[ **3 ] 



THE SOUTH MARSH 



IS bounded on the North East, by Poldcn Hills, on the South 

 West, by the river Parrett, on the North West, by Bridgwater 

 Bay, and on the South East, by Ham Hill, |cc. 



That part thereof which lies nearest the sea, is higher than the 

 interior part, owing to the great deposit of sea mud left at the 

 high spring tides, for ages past ; and it is also better drained, in 

 consequence of being near the outlet, where the greatest fall of 

 draining exists. (This observation also extends to the lands of 

 Brent Marsh.) 



The river Parrett is the principal drain of this marsh. It has 

 no barrier, and the tide flows up as far as Langport, filling its 

 banks, and frequently penning the land floods over the moor, and 

 meadows adjoining ; so that near thirty thousand acres of fine land 

 are frequently overflown, for a considerable time together ; ren- 

 dering the herbage unwholsome for the cattle, and the air un- 

 healthy to the inhabitants. An Act of Parliament was lately ob- 

 tained for draining a considerable part of this fenny plain, called 

 King Sedgmoor, which together with the adjoining inclosed mea- 

 dows now flooded, amount to about twenty thousand acres. This 

 desirable end is nearly accomplished, by having the outlet or 

 sluice many miles lower, in the river Parrett, than formerly. No- 

 thing could be more unpopular, at its outset, than this under- 

 taking, and every obstacle, which prejudice and ignorance could 

 suggest, the promoters thereof had to encounter. 



About the year 1680 King James laid claim to the soil of this 

 moor, and formed the design of improving it by a compleat drain- 

 age ; but so perverse were the owners of the adjacent lordships 

 commoning with their cattle on it, that they opposed the scheme 

 with all their might ; and discerning that they could make no jus- 

 tifiable claim to the soil, offered to assign to the king four thousand 

 acres, in lieu of his right thereto; and to lay out the residue, 

 being nine thousand five hundred and twenty-two acres amongst 

 their lordships ; which being accepted of by the king, there were 

 allotments then made to eaeh manor according to the following- 

 proportions ; 



3 Names 



