MMO1799 - Post-medieval water meadow system at Kittitoe Farm (Monument)

A post-medieval water meadow system, known locally as a catchwater meadow system, is visible on aerial photographs as a series of earthworks to the north and west of Kittitoe Farm, Martinhoe. Centred at SS 6607 4688, at least eight gutters are visible, stretching across both sides of a steep north-west facing combe annd following the contours of the slope. The gutters vary in length from 60 to 150 metres, and in width from less than 1 metre to 3 metres. Catchwater meadows used a series of approximately parallel gutters on a slope to distribute flowing water evenly over the surface of the meadow in order to encourage early growth in spring and prevent the ground freezing in winter. This system may have been connected to the farmyard at Kittitoe, suggesting that this was an integrated system which also distributed liquid manure as fertiliser across the field. Most catchwater systems 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]