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Summary

A narrow linear ditch is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs between 1946 and 1978. It could be a simple catchmeadow system for early irrigation of the hillslope and is likely to date to the post-medieval or modern period. Earthwork remains may survive.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WATER MEADOW (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1946 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

No earthwork features are depicted in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158, DCC RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 5047-5048 19-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349143.

A narrow linear ditch is visible as an earthwork.

Ordnance Survey, 1977, OS/77023, NMR OS 77023 047-048 19-MAY-1977 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349036.

Part of a linear earthwork ditch is visible.

Environment Agency, 2007, LiDAR data JPEG image (1 metre resolution), LIDAR SS3124 Environment Agency 24-MAR-2007 (Cartographic). SDV349139.

No earthworks are visible.

Cook, H. & Williamson, T. (eds.), 2007, Water Meadows: History, Ecology and Conservation (Monograph). SDV349525.

Catchwork, catch-meadow or field-gutter water meadows are a type of water meadow distinctive to the south-west of England. Their form and function is described in chapters 1 and 3.

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

A narrow linear ditch, approximately 1 metre in diameter and at least 100 metres in length, is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs between 1946 and 1978. It follows the contour closely and appears to originate from a possible springhead at SS3149424572, suggesting that it could be a simple catchmeadow system for early irrigation of the hillslope. It is therefore likely to be of relatively modern date, but as the gutters were often recut numerous times it is possible that it has a post-medieval or even medieval origin. It is not visible on images derived from Lidar data captured in 2007 but, as the resolution of the data is fairly coarse at 1 metre and the site of the ditch is where two tiles meet, this does not necessarily mean that the earthworks have been levelled. A site visit to assess survival is recommended.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
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
SDV349036	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1977. OS/77023. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). NMR OS 77023 047-048 19-MAY-1977.
SDV349139	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 2007. LiDAR data JPEG image (1 metre resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SS3124 Environment Agency 24-MAR-2007.
SDV349143	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). DCC RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 5047-5048 19-APR-1946. [Mapped feature: #61850 ]
SDV349525	Monograph: Cook, H. & Williamson, T. (eds.). 2007. Water Meadows: History, Ecology and Conservation. Water Meadows: History, Ecology and Conservation.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project

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