MMO1992 - 19th Century water meadow south of Lydiate Lane (Monument)

A simple post-medieval water meadow of a type known locally as a catchwork or field gutter system was constructed on a northeast facing slope above Lynton and Lynmouth, at circa SS 7106 4869. Catchwork systems are usually found on steep combe sides and are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream along the valley sides via one or more channels or gutters. When irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow, 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. Any excess water then returned to the feeder stream at the valley bottom or was removed by a tail drain. The use of a series of parallel gutters to improve the coverage is a common feature of Exmoor systems. The channel recorded here was most likely fed from a spring at circa SS 7097 4863. It is not apparent from the aerial photographs which establishment the water meadow is associated with, and it is probably a detached system, distributing only what additional fertiliser was carried to it. The gutter remains visible and possibly still in use on aerial photographs of 1995, but appears damaged by numerous vehicle tracks crossing the field. [1-4] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [5]