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Summary

A series of linear and curvilinear channels interpreted as a 19th century bedwork watermeadow is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, on the floodplain on the western side of the River Dart, east of Rill, Buckfastleigh.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WATER MEADOW (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Water channels are shown on this map.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Water channels are shown on this map.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223 VP2 5164-65 12-JUL-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352279.

Earthwork ditches are visible.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX7564; SX7565 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Earthwork ditches are visible.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2018-2019, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley (Interpretation). SDV361305.

A series of linear and curvilinear channels is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, on the floodplain on the western side of the River Dart, east of Rill, Buckfastleigh. The parallel channels are typically northeast to southwest aligned, measure less than 2m in width, although broader channels up to 10m wide are visible and occupy an area of approximately 5.8 hectares. The earthworks correspond with and extend beyond a number of water channels depicted on both the First and Second Edition Ordnance Survey maps of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their alignment and topographical setting support the interpretation that they are the remains of a 19th century bedwork water meadow. This system would have been likely fed by a 'carrier' channel shown on historic and modern maps that diverted the flow of water from the River Dart to the north, at circa SX75216552, which would then be directed across the floodplain via the intricate network of narrower channels which constitute the main part of this system. It is not clear whether the system was still in use on aerial photographs taken during the 1940’s.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV352279	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223 VP2 5164-65 12-JUL-1946.
SDV361305	Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2018-2019. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV361470	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2017. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SX7564; SX7565 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017. [Mapped feature: #112284 ]

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7515 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey (Ref: ACD1748)

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