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Summary

The remains of a water-meadow of probable post-medieval date is visible on aerial photographs between 1945 and 1999 as two earthwork ditches to the south of Mothecombe. Their survival is unknown.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Historic C18th Parkland, water meadow and Post Roman settlement at Mothercombe

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WATER MEADOW (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/967, RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 3151-3152 01-NOV-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351060.

Water meadow gutters are visible as earthwork ditches.

GetMapping, 1999, 122/99, DCC GM/122/99 0187-0188 15-NOV-1999 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351205.

The gutters are clearly visible.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

A post medieval water meadow, known locally as a catchwater meadow system, is visible on aerial photographs between 1945 and 1999 as two earthwork ditches to the south of Mothecombe.
Catch meadows provided a simple, inexpensive but effective form of irrigation, designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream along the slope via a series of roughly parallel channels or gutters. A larger gutter, often called a headmain, tapped water from a source such as a river, spring or spring-fed stream. When irrigation was required the headmain was dammed, causing water to overflow downslope, where the roughly parallel gutters distributed the flowing water evenly over the surface of a meadow below. The gently flowing water prevented the ground freezing in winter and encouraged early growth in spring, thereby providing extra feed for livestock. Most catchwater meadow systems are believed to date to the post medieval period, although it is possible that they were first developed in the medieval period.
The Mothecombe catch meadow covers a visible area of approximately 1.5 hectares of west-facing slope below the settlement, but is likely to have originally extended further north. The source of water is not immediately apparent from the available sources.
The gutters are clearly visible on aerial photographs taken in 1999, and slight earthworks may survive.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV351060	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/967. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 3151-3152 01-NOV-1945. [Mapped feature: #63528 ]
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351205	Aerial Photograph: GetMapping. 1999. 122/99. GetMapping Aerial Photograph. DCC GM/122/99 0187-0188 15-NOV-1999.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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