Monument Number 1468242 |
| Hob Uid: 1468242 | |
Location :
Devon
North Devon
Kentisbury
|
| Grid Ref : SS6297443067 |
| Summary : A probable post medieval ditch or leat is visible on aerial photographs in a field to the south of Higher Week farm, Kentisbury. It most likely represents the remains of a water meadow, known locally as a catchwater meadow system. 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. This ditch appears to have been connected to the farmyard at Higher Week, suggesting that this was an integrated system, which also distributed liquid manure as fertiliser to the field. Several other ditches in the vicinity may be part of the same system. |
| More information : A probable post medieval ditch or leat is visible on aerial photographs in a field to the south of Higher Week farm, Kentisbury. Centred at approximately SS 6296 4307 the leat runs north-west to south-east following the contours of a fairly steep south-west facing slope. The gutter measures approximately 95 metres long and up to 1.5 metres wide. It most likely represents the remains of a water meadow, known locally as a catchwater meadow system. Catchwater meadows used a series of approximately parallel gutters 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. This ditch appears to have been connected to the farmyard at Higher Week, suggesting that this was an integrated system, which also distributed liquid manure as fertiliser to the field. Several other ditches in the vicinity may be part of the same system (1-2). |