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Summary

A water-meadow of possible 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onward as a three roughly parallel earthwork ditches on the west facing combe slopes to the south-east of Keypitts Farm. Known locally as catchwork, catch-meadow or field-gutter systems, such water meadows are usually found on combe or hill slopes and are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream along a series of roughly parallel channels or gutters, which were caused to overflow when irrigation was required. Their use was particularly important during the hungry gap between March and April.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthwork leats (infilled) of Catch (water)meadow, south-east of Keypitts Farm

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XIX to XX - 1801 AD to 1956 AD)
• WATER MEADOW (XIX to XX - 1801 AD to 1956 AD)

Full description

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

The catchmeadow gutters are not depicted.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

The catchmeadow gutters are not depicted.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1655, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1655 3043-4 11-JUL-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349996.

Catchmeadow gutters are visible as earthworks. Map object partly based on this source.

Ordnance Survey, 1989, OS/89114, NMR OS/89/114 663-664 04-MAY-1989 (Aerial Photograph). SDV350315.

The catchmeadow gutters remain visible as earthworks. Map object partly based on this source.

Next Perspectives, 2007, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS5445 03-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV350196.

The gutters remain visible as subtle earthworks

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

A water-meadow of possible 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onward as a three roughly parallel earthwork ditches centred on circa SS54164517 on the west facing higher combe slopes to the south-east of Keypitts Farm, with which it is probably associated.
Such water-meadows, known as catchwork, catch-meadow or field-gutter systems, are typically found on combe or hill slopes and 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.
The visible gutters appear to be laid out to tap a spring which rises to the south, probably irrigating an area of approximately 1 hectare. The gutters are not depicted on the Ordnance Survey first or second edition 25 inch maps, which might support the interpretation that the system had passed out of use, at least for a time, by the end of the 19th century. Alternatively, it might have been created in the early to mid-20th century, or returned to use at this time, as it appears to be functioning on aerial photographs of May 1989. The gutters are visible as subtle earthworks on aerial photographs of May 2007, but the system does not appear to be in use.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
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
SDV349996	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1655. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/1655 3043-4 11-JUL-1946.
SDV350196	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2007. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS5445 03-MAY-2007.
SDV350315	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1989. OS/89114. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR OS/89/114 663-664 04-MAY-1989.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

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