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Summary

A series of narrow curvilinear ditches interpreted as the remains of a 19th century catch meadow system is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, to the east of Lurcombe Farm, Bickington. No evidence on the ground identified in May 2022 in plots to east of Lurcombe Farm.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 RP 3158-59 04-NOV-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352344.

A series of earthwork ditches is visible.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX8073 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

A series of earthwork ditches is visible.

Google, 2017, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-1999 ACCESSED 01-OCT-2018 (Aerial Photograph). SDV360456.

A series of earthwork ditches is 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 (AI&M) (Interpretation). SDV361305.

Narrow curvilinear ditches less than 2m wide are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, to the east of Lurcombe Farm, Bickington. The visible earthwork channels roughly follow the contours of the south, east, northwest and northeast facing combe slopes and occupy an area of circa 8.88 hectares. They are interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system which likely tapped at least two different water courses, and which had probably gone out of use by the mid-20th century.

Crabb, A., 2022, Site visit to confirm remains (Personal Comment). SDV365063.

(06/05/2022) Site visit in May confirmed that there are no visible features within the fields to the east of Lurcombe Farm centred at SX 7996 7339 and SX 7998 7329. These plots are known to have been ploughed in the 1950s and any remains of former catch meadow not visible any longer.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV352344	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1824. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1824 RP 3158-59 04-NOV-1946. [Mapped feature: #113916 ]
SDV360456	Aerial Photograph: Google. 2017. Google Earth Pro. Various. Digital. EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-1999 ACCESSED 01-OCT-2018.
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 (AI&M). 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 SX8073 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

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