MMO909 - 19th Century water meadow south of North Hawkwell Farm (Monument)

Water meadow system of probable post-medieval date, visible on vertical aerial photographs at North Hawkwell. [1,2] A water meadow of probable 19th century date, of a type known as a catchwork or field gutter system, is visible on aerial photographs as earthworks to the south of North Hawkwell Farm, on the combe slopes above the River Avill, centred on circa SS 9293 4001. The water meadow is of a type known as a catchwork or field gutter system found on combe or hill slopes and designed to irrigate pasture usually 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. This system is individually not particularly extensive, covering an area of approximately 5 hectares. However, it is one of three such systems above the Avill and it is probable that they are interconnected to some extent, creating a much larger system indicative of significant cooperation in their construction. [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]