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Summary

A catch meadow of probable 19th century origin is clearly visible on aerial photographs of 1964 as curvilinear parallel ditches on the south-facing combe slopes south of Farley, Chudleigh.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1964 AD (Between))

Full description

Fairy Surveys Ltd, 1964, FSL/6412 V, FSL/6412 V 2075-2076 07-FEB-1964 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357115.

Curvilinear earthwork ditches are visible.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX8581 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Curvilinear earthwork ditches are visible.

Next Perspectives, 2015-2017, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX8581 15-AUG-2016 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361515.

Curvilinear 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.

Three curvilinear parallel ditches are clearly visible as earthworks, roughly following the contours of the south-facing combe slopes south of Farley, Chudleigh on aerial photographs of 1964 onwards
The uppermost ditch is circa 2.5m wide, the two lower ditches circa 1.5m wide. All exceed 200m in length.
The ditches are interpreted as the gutters of a catch meadow of probable 19th century origin. Catch meadows are a form of water meadow seen on the hill and valley slopes of Devon, popular in the 19th century but known to have been in use from the medieval period. The effect of water flowing downslope from the upper ditch can be seen on the pasture below, indicating that the system remained in use into the mid-20th century.
The gutters remain visible as earthworks on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2018.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV357115	Aerial Photograph: Fairy Surveys Ltd. 1964. FSL/6412 V. Fairy Surveys Ltd aerial photograph. Photograph (Paper). FSL/6412 V 2075-2076 07-FEB-1964. [Mapped feature: #113232 ]
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 SX8581 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017.
SDV361515	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2015-2017. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX8581 15-AUG-2016.

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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