MMO2417 - Post-medieval water meadow north of Wellshead Farm (Monument)

A ditch visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs to the north of Wellshead Farm is probably a water channel of a type known as a leat or field gutter, probably forming a simple water meadow of 19th century date. The earthwork is visible for approximately 105 metres centred on circa SS 82724001, and may have been fed by culverts tapping a springhead 200 metres to the north, on the eastern side of Wellshead Lane. Such catchwork systems are usually found on steep combe or hillsides 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. [1,2] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [3]