River Frome, again

Although some survived until later, they generally fell out of use in the late Victorian era.

Agricultural methods went through huge changes, with increased mechanisation and the introduction of chemical fertilisers.

Water meadows are quite distinct from other forms of wet grassland. Essentially they were irrigated areas alongside a river or stream. These special areas produced hay and rich pasture.

They varied in size from a few hectares to the entire length of a river flood plain, like we have here.

Carefully engineered channels were dug to bring water from the source to the fields. A series of weirs and sluices connected the channels.

The whole system worked together, allowing a shallow layer of oxygenated water to flow across the meadow.

This process is known as ‘floating’ or ‘drowning’. It was used for limited periods at certain times of the year.

The person responsible for maintaining a meadow system was called a ‘drowner’. Also known as ‘meadmen’ or ‘watermen’, they were highly skilled labourers.

The flows were controlled so as to, in turn, flood and then drain a meadow.

The drowner’s aim was to bring nutrient bearing silt from the river and deposit it evenly across the land.

Tight control of the irrigation meant he could keep the meadows watered, fertilised and warm.

Keeping the soil warm by ‘floating’ the meadow meant that grass would be grow quicker than non water meadows land.

It allowed the farmer to have an ‘early bite’ of grass (at least one month earlier) for the sheep flocks.

While hay was made in many fields, generally speaking the best grass for hay was that grown in waterside meadows, especially carefully-managed water meadows.

If you open up LiDAR on your computer, zoom into Dorchester you will be able to see the River Frome flood plains either side of the town.

You will see the distinct patterns of water meadows. They fill the valley.

When I was studying agriculture at Kingston Maurward College, back in the 80s, I was told that the water meadows there were built by Napoleonic prison of war. I have yet to find proof of this.

Snapped this this morning at Muckleford, Dorchester.