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Summary

A possible water meadow of probable 19th century date is visible as a series of earthwork ditches on aerial photographs of 1947 onwards, to the southeast of Woodcoxhayes Farm.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks of former watermeadows adjacent to Spratford stream, Willand.

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WATER MEADOW (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2013 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2285 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356987.

The possible water meadow is visible as a series of earthwork ditches and banks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2012, LiDAR DSM data JPEG image (1m resolution), LIDAR ST0211 Environment Agency JPEG DSM 19-DEC-2005 (Cartographic). SDV357034.

The possible water meadow is visible as a series of earthwork ditches.

Next Perspectives, 2002, Pan Government Agreement, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery ST0211 29-SEP-2002 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356896.

The possible water meadow is visible as a series of earthwork ditches and banks.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

A possible water meadow of probable 19th century date is visible as a series of earthwork ditches on aerial photographs of 1947 onwards, to the southeast of Woodcoxhayes Farm. The possible bedworks encompasses approximately 1.92 hectares of grassland floodplain on land either side of Spratford Stream. It was likely defined by a carrier channel, or head main, further upstream which allowed the flow of water to be diverted from the main stream channel, and the flow of water into it controlled via a hatch. Water was then diverted from the headmain across the floodplain via an intricate network of drains and narrower channels which are aligned with the gentle sloping gradient of the floodplain. Water could then be admitted to selected areas through a series of subsidiary hatches where the water could be held up. The water eventually entered tapering channels, or floats, situated along parallel ridges, or beds, where the water was made to overflow onto each part of the meadow. These earthwork beds are visible to the north of the system, measure up to 23m in width and are northwest to southeast aligned. An extensive network of earthwork ditches was also observed to the immediate northeast and southwest of this system but were not transcribed as part of this survey since it was unclear how, or if, these features may have related to this water meadow system or, more likely, whether they simply formed part of a network of drainage ditches. The possible water meadow system remains visible as a series of earthwork ditches on digital images derived from Lidar data captured in 2005.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV356896	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2002. Pan Government Agreement. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery ST0211 29-SEP-2002. [Mapped feature: #68207 ]
SDV356987	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2285 11-APR-1947.
SDV357034	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2012. LiDAR DSM data JPEG image (1m resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR ST0211 Environment Agency JPEG DSM 19-DEC-2005.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

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