MSO7375 - 19th Century water meadow at Wilmersham Farm (Monument)

Water meadow system seen on aerial photographs around Wilmersham Farm. [1,2] Aerial photographs examined as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme reveal that an extensive post-medieval water meadow or field-gutter system was constructed on a southeast facing slope above Dady Combe to south and west of Wilmersham Farm. The water channels, also known as gutters, are centred on circa SS 8745 4364, but in total cover an area of over 2 hectares. 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. Although apparently associated with Wilmersham Farm, the water source must be some distance to the south-west of the Farm, therefore it is more likely that this water meadow is an example of a `detached system' than an `integrated system', i.e that the water meadow distribute only what fertaliser was carried to it. Although similar systems were operating elsewhere by the 17th Century, this water meadow is probably 19th Century or later in origin. Similar water meadows on Exmoor continued in use well into the 20th Century (see MSO7373 and MMO1726). [3-6] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [7]