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HER Number: | MDV127513 |
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Name: | Catch meadow at Sorley, Churchstow |
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Summary
Narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1946. The catch meadow had presumably fallen out of use by the late 19th century and the earthworks have possibly since been levelled.
Location
Grid Reference: | SX 723 468 |
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Map Sheet: | SX74NW |
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Admin Area | Devon |
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Civil Parish | Churchstow |
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District | South Hams |
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Ecclesiastical Parish | WEST ALVINGTON |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- CATCH MEADOW (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))
Full description
Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.
The earthworks do not correspond with any curvilinear features in this location.
Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 1053-1054 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.
Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.
Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.
Narrow curvilinear ditches, less than 2m wide, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1946. The earthwork channels follow the contours of the southwest facing combe slope and occupy an area of circa 2.77 hectares. They are interpreted as the fragmented gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system which tapped a spring-fed stream that rises to the southeast at Sorley Farm, with which this catch meadow may have been associated. No features are depicted in this exact location on the available historic mapping, and any catch meadow here presumably fell out of use by the late 19th century. Catch meadow systems are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream. The water is carried along the valley sides via one or more channels or gutters and when irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow from gutter to gutter, thereby irrigating the slopes. This film of water prevented the ground freezing during the winter and raised the temperature of the grass in the spring, thereby encouraging early growth, particularly important during the hungry gap of March and April. The earthworks are not visible on the available aerial imagery after 1946 and have possibly since been levelled.
Sources / Further Reading
SDV169268 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 1053-1054 10-DEC-1946. [Mapped feature: #124186 ] |
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SDV336179 | Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital). |
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SDV362982 | Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2019-2020. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP). Historic England Research Report. Digital. |
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Associated Monuments: none recorded
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)
Date Last Edited: | Feb 12 2020 10:27AM |
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