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Summary

A catch meadow of probable post-medieval or nineteenth century date is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards as roughly parallel earthwork ditches following the contours on both sides of a south facing combe below Hingston Borough Farm, with which it was probably associated. Catch meadows are usually found on combe or hill slopes and are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream and passing it along the slope via a series of roughly parallel channels or gutters. When irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow from gutter to gutter, thereby irrigating the slopes below.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 3080 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

An extensive catch meadow is visible as narrow linear earthwork ditches. Map object based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1965, RAF/58/7109, RAF/58/7109 F41 100-101 22-NOV-1965 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351186.

An extensive catch meadow is visible as narrow linear earthwork ditches.

Next Perspectives, 2007, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX6847-SX6847 22-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349355.

The southern extent of the water meadow remains visible as cropmarks and earthworks. Map object based on this source.

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

A catch meadow of probable post-medieval or nineteenth century date is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards as roughly parallel earthwork ditches following the contours on both sides of a south facing combe below Hingston Borough Farm, with which it was probably associated.
Most catch meadow systems are believed to date to the post medieval period, although it is likely that they were first developed in the medieval period and continued in use into the twentieth century. Catch meadows provided a simple, inexpensive and effective form of irrigation. When irrigation was required water was diverted from a source such as a pond, river, spring or spring-fed stream and passed along the meadow slopes via one or more of the gutters, which was then caused to overflow. The lower, roughly parallel gutters then ‘caught’ and redistributed water passing it 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, particularly important during the hungry gap of March and April.
The gutters at the southern extent of the water meadow, within the field centred at circa SX 682479 remain visible as slight earthworks and cropmarks on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2007. Those to the north cannot be clearly seen on aerial photographs later than 1965 in date and appear to have been levelled. Field investigation is required to ascertain the survival and current condition of the earthworks.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV349355	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2007. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX6847-SX6847 22-MAY-2007.
SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 3080 10-DEC-1946.
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
SDV351186	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1965. RAF/58/7109. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/7109 F41 100-101 22-NOV-1965.

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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