See important guidance on the use of this record.

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

Summary

A catch meadow of probable 19th century date is visible as a series of earthwork ditches on aerial photographs of 1948 onwards, at Bellett’s Farm, with which it was possibly associated.The catch meadow remains visible on aerial photographs of 1971, although is not clearly visible after this date and its survival is uncertain.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2491, RAF/CPE/UK/2491 RS 4198-99 11-MAR-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359578.

The catch meadow is visible as a series of earthwork ditches. Map object based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1971, RAF/39/3821, RAF/39/3821 V 168-69 29-OCT-1971 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359591.

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

A catch meadow of probable 19th century date is visible as a series of earthwork ditches on aerial photographs of 1948 onwards, at Bellett’s Farm, with which it was possibly associated. 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 March and April. The catch meadow covers an area of approximately 1.43 hectares of southeast facing slope to the southwest of Bellet’s Farm and comprises a series of parallel gutters which measure less than 2m in width. It is unclear with which water source this catch meadow may have tapped, although a stream is present approximately 330m to the northeast, or a water course may rise at the farm itself. A more substantial earthwork ditch is visible to the north of the system and may represent part of an associated feature. The catch meadow remains visible on aerial photographs of 1971, although is not clearly visible after this date and its survival is uncertain.

Sources / Further Reading

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
SDV359578	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2491. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2491 RS 4198-99 11-MAR-1948.
SDV359591	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1971. RAF/39/3821. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/39/3821 V 168-69 29-OCT-1971.

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)

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