H. + Williamson, T.. 2007. Water Meadows: History, Ecology and Conservation. Windgather Press. 1st Edition. 1-7, 28-9.
- <8> SEM6703 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500. 1889.
- <9>XY SMO7581 Archive: English Heritage. 2007-2009. Exmoor National Park NMP: SS 83 SE. MD002198. [Mapped feature: #40627 ]
- <10> SEM7987 Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 932998, Extant 1 February 2022.
External Links (1)
- http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=932998 (Original Monarch entry: 932998)
Other Statuses/References
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO362
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11832
- Local List Status (Unassessed)
- National Monuments Record reference: SS 83 SE41
- NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 932998
- Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 34410
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 876 325 (909m by 678m) |
---|---|
Map sheet | SS83SE |
Civil Parish | DULVERTON, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (3)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Feb 1 2022 3:44PM
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