Moor Hatches

Moor Hatches is a structure located in West Amesbury, dating from the 18th or early 19th century. It consists of drowning sluices for the water meadows in the area, constructed from limestone. The structure features six channels that are separated by stone piers, each approximately 2 meters long and 30 centimeters wide, with a chamfered edge on the upriver end. The stone piers have grooves designed to accommodate six timber hatches, which are horizontally boarded through a central timber that includes a perforated plate on the rear face and a roller guide on the front. Each hatch is equipped with a header baulk that has an iron wishbone ratchet and a notch for a crowbar. A timber plank footway is also present. To the west, the meadow includes a fairly complete system of branching header channels and herringbone spreader leets, which are controlled by timber sluices, all forming a cohesive group.