MSO8336 - Post-medieval water meadow at Kitswall Farm (Monument)

A post-medieval water meadow system, known locally as a catchwater meadow, is visible on aerial photographs as a series of earthworks west of Higher Kitswell, Timberscombe. Previously identified as having been associated with Kitswell Farm, three gutters are visible immediately west of Higher Kitswell, apparently fed from a spring due south of the farm. The gutters run approximately east-west, following the contours of a fairly gentle north facing slope. One of the gutters appears to have been connected to the yard at Higher Kitswell, suggesting that this was an integrated system which also distributed liquid manure as fertiliser to the fields. Catchwater meadows used a series of approximately parallel gutters were used to distribute flowing water evenly over the surface of the meadow in order to prevent freezing in winter and encourage early growth in spring, thereby providing extra feed for livestock. Most catchwater meadows are believed to date to the post-medieval period, although it is possible that they were first developed in the medieval period. [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]