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Summary

Extensive catch meadow gutters of probable post-medieval to 19th century date are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards as parallel narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches on south-west, south-east and east facing combe slopes to the south-west of Fowlescombe Farm.
The ditches remain identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1880 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2196-2197 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Ordnance Survey, 1989, OS/89037, OS/89037 V 110-111 07-MAR-1989 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352115.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 09-OCT-2018 ACCESSED 22-APR-2020 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 2019, National Lidar Programme, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM 25-FEB-2019 (Cartographic). SDV363691.

Curvilinear ditches are identifiable as earthworks.

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.

Curvilinear ditches 2m to 4m wide and up to circa 360m long are visible as roughly parallel earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, closely following the contours over approximately 12ha of the south-west, south-east and east facing combe slopes to the south-west of Fowlescombe Farm.
The channels are interpreted as the remains of an extensive catch meadow irrigation system, or possibly two or more inter-related systems, of probable post-medieval to 19th century date.
Catch meadows diverted water from springs or streams and used the channels, or gutters, to redistribute it to irrigate combe slopes. Originating probably in the medieval period catch meadows were in widespread use in Devon in the 19th century with many continuing in use into the mid-20th century.
The visible gutters do not correspond with any water channels depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1880s 25inch First Edition map and the system might therefore have ceased to be used prior to the 1880s.
It is probable that the catch meadow was associated with Fowlescombe Farm.
The ditches remain identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019.

Sources / Further Reading

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)

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