| Summary : A post medieval water meadow system, known locally as a catchwater meadow, is visible on aerial photographs as a series of earthworks in fields south of Great Heasley and South Heasley, North Molton. 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 system appears to be connected to both farmyards, suggesting that this was an integrated system which also distributed liquid manure as fertiliser to the fields. It also indicates some degree of co-operation between the owners or tenants of the two farms was required to operate the system. |
More information : A post medieval water meadow system, known locally as a catchwater meadow, is visible on aerial photographs as a series of earthworks in fields south of Great Heasley and South Heasley, North Molton. Centred at approximately SS 7329 3227, at least five gutters are visible running east-west across a south facing slope and covering an area of some 4.7 hectares. The system is connected to both farmyards, and apparently fed from two springs at either site, suggesting that this was an integrated system which also distributed liquid manure as fertiliser to the fields. It also indicates some degree of co-operation between the owners or tenants of the two farms was required to operate the 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. 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 (1-2). |