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Summary

A probable post medieval water meadow is visible on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 1971 as a series of roughly parallel earthwork ditches south of Combe Farm. Its current 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.

One of the earthworks corresponds to a linear feature depicted to the south-east of Combe Farm.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 4179-4180 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

Several linear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Royal Air Force, 1963, RAF/58/5607, NMR RAF/58/5607 F21 345-346 22-JAN-1963 (Aerial Photograph). SDV355896.

Several linear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Ordnance Survey, 1971, OS/71006, NMR OS/71006 19-20 07-MAR-1971 (Aerial Photograph). SDV355898.

Several linear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Ordnance Survey, 1974, OS/74216 V, NMR OS/71006 19-20 07-MAR-1971 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361883.

Several linear ditches are visible as earthworks.

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

A possible post medieval water meadow, known locally as a catchwater meadow system, is visible on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 1971 as a series of earthwork ditches to the south of Combe Farm, with which it may have been 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 Combe Farm catch meadow covers a visible area of approximately 2 hectares of north-facing slope below the farm. The source of water is likely to be The Combe that runs east to west through Axmouth, with the water possibly taken off at several points. Two of the ditches deviate from the contour as they appear to cross a relict field boundary bank. The earthworks are not visible on later available aerial photographs but subtle earthworks may survive.

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 4179-4180 13-APR-1946.
SDV355896	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1963. RAF/58/5607. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/5607 F21 345-346 22-JAN-1963. [Mapped feature: #66049 ]
SDV355898	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1971. OS/71006. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). NMR OS/71006 19-20 07-MAR-1971.
SDV361883	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1974. OS/74216 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). NMR OS/71006 19-20 07-MAR-1971.

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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