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Summary

A probable simple post medieval water meadow is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 and 1947 as a single earthwork ditch south of Stedcombe Farm, but its survival is not known.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

No features are depicted in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3356-3357 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

A linear ditch is visible as an earthwork.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1994 4492-4493 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

A linear ditch is visible as an earthwork.

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

A possible simple post medieval water meadow, known locally as a catchwater meadow system, is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 and 1947 as a single earthwork ditch to the south of Stedcombe Farm, with which it was probably associated.
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 possible Stedcombe catch meadow covers a visible area of approximately 1.5 hectares of north-facing slope south of the farm. The source of water is likely to be the watercourse that runs east to west through Stedcombe, although it is not clear exactly where the water was taken off. The earthworks are not visible on later available aerial photographs and may have been plough levelled.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
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
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3356-3357 13-APR-1946.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1994 4492-4493 11-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #66025 ]

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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