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Summary

A network of earthwork linear ditches, visible on aerial photographs taken from the 1940s onwards, is interpreted as a 19th century catchmeadow system that was still in use in the mid twentieth century. Images derived from lidar data suggest that some parts appeared to survive as earthworks between 2005 and 2010.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XVIII to XIX - 1701 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

A regularised watercourse is depicted, running west from the farmstead.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 2288-2289 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Several curvilinear linear earthwork ditches are visible.

Ordnance Survey, 1966, OS/66184 V, OS/66184 V 214-215 22-JUL-1966 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357044.

The ditches are visible as earthworks.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery ST0610 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

A curvilinear earthwork ditch is visible.

Ordnance Survey, 2014, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV355681.

The watercourse depicted on the late 19th century mapping is depicted.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

A network of linear ditches is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and 1966 as earthworks on the valley sides west of Southill Barton. They are interpreted as catchmeadow gutters of probable 19th century date and could have been part of an ‘integrated’ system that incorporated farmyard-gathered manure for distribution across the fields as liquid fertiliser.
The watercourse that flows down the centre of the valley appears to have been regularised by the time of the late-19th century OS maps, this main channel also apparently having been fed by a gutter originating from the Barton. Gutters seem to have been taken off this and off ditches running along field boundaries to flood the lower valley slopes to the west, and these were clear and probably still in use in 1947. The gutters were still visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1966, but only one gutter to the north of the main watercourse is still visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs and images derived from lidar data captured in 2010.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV355681	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2014. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 2288-2289 11-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #67565 ]
SDV356259	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery ST0610 22-MAY-2010.
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV357044	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1966. OS/66184 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/66184 V 214-215 22-JUL-1966.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

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