Summary
Route of leat (inc sluices) used to water fields
Identification Images (0)
Monument Types
- LEAT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Description
The leat is taken off the Horner Water just above its junction with the River Aller. It runs northwest, parallel with the river, behind the houses, gardens and paddocks, and then turns a right angle westwards to go under the road. It follows the latter, on the west side, through the rest of the village. Opposite 2 Bossington (115002) was the site of Bossington Mill (115170) which must have had an undershot wheel. Whether the leat continued to the northwest or returned to the Horner Water is not clear, it is not shown on the 1809-12 Holnicote Estate Survey, which is the only map showing the position of the mill.
It is not until the 1889 O.S. first edition 1:2500 map that the leat can be traced running towards the sea and then part turning west, the rest going on, with sluices marking the central points. It winds on towards the decoy pond, with offshoots towards the sea and seems to be a feeder into the decoy. The sluices suggest that the fields were watered by the leat, and that was the reason for such a long route. Under the present conditions the leat disappears into the flooded marsh and its course cannot be followed without a wetsuit, since the sea invaded the area. The area is changing all the time, particularly the wind, rainfall and tides have very variable actions and the results cannot be predicted. Condition: demolished [1-2]
References
- SNA65155 - Unpublished document: Isabel Richardson. 2007. Bossington Farm Archaeological Survey. 115288.
- SZN48220 - Unpublished document: Isabel Richardson. 2001. Holnicote Estate Archaeological Survey, Somerset. 115288. [Mapped feature: #181185 ]
Designations
None Recorded
Other Statuses and References
- Conservation Area
- National Park
Associated Events
- ENA3149 - Field Survey, Archaeological Survey of the Holnicote Estate 2001
- ENA6642 - Field Survey, Bossington Farm Archaeological Survey
Associated Finds
None Recorded