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Summary

A possible catch meadow of probable 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards as a series of roughly parallel earthwork ditches on the west facing slopes of a narrow combe to the west of Cofflete farm, with which it was probably associated. Such water-meadows, known as catchwork, catch meadow or field-gutter systems, are usually found on combe or hill slopes and are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream and passing it along the slope via a series of roughly parallel channels or gutters. When irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow, thereby irrigating the slopes below.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (Post Medieval to Mid 20th Century - 1540 AD to 1946 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 4174 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

Earthwork ditches, the gutters of a catch meadow, are visible as earthworks. Map object based partly on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1955, RAF/540/1578, RAF/540/1578 F21 0125-0126 01-APR-1955 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351231.

Earthwork ditches, the gutters of a catch meadow, are visible as earthworks.

Royal Air Force, 1955, RAF/540/1625, RAF/540/1625 F22 0011-0012 24-MAY-1955 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351141.

Earthwork ditches, the gutters of a catch meadow, are visible as earthworks. Map object based partly on this source.

Next Perspectives, 2002, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX5451 24-SEP-2002 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351206.

The gutters remain visible as earthworks, albeit somewhat eroded in appearance.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

A possible catch meadow of probable 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards as a series of roughly parallel earthwork ditches on the west facing slopes of a narrow combe to the west of Cofflete farm, with which it was probably associated. Most catch meadow systems are believed to date to the post medieval period, although it is likely that they were first developed in the medieval period. Catch meadows provided a simple, inexpensive and effective form of irrigation. When irrigation was required water was diverted from a source such as a pond, river, spring or spring-fed stream and passed along the meadow slopes via one or more of the gutters, which was then caused to overflow. The lower, roughly parallel gutters then ‘caught’ and redistributed water passing it evenly over the surface of a meadow below. The gently flowing water prevented the ground freezing in winter and encouraged early growth in spring, thereby providing extra feed for livestock, particularly important during the hungry gap of the March and April. The gutters probably tapped the north-flowing spring-fed stream which rises circa 350 metres to the south.
The catch meadow covers nearly one hectare of south-facing slope below the farmstead. The system was probably fed from a pond to the south of the farm and might have operated as what has been called an ‘integrated’ catch meadow, in which manure from the cow sheds within the farmyard was mixed with the water supply to supply liquid manure to the pasture.
The earthwork gutters can be partly seen on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2002 but are not clearly visible on more recent images. Ground investigation is required to assess the survival of the earthworks.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 4174 10-DEC-1946.
SDV351141	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1955. RAF/540/1625. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/540/1625 F22 0011-0012 24-MAY-1955.
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351206	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2002. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX5451 24-SEP-2002.
SDV351231	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1955. RAF/540/1578. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/540/1578 F21 0125-0126 01-APR-1955.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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