See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

An extensive catch meadow system of probable 19th century date is visible as a series of earthwork ditches on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2012, to the south of East Cornworthy.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1324998: FRONT GARDEN BOUNDARY WALLS AND GATE PIERS TO EAST OF BRAMBLE TORRE HOUSE
• Listed Building (II) 1108284: BRAMBLE TORRE HOUSE
• SHINE: Earthworks of a former catch (water) meadow south of East Cornworthy

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2218-19 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

The catch meadow is visible as a series of earthwork ditches.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SX8756 18-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

The catch meadow has been largely levelled although several gutters remain visible as earthwork ditches.

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

An extensive catch meadow system of probable 19th century date is visible as a series of earthwork ditches on aerial photographs from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2012, to the south of East Cornworthy. 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. 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 the March and April. The catch meadow covers an area of approximately 11 hectares of various sloping ground within three adjoining valleys. The system comprises a series of parallel gutters which measure less than 2m in width and appear a tap number of spring-fed streams and a river. It is unclear from the aerial photographs alone with which farm this water meadow system might have been associated with, although given the extensive nature of the system it is likely to be associated with a number of different farms. The catch meadow remains partly visible as a series of earthwork ditches on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2012, although the gutters have been largely levelled.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2218-19 10-DEC-1946. [Mapped feature: #64431 ]
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
SDV351226	Aerial Photograph: Channel Coast Observatory. 2001-2012. Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography. Channel Coast Observatory. Digital. Channel Coastal Observatory SX8756 18-SEP-2012.

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)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.