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Summary

Evidence of a catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 20th century date was clearly visible on digital images derived aerial photographs of 2010 and 2016 as narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches on the west-facing combe slopes below Shapcombe Farm, Luppitt Parish, overlooking a south-flowing tributary to the River Otter.
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

• SHINE: Earthworks of catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 20th century date to west of Shapcombe Farm

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1947 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 F20 4444-4445 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Narrow and curvilinear ditches were visible as very subtle earthworks.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour (12.5cm resolution), Devon County Council 2010 Aerial Photograph mosaic (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Narrow and curvilinear ditches were visible as earthworks. Map object based partly on this source.

Google, 2015, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-JUN-2006 ACCESSED 01-APR-2016 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359580.

Narrow and curvilinear ditches were visible as earthworks. Map object based partly on this source.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

Evidence of a catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 20th century date was clearly visible on digital images derived aerial photographs of 2010 and 2016 as narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches on the west-facing combe slopes below Shapcombe Farm, Luppitt Parish, overlooking a south-flowing tributary to the River Otter.
Many 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 often 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 the March and April.
The system below Shapcombe Farm was identifiable as slight earthworks on aerial photographs of 1947 but was not visible with enough clarity to transcribe. This might support the interpretation that the system had passed out of use by this date. When in use the system was probably supplied with water by a spring fed stream immediately to the north.
Catch meadow gutters typically follow the line of the contours very closely, with only a slight drop in the level of the topmost gutter, or headmain, to ensure even water flow over the slopes. In this instance the gutters cross the contours at an oblique angle. This might be evidence of a local variation in catch meadow design.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV346026	Aerial Photograph: GeoInformation Group Ltd. 2010. 1:625 2010 Colour (12.5cm resolution). 2010 Aerial Photographs. Digital. Devon County Council 2010 Aerial Photograph mosaic.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 F20 4444-4445 11-APR-1947.
SDV359463	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2016-2018. The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:2
SDV359580	Aerial Photograph: Google. 2015. Google Earth Pro. Various. Digital. EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-JUN-2006 ACCESSED 01-APR-2016.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

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