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HER Number: | MDV128218 |
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Name: | Catch meadow north of Almshouse Cross, Rattery |
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Summary
Narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches, interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system, are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1995 and on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2020. The system had presumably fallen out of use by the late-19th century.
Location
Grid Reference: | SX 740 620 |
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Map Sheet: | SX76SW |
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Admin Area | Devon |
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Civil Parish | Rattery |
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District | South Hams |
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Ecclesiastical Parish | RATTERY |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- CATCH MEADOW (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))
Full description
Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.
The earthworks do not correspond with any curvilinear features in this location.
Ordnance Survey, 1995, OS/95080, OS/95080 V 147-148 12-APR-1995 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352110.
Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible.
Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 24-MAR-2020 ACCESSED 29-APR-2020 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.
Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible.
Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.
Narrow curvilinear ditches, less than 2m wide, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1995 and on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2020. The earthwork channels follow the contours of the southeast facing combe slope and occupy an area of circa 0.58 hectares. They are interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system which likely tapped one of two spring-fed streams that rise to the northeast and northwest.
Catch meadow systems are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream. The water is carried along the valley sides via one or more channels or gutters and when irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow from gutter to gutter, thereby irrigating the slopes. This film of water prevented the ground freezing during the winter and raised the temperature of the grass in the spring, thereby encouraging early growth, particularly important during the hungry gap of March and April.
No features are depicted in this exact location on the available historic mapping, and any catch meadow here presumably fell out of use by the late-19th century.
Sources / Further Reading
SDV336179 | Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital). |
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SDV352110 | Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1995. OS/95080. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/95080 V 147-148 12-APR-1995. [Mapped feature: #125509 ] |
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SDV362982 | Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2019-2020. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP). Historic England Research Report. Digital. |
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SDV363088 | Aerial Photograph: Google. 2019. Google Earth Pro. Various. Digital. EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 24-MAR-2020 ACCESSED 29-APR-2020. |
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Associated Monuments: none recorded
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)
Date Last Edited: | May 5 2020 11:23AM |
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