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Summary

A possible simple catch meadow or track of probable 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as a narrow curvilinear earthwork ditch closely following the contours of the south-west facing combe slope to the south-east of Boarshill. The ditch possibly survives as a subtle earthwork.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XVIII to Mid 20th Century - 1800 AD to 1946 AD (Between))
• TRACKWAY (XVIII to XIX - 1800 AD to 1880 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 RP 3080-3081 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

A curvilinear ditch or hollow is visible as an earthwork.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX6748 18-JUN-1999 - 31-MAR-2003 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

A curvilinear ditch or hollow is visible as an earthwork.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX6748 20-APR-2015 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

A curvilinear ditch or hollow is visible as an earthwork.

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.

A curvilinear ditch or hollow is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as an earthwork circa 1m to 2m wide and up to circa 140m long, closely following the contours of the south-east facing combe slopes to the south-east of Boarshill.
The ditch or hollow shares characteristics with a simple catch meadow gutter. Catch meadows abstracted water from springs or streams to irrigated combe slopes rather than valley floors. Probably originating in the medieval period, ‘catch gutter’ water meadows were in widespread use in Devon in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The earthwork also corresponds closely with a track or path depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch map and appears to be aligned on a gate in a hedge line at is south-east end.
The visible earthwork might be evidence of a simple catch meadow or trackway associated with the residence to the north-west of 19th century date. Alternatively, it could be a former catch meadow gutter that was reused as a track.
The ditch remains identifiable on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2003 to 2016 and possibly therefore survives as a subtle earthwork.

Sources / Further Reading

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)

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