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Summary

Footpaths, Steart Wood.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FOOTPATH (Unknown date)

Full description

Jones Lang Lasalle, 08/02/2014, Route 39 Academy, Steart Farm, Bucks Cross, Bideford (Report - Assessment). SDV357827.

The curvilinear features are interpreted on the HER as being elements of a post-medieval water meadow or fertiliser distribution system. However the site visit revealed these to be footpaths, with the two northern-most ones having been enhanced in the last decade by the Woodland Trust. The shorter southern footpath leads from a gateway in the hedge that encloses the farmhouse garden through to the field in the angle between the present A39 and the track leading to the farmstead.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349143.

Eathworks are visible. Map objects based on this source.

Meridian Airmaps Limited, 1966, MAL/66058 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349065.

Possible catchwater meadow gutters are visible as earthworks south-west of the farmstead.

Meridian Airmaps Limited, 1971, MAL/71027 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349074.

Possible catchwater meadow gutters are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 2007, LiDAR data JPEG image (1 metre resolution) (Cartographic). SDV349139.

Possible catchwater meadow gutters are visible as earthworks within Steart Wood, on images derived from Lidar data. Map objects based on this source.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011 - 2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

A possible post-medieval water meadow, of a type known locally as a catchwater meadow, is visible on images derived from Lidar data acquired in 2007 as a series of linear earthwork ditches or gullies within Steart Wood, Parkham parish.
Catchwater meadows used a series of approximately parallel water channels, known as 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. Some were attached to farmsteads or associated with linhays and manure to be added to the water, which allowed liquid fertiliser to be distributed on the slopes. This possible water meadow may be associated with Parkham Farm and appears to directly tap a stream to the east.
Centred at circa SS 35602305, two or possibly three gutters are visible across the steep slopes north and west of the farmstead. The visible gutters vary in length from circa 115 metres to circa 550 metres. The southernmost possible gutter is visible on aerial photographs from 1946 to 1971, but might now have been damaged by the expansion of Steart Farm campsite. It is possible the gutters had been reused as footpaths.
Most catchwater meadows are believed to date to the post medieval period, although it is likley they were first developed in the medieval period.

Rawlings, M., 2013, Footpaths in Steart Wood (Personal Comment). SDV355265.

Site inspected in December 2013. The features in Steart Wood mapped from LiDAR images are in fact footpaths established relatively recently by the Woodland Trust.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV349018	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011 - 2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV349065	Aerial Photograph: Meridian Airmaps Limited. 1966. MAL/66058. Meridian Airmaps Limited Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV349074	Aerial Photograph: Meridian Airmaps Limited. 1971. MAL/71027. Meridian Airmaps Limited Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV349139	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 2007. LiDAR data JPEG image (1 metre resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital.
SDV349143	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV355265	Personal Comment: Rawlings, M.. 2013. Footpaths in Steart Wood. Not Applicable.
SDV357827	Report - Assessment: Jones Lang Lasalle. 08/02/2014. Route 39 Academy, Steart Farm, Bucks Cross, Bideford. Jones Lang Lasalle. Digital.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project
• EDV6685 - Environmental Impact Assessment, Route 39 Academy, Steart Farm, Bucks Cross, Bideford

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